Is alcohol haram, even a small amount?

The short answer

Yes. Every intoxicant is forbidden, and the Prophet ﷺ said that if a large amount of something intoxicates, even a small amount of it is forbidden. The ban covers not only drinking but also serving, selling and carrying it.

Explanation

The Quran calls intoxicants and gambling "defilement from the work of Satan" and commands believers to avoid them 1. It gives the reason: Satan uses them to cause hatred between people and to turn them away from remembering Allah and from prayer 1. An earlier verse had already said that their sin is greater than any benefit in them 2.

The Prophet ﷺ removed any doubt about which drinks are meant: "Every intoxicant is Khamr and every intoxicant is forbidden" 3. So it does not matter whether it is called wine, beer, spirits or something new. He also closed the door of "just a little": "If a large amount of anything causes intoxication, a small amount of it is prohibited" 4. One drink that does not make you drunk is still haram.

The prohibition reaches beyond the drinker. Allah has cursed wine, its drinker, its server, its seller, its buyer, its presser, the one it is pressed for, the one who carries it and the one it is carried to 5. That is why scholars say a Muslim should not serve or sell alcohol as part of a job.

The warning is serious: whoever drinks in this world and does not repent will be deprived of it in the Hereafter 6. Notice the words "does not repent". If you have been drinking, the door is open. Allah tells those who have wronged themselves never to despair of His mercy, for He forgives all sins 7.

Practically: choose friends and places that make it easier to stay away, and ask Allah for help. Leaving something for Allah's sake is never a loss.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Quran Al-Maaida · 5:90–91

    Intoxicants are defilement from Satan's work; he uses them to cause hatred and turn you from prayer.

    يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡخَمۡرُ وَٱلۡمَيۡسِرُ وَٱلۡأَنصَابُ وَٱلۡأَزۡلَٰمُ رِجۡسࣱ مِّنۡ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِ فَٱجۡتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ ۝٩٠ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ أَن يُوقِعَ بَيۡنَكُمُ ٱلۡعَدَٰوَةَ وَٱلۡبَغۡضَآءَ فِي ٱلۡخَمۡرِ وَٱلۡمَيۡسِرِ وَيَصُدَّكُمۡ عَن ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ وَعَنِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِۖ فَهَلۡ أَنتُم مُّنتَهُونَ ۝٩١

    90 O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful 91 Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not desist

  2. 2
    Quran Al-Baqara · 2:219

    The sin in wine and gambling is greater than their benefit.

    ۞يَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلۡخَمۡرِ وَٱلۡمَيۡسِرِۖ قُلۡ فِيهِمَآ إِثۡمࣱ كَبِيرࣱ وَمَنَٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثۡمُهُمَآ أَكۡبَرُ مِن نَّفۡعِهِمَاۗ وَيَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَۖ قُلِ ٱلۡعَفۡوَۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأٓيَٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ ۝٢١٩

    They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, "In them is great sin and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit." And they ask you what they should spend. Say, "The excess [beyond needs]." Thus Allah makes clear to you the verses [of revelation] that you might give thought

  3. 3
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 2003
    Sahih Muslim

    Every intoxicant is khamr and every intoxicant is forbidden.

    Ibn 'Umar reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:Every intoxicant is Khamr and every intoxicant is forbidden. He who drinks wine in this world and dies while he is addicted to it, not having repented, will not be given a drink in the Hereafter

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الرَّبِيعِ الْعَتَكِيُّ، وَأَبُو كَامِلٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ كُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ خَمْرٌ وَكُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ حَرَامٌ وَمَنْ شَرِبَ الْخَمْرَ فِي الدُّنْيَا فَمَاتَ وَهُوَ يُدْمِنُهَا لَمْ يَتُبْ لَمْ يَشْرَبْهَا فِي الآخِرَةِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  4. 4
    Hadith Sunan Abi Dawud 3681
    Hasan Sahih graded by Al-Albani

    If a large amount of something intoxicates, a small amount of it is forbidden.

    Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: If a large amount of anything causes intoxication, a small amount of it is prohibited

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ جَعْفَرٍ - عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ بَكْرِ بْنِ أَبِي الْفُرَاتِ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَا أَسْكَرَ كَثِيرُهُ فَقَلِيلُهُ حَرَامٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  5. 5
    Hadith Sunan Abi Dawud 3674
    Sahih graded by Al-Albani

    Allah cursed wine and its drinker, server, seller, buyer, maker, carrier and receiver.

    Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Allah has cursed wine, its drinker, its server, its seller, its buyer, its presser, the one for whom it is pressed, the one who conveys it, and the one to whom it is conveyed

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعُ بْنُ الْجَرَّاحِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنْ أَبِي عَلْقَمَةَ، مَوْلاَهُمْ وَعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْغَافِقِيِّ أَنَّهُمَا سَمِعَا ابْنَ عُمَرَ، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الْخَمْرَ وَشَارِبَهَا وَسَاقِيَهَا وَبَائِعَهَا وَمُبْتَاعَهَا وَعَاصِرَهَا وَمُعْتَصِرَهَا وَحَامِلَهَا وَالْمَحْمُولَةَ إِلَيْهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  6. 6
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 5575
    Sahih Bukhari

    Whoever drinks and does not repent will be deprived of it in the Hereafter.

    Narrated Ibn `Umar:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Whoever drinks alcoholic drinks in the world and does not repent (before dying), will be deprived of it in the Hereafter

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ مَنْ شَرِبَ الْخَمْرَ فِي الدُّنْيَا، ثُمَّ لَمْ يَتُبْ مِنْهَا، حُرِمَهَا فِي الآخِرَةِ ‏"‏‏.‏

  7. 7
    Quran Az-Zumar · 39:53

    Do not despair of Allah's mercy; He forgives all sins.

    ۞قُلۡ يَٰعِبَادِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًاۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ۝٥٣

    Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

Report an issue

Tell us what is wrong. Every report is read.

What is the problem?