Marijuana and non khamr alcohol

Oct 17, 2021 | Uncategorized

Question

Selamun aleykum,

I understand that according to Hanafi school, khamr is najis and haram to consume in every amount, whilst non-Khamr alcohol (not from grapes or dates) is still haram to consume in amounts which intoxicate or in a way which has the purpose of intoxication but not najis or haram to use in amounts which don’t intoxicate and without the reason of intoxication (i.e in food or drinks as preservant or by product). But does that mean that if non-khamr alcohol is used for intoxication from others and it for example spills on your clothes, it will be najis? Or if we go further, will the same apply for marijuana if used for intoxication? I ask because for example on a wedding of my non muslim family alcohol (beer and so on) was consumed and I was always fearfull on coming into contact with it if spilled. And also i have a non muslim friend who smoked marijuana on my balcony and some of it came through my window inside (I didnt like him doing it but didnt want to tell him what to do). Is everything which the smoke touched najis? Do I need to wash my prayer rugs which were in the room? Or is the smoke tahir? I am not sure, since it is not khamr (from grapes or dates) but was used from him as an intoxicant. Also he prepared it in my room. Is the marijuana itself najis?


Answer

There is some difference of opinion in the Hanafi school regarding intoxicating drinks. According to Imam Muhammad all intoxicating drinks are unlawful and impure regardless of the source of the intoxicant, the purpose of drinking it and the quantity being consumed. This is the opinion upon which fatwa is issued in the Hanafi school and must be adopted. Hence, if any alcohol came into contact with your clothes or body it will have to be washed even if the alcohol was not derived from grapes or dates.

The alternative opinion that you make reference to is the opinion of Imam Abu Hanifah and Imam Abu Yusuf which states that alcohol derived from sources other than grapes and dates can be consumed if certain condition are met. This opinion also considers such intoxicants to be pure. However, as mentioned above the opinion which one needs to act upon in this case is the opinion of Imam Muhammad. Hence, you should be careful about these intoxicants coming into contact with your clothes or body and if they do you would need to wash whatever it came into contact with.

The above ruling of impurity transferring onto the clothes or body is in relation to liquid intoxicants and not solids. This is because the transfer of impurity can only take place with the transfer of moisture. Hence, intoxicating substances that are solid, such as marijuana, would not render the item they come into contact with as impure. Hence, the smoke that came into your house would not render the items it came into contact with impure.

الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (6/ 454)
وحرمها محمد) أي الأشربة المتخذة من العسل والتين ونحوهما قاله المصنف (مطلقا) قليلها وكثيرها (وبه يفتى) ذكره الزيلعي وغيره؛
واختاره شارح الوهبانية، وذكر أنه مروي عن الكل ونظمه فقال

قلت: وفي طلاق البزازية: وقال محمد ما أسكر كثيره فقليله حرام، وهو نجس أيضا ولو سكر منها المختار في زماننا أنه يحد. زاد في الملتقى: وقوع طلاق من سكر منها تابع للحرمة، والكل حرام عند محمد وبه يفتى

قوله وبه يفتى) أي بقول محمد، وهو قول الأئمة الثلاثة لقوله – عليه الصلاة والسلام – «كل مسكر خمر وكل مسكر حرام» رواه مسلم، وقوله – عليه الصلاة والسلام – ” «ما أسكر كثيره فقليله حرام» رواه أحمد وابن ماجه والدارقطني وصححه

الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (6/ 455)
قوله وقال محمد إلخ) أقول: الظاهر أن هذا خاص بالأشربة المائعة دون الجامد كالبنج والأفيون، فلا يحرم قليلها بل كثيرها المسكر، وبه صرح ابن حجر في التحفة وغيره، وهو مفهوم من كلام أئمتنا لأنهم عدوها من الأدوية المباحة وإن حرم السكر منها بالاتفاق كما نذكره، ولم نر أحدا قال بنجاستها ولا بنجاسة نحو الزعفران مع أن كثيره مسكر، ولم يحرموا أكل قليله أيضا، ويدل عليه أنه لا يحد بالسكر منها كما يأتي، بخلاف المائعة فإنه يحد، ويدل عليه أيضا قوله في غرر الأفكار: وهذه الأشربة عند محمد وموافقيه كخمر بلا تفاوت في الأحكام، وبهذا يفتى في زماننا اهـ فخص الخلاف بالأشربة، وظاهر قوله بلا تفاوت أن نجاستها غليظة فتنبه، لكن يستثنى منه الحد فإنه لا يجب إلا بالسكر، بخلاف الخمر. والحاصل أنه لا يلزم من حرمة الكثير المسكر حرمة قليله ولا نجاسته مطلقا إلا في المائعات لمعنى خاص بها
أما الجامدات فلا يحرم منها الكثير المسكر، ولا يلزم من حرمته نجاسته كالسم القاتل فإنه حرام مع أنه طاهر، هذا ما ظهر لفهمي القاصر، وسنذكر ما يؤيده ويقويه ويشيده

Answered by:
Ifta Research Fellow

Checked & Approved by:
Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Mufti Zubair Patel