Does the Hadith About Repeated Drinking Apply to Marijuana, and Does It Limit Allah’s Mercy?
Question
According to the hadith Sunan Ibn Majah (3377), “…If he commits (this sin) again, then Allah pledges to make him drink the mud of khabal on the Day of Resurrection.” They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what is the mud of khabal?” He said, “The juices of the people of Hell.”
This Hadith refers to the drinking of wine, does that include marijuana? And Allah is the Oft Forgiving, why would Allah pledge to punish his slave on the 4th occurrence if someone sincerely repents and has an addiction? Allah states in the Quran (39:53) to not despair in his mercy but this Hadith is giving a limit to that mercy and is confusing my understanding.
Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain.
1. The Shari Context
Wine (khamr) is explicitly prohibited in Islam and carries a prescribed legal punishment (hadd) when established.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Every intoxicant is khamr, and every khamr is haram.”
Sahih Muslim
At the same time, the Qur’an opens the door of repentance without restriction:
“O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins…”
Surat al Zumar 39:53
So the Sharia combines between severe warnings against sin and expansive mercy for the one who repents.
2. Scholarly Discussion
The scholars differentiated between:
- Khamr in its classical form, especially liquid intoxicants that clearly impair the العقل
- Other substances that may affect the mind but do not fully match the same legal category in every aspect
Because of this, they discussed:
- The prohibition (tahrim) of anything that harms or affects the mind
- But they did not always apply the same hadd punishment unless the substance clearly met the legal definition of khamr
So substances like marijuana or hashish:
- Are considered haram due to their effect on the mind and behavior
- But they do not necessarily carry the same hadd punishment as wine
- Rather, they fall under ta‘zir, meaning discretionary punishment depending on the authority
Regarding the hadith of “mud of khabal,” the scholars explain:
- It is a threat and warning (wa‘id) for persistent sin
- It is not a statement that repentance is rejected
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
“Allah accepts the repentance of the servant so long as he does not reach the point of death.”
Sunan al Tirmidhi
And in another hadith:
“A servant committed a sin and said: O Allah forgive me… Allah said: My servant knows he has a Lord who forgives sins… I have forgiven My servant.”
Sahih al Bukhari, Sahih Muslim
So even repeated sin does not block sincere repentance.
3. Application to the Question
1. Does the hadith include marijuana?
No, the hadith is specifically addressing khamr, particularly wine and its clear form. While marijuana is haram, it does not automatically take the exact same ruling in every aspect, especially in terms of hadd punishment.
However, it still falls under prohibition because of its harmful and mind-altering effects.
2. Does the hadith limit Allah’s mercy?
No. This is very important.
- The hadith is a strong warning for the one who continues sinning without repentance
- It does not apply to the one who sincerely repents
So:
- If someone sins repeatedly but repents sincerely each time, Allah continues to forgive
- The hadith does not contradict the verse of mercy, but rather addresses a different الحالة
3. What about addiction?
If a person is struggling with addiction:
- They must continue to repent and seek treatment
- Their repeated repentance is accepted as long as it is sincere
- They should not despair, even if they fall multiple times
4. Relevant Usul Principle
لا قياس إلا بنص صريح وعلة واضحة يقاس عليها
No analogy is made except with a clear text and a clear effective cause
This principle applies here because although substances may share similarities, not all rulings are extended equally without a clear and established illah. While marijuana shares aspects with intoxicants, it does not automatically take every legal ruling of khamr, especially regarding hadd punishment.
Final Ruling
Wine (khamr) carries a specific and severe ruling including hadd punishment, while marijuana and similar substances are haram due to their harmful effects, but do not necessarily carry the same legal classification in every aspect. The hadith about repeated drinking is a warning, not a limit on Allah’s mercy. Anyone who sincerely repents, even repeatedly, will find Allah forgiving, and should never despair.
And Allah knows best.