Thus, they considered fewer foods forbidden than did the Kufans, just as they were more restrictive than the people of Medina regarding beverages, for the texts indicating the prohibition of intoxicating beverages are more numerous than those indicating the prohibition of foods.

Moreover, the people of Medina had more predecessors among the Companions and Followers who deemed lawful what they permitted than the Kufans had for deeming intoxicants lawful. The harms arising from intoxicants are greater than those arising from foul foods. This is why wine was called “the mother of all evils,” as Uthmān ibn Affān—may Allah be pleased with him—and others called it. The Prophet—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—ordered that those who drank it be flogged; he and his caliphs carried this out, and the scholars unanimously agreed upon it. This was unlike forbidden foods, for no scholar [prescribed a fixed punishment] for consuming them, except according to what has reached us from al-Hasan al-Basrī. Indeed, the Prophet—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—ordered that a person who drank wine be put to death upon the third or fourth offense, although the majority hold that this ruling was abrogated. In an authentic report, the Prophet—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—also prohibited turning wine into vinegar and ordered that its containers be slit open and its large jars smashed, although the reports from Ahmad differ as to whether this ruling remains in force or has been abrogated.

[Ablution After Eating Camel Meat]

Since Allah—Exalted is He—has prohibited foul things only because they contain