Nebiz refers to the beverages made by soaking dates and raisins in water and boiling them. Ibn Taymiyyah notes that the Messenger of Allah and the Companions drank it without tolerance and stopped drinking once it fermented (Ibn Taymiyyah, Majmu’ al-Fatawa, 34/195). Nebiz is consumed like a compote or syrup and can become intoxicating.
According to the Hanafi school, drinking nebiz made from dates and raisins is considered permissible even if it has fermented and become sharp (Serahsi, Al-Mabsut, 24/5-6; Aliyyu’l-Qari, Fath al-Babi al-Inaya, 3/46-49). Hanafis also consider grape juice boiled down to a third (müselles) to be halal (Aliyyu’l-Qari, Fath al-Babi al-Inaya, 3/46). Abu Hanifa and Abu Yusuf support their view with a hadith stating that non-intoxicating amounts of beverages are permissible (Daraqutni, Sunan, 4/256; Bayhaqi, al-Sunan al-Kubra, 8/297; Tabarani, al-Mu’jam al-Kabir, 10/338). However, it must not be consumed for pleasure or entertainment, and the drinker must be certain that they will not become intoxicated (Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, 10/33-34; Mawsi’li, al-Ihtiyar, 3/512; Ayni, al-Binaya, 9/537). Imam Muhammad argues that all intoxicating drinks are haram (Bukhari, “Ashriba,” 1; Muslim, “Ashriba,” 73; Abu Dawood, “Ashriba,” 5; Tirmidhi, “Ashriba,” 3; Ibn Majah, “Ashriba,” 10; Nasai, “Ashriba,” 25). Hanafi jurists have issued fatwas against drinking these beverages due to the spread of corruption in society, aligning with Imam Muhammad’s view (Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, 10/36; Mawsi’li, al-Ihtiyar, 3/512-513; Kasani, Badai al-Sanai, 5/116).