He then said: “The hadith is authentic and known to have a connected chain; it meets the criteria for authenticity. Al-Bukhārī, may Allah have mercy on him, sometimes did this because the hadith was well known through trustworthy narrators from the person on whose authority he cited it without a complete chain. At other times, he did so because he had cited the hadith elsewhere in his book with a fully connected chain. He may also have done so for other reasons that entailed no defect due to a break in transmission. Allah knows best.” (1)

I have discussed this hadith at length only because some people cling to Ibn Hazm’s opinion and cite it as evidence that musical instruments are permissible. It has now become clear that the hadiths prohibiting them are authentic and that this ummah is threatened with punishments when amusements become prevalent and sins are committed.

18 — The Prevalence of Wine Drinking and Deeming It Lawful:

Wine drinking has appeared among this ummah, as has calling wine by other names. More grievous still is that some people deem it lawful. This is one of the signs of the Hour. Imam Muslim narrated from Anas ibn Mālik, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say: “Among the signs of the Hour are … (and he mentioned among them) that wine will be drunk.” (2)

Some hadiths were cited earlier in the discussion of musical instruments, stating that there will be people from this ummah who deem wine drinking lawful.

One such report was narrated by Imam Ahmad and Ibn Mājah from Ubādah ibn al-Sāmit, who said: