Is it permissible to drink water from a liquor bottle? What does Islam say?

Allah the Almighty says, “O you who believe! Intoxicants, gambling, idols, and divining arrows are an abomination of Satan's handiwork. So avoid them, that you may be successful.” (Surah Al-Ma'idah: 90)

In Hadith, alcohol and all types of intoxicants have been declared forbidden. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Every intoxicant is alcohol, and every alcohol is forbidden.” (Sahih Muslim)

For this reason, many people wonder: Is it permissible to drink water or any other halal beverage from a bottle that previously contained alcohol, after washing it thoroughly?

Prohibition in the early Islamic period

After alcohol was declared forbidden, there was a temporary prohibition on using alcohol vessels in the early days of Islam. Scholars have mentioned several reasons for this:

• The risk of the smell or residue of alcohol remaining in the vessel.
• To prevent the revival of old habits and addiction to alcohol among new Muslims.
• To instill a sense of aversion to alcohol in people's minds.

Later, when the ruling on alcohol being forbidden was firmly established among Muslims and those concerns were alleviated, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) lifted this prohibition.

In a hadith narrated by Hazrat Buraydah (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “I had forbidden you from using certain vessels. Vessels do not make anything halal or haram. However, every intoxicating substance is haram.” (Sahih Muslim)

Opinions of scholars

According to contemporary Islamic jurists, there are two aspects to this matter.

First, the aspect of permissibility: If the liquor bottle or vessel is washed in such a way that no trace, smell, or residue of alcohol remains, then keeping water or any other halal beverage in that vessel and drinking it is permissible from the perspective of Shariah.

Second, the aspect of excellence or piety: Although it is permissible, many scholars consider it better not to use such bottles. This is because it was once used for a forbidden purpose and may cause confusion, curiosity, or negative perceptions in some people's minds.

Conclusion

In summary, drinking water from a liquor bottle after thoroughly cleaning it is permissible according to the majority of scholars. However, in the interest of piety, self-restraint, and maintaining sensitivity towards forbidden matters, it is better to avoid using such bottles.