Ahmad informed us; Abu Bakr narrated to us—

70 – ʿAlī ibn Muslim narrated to me; he said: ʿAbd al-Ṣamad ibn ʿAbd al-Wārith narrated to us; he said: I heard my father relate from Isḥāq ibn Suwayd, who said: Dhu ʼl-Rumma satirized the Qur’an-reciters and said:

“As for nabidh, let not its drinker alarm you; guard your cloak rather from the man who drinks only water.” ⦗79⦘

So I answered on their behalf:

“As for nabidh, it can certainly disgrace its drinker, whereas I have never seen water disgrace a soul.
Water is the life of all humankind, but in nabidh—if you cling to it—lies the sickness.
How many an honorable, noble man has been harmed by drinking nabidh; every deed bears its own name.
He says that it guides the one who keeps at it, yet in it is slackening and delay from every good.
And though he be told, ‘Hold back,’ the one resolved upon it shuts his eyes and plunges into the core of sin.
All those reciters are believing, God-fearing men, and they remain loyal even to one who loves to drink.
A hypocrite’s nature is never pure; along with his slander come furtive winks and hurt.
Who would equate a nabidh-addict with a reciter, while the best of people are the reciters?
No folk possess greater forbearance, whenever they are mentioned, and they are enemies to Allah’s enemy.
Their clans never fear their treachery; they protect—yet when they meet the foe, they are formidable.”