drinking wine, we may not enter his home, break his vessels, or pour out his wine, because he considers it lawful and does not do so openly. It is therefore legally protected, just as the life and property of a dhimmi are protected. For a dhimmi, wine is property: it is bought and sold.

A muʿāhad (a non-Muslim under treaty) and a mustaʾman (a non-Muslim granted temporary security) share the same ruling as a dhimmi, because the Muslims have made a covenant with them that no one shall transgress against them. But if a dhimmi openly displays wine and comes out among us with his cups, drinking in our marketplaces, then his covenant has been violated and he has no covenant; his wine is not legally protected.

They also mentioned that wine belonging to a vinegar seller is among the legally protected forms of wine. Thus, if on some occasion his vinegar turns into wine, whether because of intense heat or another cause, his wine is legally protected. They reasoned that, if it were not legally protected, the vinegar seller would suffer immense harm, since this is his property and he would be harmed by it.

This issue requires further consideration, for the Prophet—may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him—was asked about wine that is made into vinegar, and he replied, “No.” (1) This vinegar seller will keep the wine until it becomes vinegar, and he may even turn it into vinegar himself. Thus, the view stated by the scholars of the school on this issue requires further consideration. Allah knows best.

Whether these things should be broken depends on the public interest. If a person can do so without harm, then he should do it—for example, if the place is empty and no one sees him, then he must break them. But if he fears harm