Beer Gold drinks

The question:

Recently, a drink called Beer Gold appeared in the market. It is said to be free from alcohol. In fact, people talk a lot about this drink, but most of them do not know if it is permissible or not to drink it and sell it.

So, we hope that our virtuous Sheikh Abu `Abd Al-Mu`iz to clear us the ruling regarding this question. May Allah reward you with best, protect you and grant you a long life so that people can benefit from your knowledge.

The answer:

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon whom Allah sent as a mercy to the Worlds, upon his Family, his Companions and his Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.

It is known that wine is prohibited because it is intoxicating. So, intoxication is the reason of prohibition; and the existence of this ruling depends on the existence of this reason. That is to say, if intoxication exists, prohibition exists too; and if intoxication does not exist, there is no prohibition.

Grape juice, for instance, is permissible before fermentation and being intoxicating; but when it ferments, it is prohibited; and when it turns into vinegar, it becomes again permissible and the prohibition is removed because its nature has changed and it is no more intoxicating. Indeed, this ruling of prohibition regards all drinks when they are intoxicating; otherwise, they are permissible.

Consequently, the drink stated in the question has the same aforementioned ruling, given that it is not intoxicating. Nevertheless, since such drink is known among people to be intoxicating and the person who consumes it is a drunk, and lest the Muslim might be suspected if he consumes it, or he might think, while drinking it, that he drinks an intoxicating wine; this drink is prohibited for all those reasons, and in order to keep the Muslim above any suspicion, to consider him as a pious person and to prevent him from thinking about wrong things that may have a bad influence on his behavior.

Finally, we deduce that, as a rule, this drink is not prohibited because it does not contain any intoxicating component. However, the prohibition is occasional, in order to obstruct the ways [which lead to commit what is unlawful], to keep considering people as pious persons, to keep them above suspicion and to protect souls from satanic inspirations, so that they will not fall into the nets and the traps of devils and the soul that commands to do evil deeds.

The perfect knowledge belongs to Allah عزَّ وجلَّ. Our last prayer is all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon our Prophet, his Family, his Companions and Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.

Algiers, Jumâda Ath-Thâniya 28^th, 1418H.
Corresponding to: October 30^th, 1997.