We remained only a short while before the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said the words quoted above. He said: The people then went out to the streets of Medina with whatever wine they had and poured it out.

“Poured it out” means: they spilled it. Al-Bayhaqi also transmitted it through this chain in al-Sunan (6/11).

It appears that the verse to which the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, alluded is the saying of Allah the Most High in Surat al-Ma'idah (91):

“Indeed, Satan only seeks to sow enmity and hatred among you through wine and gambling, and to turn you away from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. Will you not then desist?”

This was the final verse revealed concerning the prohibition of wine, as seems evident from the hadith of Umar narrated by al-Tirmidhi and others. Ibn al-Madini declared it authentic, as mentioned in Tafsir Ibn Kathir (2/92). Perhaps it is among the corroborating reports cited in al-Durr al-Manthur (2/314–316). Al-Hakim also authenticated it (4/143), and al-Dhahabi concurred with him.

The hadith contains an important benefit: it indicates that wine is ritually pure despite being prohibited. Otherwise, the Companions would not have poured it out in their streets and passageways; rather, they would have poured it out far from them, as is the case with all impurities. This is also indicated by the Prophet’s saying, peace and blessings be upon him: “Beware of the two things that bring curses.” They asked, “What are the two things that bring curses?” He said: “The one who relieves himself on people’s pathway or in their shade.” Muslim and others narrated it, and it is cited in al-Irwa’ (1/100–101) and elsewhere.

Scholars have differed on this matter. Many of the early imams held that it is ritually pure, such as Rabi'ah al-Ra'y, al-Layth ibn Sa'd, many hadith scholars, and others. I discussed the matter in detail in Tamam al-Minnah fi al-Ta'liq 'ala Fiqh al-Sunnah, which has now been printed, praise be to Allah, and is available to readers.