His statement, “the intoxicant,” is the active participle of askara—that is, it obscures the mind through pleasure and exhilaration. The obscuring of the mind takes various forms; when it occurs through pleasure, exhilaration, euphoria, elevation, and self-exaltation, that is intoxication. Thus, an intoxicant is that which, when consumed, obscures a person’s mind through pleasure and exhilaration, and it is forbidden.

“Every beverage, a large quantity of which intoxicates, then a small quantity of it is forbidden. It is wine, whatever its source may be. Drinking it is not permitted for pleasure, treatment, thirst, or any other reason, except to dislodge a morsel upon which one is choking when nothing else is available. …”

His statement, “Every beverage, a large quantity of which intoxicates, then a small quantity of it is forbidden,” is a principle derived from the hadith. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whatever intoxicates in a large quantity, a small quantity of it is forbidden” (1). He also said: “Whatever amount of it intoxicates by the faraq, then a palmful of it is forbidden” (2). A faraq holds sixteen ratls.

His statement, “Every beverage that intoxicates,” is the subject, while its predicate is the clause introduced by fa: “then a small quantity of it is forbidden.” The predicate is linked with fa because the subject resembles a conditional clause in its generality; the source of this generality is the phrase “every beverage.”

His statement, “Every beverage,” reflects what is generally the case: namely, that wine is drunk. Otherwise, it may be eaten: it may be kneaded and eaten. It may also be prepared in another manner, such that dough is moistened with it and eaten—that is, the dough is kneaded