Al-Muqaddimāt al-Mumahhidāt - Ibn Rush al-Jadd - (1/439)

Al-Muqaddimāt al-MumahhidātIbn Rush al-Jadd

In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.

The Book of Drinks

Allah Most High, the Almighty and Majestic, says:

“It is He who sends down water from the sky; from it you drink, and by it grow plants among which you pasture your livestock.” [al-Nahl: 10]

That is, you bring them back to rest. He also says:

“And indeed, in livestock there is a lesson for you. We give you to drink, from what is in their bellies, between digested matter and blood, pure milk, pleasant to those who drink it.” [al-Nahl: 66]

“And from the fruits of date palms and grapevines you obtain intoxicating drink and wholesome provision.” [al-Nahl: 67]

There is disagreement over the meaning of sakar. Some say that it is another name for khamr (wine), applying to every intoxicant made from dates, grapes, or anything else. This is the view of those who hold that khamr denotes every intoxicant. Others say that sakar is intoxicating drink made from dates, whereas khamr is intoxicating drink made from grapes.

It is also said that sakar means food. Thus one says, “I have made this a sakar for you,” meaning something to eat, and, “This is a sakar for him,” meaning food. Others say that sakar means whatever satisfies hunger. For those who hold that sakar means food or whatever satisfies hunger, the verse is clear in meaning and requires interpretation and explanation.

As for those who hold that sakar means intoxicating drink made from anything, or from anything other than grapes, they disagree over the meaning of the verse. Some hold that it describes what people make and prepare from these fruits, implying that this was permissible, and that Allah subsequently abrogated this permission through the prohibition of wine revealed in Sūrat al-Mā’idah and elsewhere.

Others hold that the verse does not imply permissibility, since Allah neither commands the preparation of sakar in it nor permits it. Rather, He merely describes the wine they prepare, which is forbidden to them in Sūrat al-Mā’idah and elsewhere.

The first view is more evident, for Allah mentioned this only to enumerate His blessings upon His servants and to draw their attention to

﷽ كتاب الأشربة قال الله تعالى ﷿: ﴿هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً لَكُمْ مِنْهُ شَرَابٌ وَمِنْهُ شَجَرٌ فِيهِ تُسِيمُونَ﴾ [النحل: ١٠] أي تريحون وقال: ﴿وَإِنَّ لَكُمْ فِي الأَنْعَامِ لَعِبْرَةً نُسْقِيكُمْ مِمَّا فِي بُطُونِهِ مِنْ بَيْنِ فَرْثٍ وَدَمٍ لَبَنًا خَالِصًا سَائِغًا لِلشَّارِبِينَ﴾ [النحل: ٦٦] ﴿وَمِنْ ثَمَرَاتِ النَّخِيلِ وَالأَعْنَابِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِنْهُ سَكَرًا وَرِزْقًا حَسَنًا﴾ [النحل: ٦٧] واختلف في السكر فقيل: إنه اسم من أسماء الخمر وإنه يقع على كل مسكر من التمر والعنب وغيرهما، قال ذلك من ذهب إلى أن الخمر اسم لكل مسكر. وقيل: إن السكر ما أسكر من التمر، والخمر ما أسكر من العنب. وقيل: إن السكر هو الطعم يقال قد جعلت هذا لك سكرا أي طعما، وهذا له سكر أي طعم. وقيل: إن السكر ما سد الجوع. فمن ذهب إلى أن السكر الطعم أو ما سد الجوع فالآية على مذهبه بينة في المعنى مفتقرة إلى تأويل وتفسير. وأما الذين ذهبوا إلى أن السكر ما أسكر من كل شيء أو مما عدا العنب فإنهم اختلفوا في معناها، فمنهم من ذهب إلى أنها إخبار عما يصنعون ويتخذون من ذلك تقتضي الإباحة وأن الله قد نسخ ذلك بما أنزل من تحريم الخمر في المائدة وغيرها. ومنهم من ذهب إلى أن الآية لا تقتضي الإباحة؛ لأن الله لم يأمر فيها باتخاذ السكر ولا أباحه، وإنما أخبر فيها بما يتخذون من الخمر المحرمة عليهم في سورة المائدة وغيرها. والأول أظهر؛ لأن الله إنما ذكر ذلك تعديدا لنعمه على عباده وتنبيها على