Are there any hadiths in Sahih Muslim that indicate the Prophet drank nabidh, and why don't Muslims who are more knowledgeable about the Quran and Hadith respond to missionaries' claims about this matter?
If the missionaries intend to say that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, drank intoxicants, then this is a calumny and a lie from them, for Allah, the Almighty, says: ﴿It is only those who do not believe in the verses of Allah who fabricate falsehood, and it is they who are the liars.﴾ In the Arabic language, "nabidh" refers to water in which dates or raisins are steeped to make it sweet, but it becomes intoxicating if left for a long time. The term "nabidh" has been repeatedly mentioned in the Hadith, and it encompasses all drinks made from dates, raisins, honey, wheat, barley, and the like. It is reported in Sahih Muslim that "nabidh" was prepared for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, at the beginning of the night, and he would drink it in the morning of that day, and the coming night, and the next day, and the other night, and the day after until 'Asr. If any remained, he would give it to his servant to drink or order it to be poured out. This indicates the permissibility of preparing and drinking "nabidh" as long as it remains sweet, unchanged, and has not fermented. As for giving it to the servant after three days or pouring it out, it is because its alteration after three days is not guaranteed, and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, refrained from it after three days. If no change appeared in it, he would give it to the servant; if any intoxicating effect appeared, he would pour it out. A Muslim must safeguard his religion from doubts and not listen to them, for a doubt might settle in his heart. There are ongoing efforts to expose the missionaries' specious arguments.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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