Is it Halal to drink beer?

Beer is one of the world’s most popular alcoholic beverages, but its status in Islam has been debated. Many Muslims wonder if drinking beer is allowed (halal) or prohibited (haram) according to Islamic law.

Table of Contents

What Does Islam Say About Alcohol?

In Islam, the general ruling is that drinking alcohol is haram (forbidden). This prohibition comes directly from the Quran:

“O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.” (Quran 5:90)

The Arabic word translated as “intoxicants” in this verse is khamr, which literally means wine from grapes. However, Islamic scholars have agreed that the prohibition applies to all intoxicating substances, regardless of their source.

There is also a famous hadith in which Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) cursed ten people connected to khamr, including:

The one who squeezes it (the grapes etc)
The one for whom it is squeezed
Its drinker

Its carrier
The one it is carried to
The one who serves it

The one who sells it
The one who utilizes the money from its sale
The one who buys it

The one for whom it is bought

This hadith makes it clear that dealing with alcohol in any form is forbidden. Based on this, most scholars agree that drinking beer – an alcoholic beverage – would not be halal.

Types of Islamic Rulings

Before discussing this issue further, it’s important to understand the five main categories of halal and haram in Islam:

Wajib (obligatory) – Every Muslim must perform obligatory actions like the five daily prayers.
Mustahabb (recommended) – Actions that earn reward but are not obligatory, like giving charity.
Mubah (neutral) – Actions that are permitted and have no spiritual impact, like eating or dressing in colors.

Makruh (disliked) – Actions that earn sin but are not haram, like divorce.
Haram (prohibited) – Actions that are strictly forbidden, like murder.

Based on the Quran and hadith evidence, drinking alcohol would be considered haram without exception. However, scholars have derived some exceptions regarding beer, which we’ll explore next.

Exceptions and Differences of Opinion

Despite the clear prohibition, some scholars have shown leniency regarding beer, leading to four main positions:

All beer is haram – This is the majority opinion, based on the definition of khamr being any intoxicating liquid.
Only beer that gets one intoxicated is haram – A minority accept low-alcohol beer that does not intoxicate.

Beer from barley is haram, others may be halal – Some differentiate between beer from grapes vs. barley.
Beer is halal – A tiny minority claim beer is not khamr and thus not haram.

Let’s explore each opinion in more detail:

1. All Beer is Haram

The majority opinion across schools of thought is that drinking any kind of beer is haram, for several reasons:

Beer contains alcohol, which is clearly prohibited in the Quran and hadith.
Beer is an intoxicating substance, which is the very definition of khamr.

Barley beer is considered nabidh, another prohibited intoxicant mentioned by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Beer causes drunkenness, which Islam strictly forbids.
Drinking beer involves consuming, selling, and dealing with haram khamr.

Based on this evidence, scholars and institutions like Al-Azhar University state that drinking any kind of beer will be considered haram without exception.

2. Only Intoxicating Beer is Haram

A minority of scholars have shown some flexibility regarding beer that contains little or no alcohol. Their main evidence includes:

Only khamr that intoxicates is haram according to some hadiths.

Trace amounts of alcohol naturally occur in some juice, so it cannot be entirely avoided.
The Quran bans wine may reach intoxication or gambling, suggesting that without drunkenness it may be permitted.

Based on this, some contemporary scholars permit non-alcoholic or low-alcohol beer that does not cause intoxication when consumed. However, many object to this conditional permission, since it can be a slippery slope toward drinking stronger alcoholic drinks.

3. Only Barley Beer is Haram

A smaller group of scholars differentiate between beer made from grapes and from barley. Their key points include:

The Quran and hadith texts specifically prohibit khamr (wine from grapes). They do not mention barley.
Nabidh (fermented barley drink) is prohibited separately in some hadiths, suggesting beer from barley is haram, but other sources may not be.

The Quran mentions the juice of grapes having the potential to intoxicate. It does not attribute this property to other sources like barley.

Based on this distinction, some scholars state that only beer made from barley would clearly be haram, while beer made from other ingredients like wheat, millet or fruit may technically be permitted.

4. Beer is Halal

A tiny minority of contemporary scholars have deemed beer to be completely halal. Their main arguments include:

The Quran only prohibits wine made from grapes, not any beverage made from other sources.
Hadith prohibit nabidh, not beer, suggesting beer itself is permitted.
Neither the word beer nor its equivalent exists in classical Arabic dictionaries or Islamic texts.

Some types of beer did not exist during the time of the Prophet, so he could not have prohibited them.

However, this opinion completely disregards the wider implication that Islam prohibits all intoxicating substances. It has been rejected by the overwhelming majority of scholars.

An Alternative Viewpoint

In recent times, a practical approach has emerged, classifying beer in levels:

Non-alcoholic beer – Considered halal by those who follow the “no intoxication” opinion
Low-alcohol beer – Considered makruh (disliked) due to its doubtful status
Intoxicating beer – Unanimously considered haram by all scholars

This approach provides flexibility on doubtful cases while retaining the prohibition on intoxication established in Islamic primary sources.

Conclusion

There are four main scholarly opinions on the Islamic law regarding beer:

All beer is haram based on its classification as an intoxicant.

Only intoxicating beer is haram.
Only beer from barley is haram.
Beer is halal.

The majority view is that drinking any kind of beer is haram without exception. A practical alternative is to consider non-alcoholic beer as halal, low-alcohol beer as doubtful, and intoxicating beer as clearly haram.

However, only qualified scholars can provide authoritative rulings on whether consuming a particular type of beer is permitted or not. When in doubt, Muslims are best advised to avoid it entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is non-alcoholic beer halal?

There are differing views on non-alcoholic beer. Some consider it halal since it does not cause intoxication. Others caution against it due to its name association with haram alcoholic beer.

Is beer made from wheat or honey halal?

A minority view allows beer from ingredients other than grapes or barley. However, most scholars consider all beer types to be prohibited, regardless of their source.

Can Muslims drink beer if they have a health condition?

Islamic law permits otherwise haram substances in cases of dire necessity. However, this exception requires a credible medical prescription that beer is necessary for that particular condition, not just a general health benefit.

Is low alcohol beer under 0.5% halal?

There are mixed views on low-alcohol beer. Some consider it halal if it does not cause intoxication. Others say it remains haram due to the base substance being an intoxicant, or at least doubtfully permissible.

Can Muslims work in a restaurant that serves beer?

Serving haram drinks is impermissible in Islam. However, some contemporary scholars allow it if certain conditions are met, like not directly handling or serving the beer, denouncing it, and having no other job options.

Key Points

Drinking alcohol is clearly prohibited in the Quran and hadiths of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
There are four main scholarly positions on the Islamic ruling for beer specifically.

The majority view is that drinking any kind of beer is haram without exception.
A minority allow non-alcoholic beer that does not cause intoxication.
Some differentiate between beer from grapes, barley and other sources.

A very small minority claim all beer is halal, but this view is widely rejected.
An alternative is to judge beer in levels based on alcohol content and intoxication.
In cases of doubt or necessity, it’s best to avoid beer entirely or consult a knowledgeable scholar.

Scholarly Position	Ruling
Majority opinion	All beer is haram
Minority opinion 1	Only intoxicating beer is haram
Minority opinion 2	Only barley beer is haram
Tiny minority opinion	Beer is halal

Recap

The Islamic ruling on beer has been extensively debated among scholars. However, the mainstream view is that drinking any kind of beer is prohibited according to the Quran and teachings of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. A practical approach is to judge beer by its level of alcohol content and intoxicating effect. But when in doubt, it is best for Muslims to avoid consuming beer entirely, as a precaution against doing something haram.