Islamic ruling on Honey

By

Mohammed Ajmal Ansari Umri

Honey

References from Holy Quran

Allah the Almighty says; “Your Lord revealed to the bees: “Build dwellings in the
mountains and the trees, and also in the structures which men erect. Then eat from every kind
of fruit and travel the paths of your Lord, which have been made easy for you to follow.”
From inside them comes a drink of varying colours, containing healing for mankind. There is
certainly a Sign in that for people who reflect” (16: 68)

) ‫رجطال نمو ًاتويب البجال نم يذختا نأ لحنال ىإل كبز ىحوأوتارمثال آل نم يآل اللذ كبز لبس يكلساف‬، ‫نوضزعي اممو‬، ‫مث‬
68 ‫سانلل ءافص هيف( لحنال‬، ‫نوركفتي موقل ةيآل كلذ يف نإ‬، ‫هناوأل فلتخم بارش اهنوطب نم جزخي‬

References from Hadith

۞ Narrated Hazrat`Aisha (r.a):

The Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬used to like sweet edible things and honey.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Medicine, Book 76, Hadith 5)

۞‟Honey is a remedy for every illness and the Qur‟an is a remedy for all illness of
the mind, therefore I recommend to you both remedies, the Qur‟an and honey.‟ (Sahih
Bukhari)

۞ It was narrated from Hazrat „Aishah (r.a) that:

The Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬was asked about mead and he said: “Every drink that intoxicates is
unlawful.” And mead is a drink made of honey.
(Sunan an-Nasa‟i, The Book of Drinks, Vol. 6, Book 51, Hadith 5597, Grade: Sahih by
Darussalam)

۞ Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri:

A man came to the Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬and said, “My brother has some Abdominal trouble.” The
Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬said to him “Let him drink honey.” The man came for the second time and the
Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬said to him, „Let him drink honey.” He came for the third time and the
Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬said, “Let him drink honey.” He returned again and said, “I have done that „
The Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬then said, “Allah has said the truth, but your brother‟s `Abdomen has told
a lie. Let him drink honey.” So he made him drink honey and he was cured.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Medicine, Book 76, Hadith 7)
Now we know for fact that honey contains antibacterial and antifungal properties,
anti‐diarrhoeal, woundhealing and anti‐inflammatory properties and anti‐tussive and
expecsstorant properties as well as nutritional value. Just one example of the practical value
of the sunnah.