The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) defined hamr as: “Every intoxicant is hamr, and every intoxicant is forbidden” (Bukhari, “Drinks”, 1; Muslim, “Drinks”, 73). Hamr refers to intoxicating drinks made from substances like grapes, dates, honey, wheat, and barley (Bukhari, “Drinks”, 2; Muslim, “Tafsir”, 32). Scholars such as Hattabi explained that hamr is not restricted to these five ingredients but also includes other intoxicating substances (Elmalılı, Hak Dini Kur’ân Dili, 5/3107).
Ibn Umar stated that hamr includes all intoxicating substances, including drinks made from grapes, raisins, dates, wheat, barley, and honey (Nasa’i, “Drinks”, 20; Bukhari, “Drinks”, 2; Ibn Maja, “Drinks”, 5). Anas b. Malik mentioned that when alcohol was prohibited in Medina, drinks made from dates were common (Bukhari, “Drinks”, 1).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) also foretold that future generations would change the name of intoxicating drinks made from various ingredients and continue consuming them (Bukhari, “Drinks”, 2). While most schools of Islamic law consider all intoxicants as hamr, the Hanafi school distinguishes between grape wine (as the specific form of hamr) and other types of intoxicating beverages, which are prohibited through the Sunnah (Yüksel Çayıroğlu, İslam Hukukuna Göre Helal Gıda).
Allame Hamdi Yazır explained hamr as originally meaning “to cover” and specifically referring to wine made from fresh grape juice because it clouds the mind and intoxicates. However, in the broader sense, hamr encompasses all intoxicating substances (Elmalılı, Hak Dini Kur’ân Dili, 5/3107).