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    Question ID: 51542Country: United States of America

    Title: Kava or Yogona/Yoqona drink consumed mostly in the South pacific countries like Fiji

    Question: I have a question regarding a traditional drink called (kava or yogona/yoqona) usually from the parts of the South Pacific like Fiji Islands. The drink is made of a root plant mixed with water and drank socially. It can make you dizzy, numb, and it has intoxication as well. But it looks like a lot of Muslims from that region still drink it, even the ones that are punctual in their prayers and go in jamat. What is the ruling on this drink? Again I am not sure if you came across this question before? There is a community of brothers who drink this often and does not think it is forbidden and I have seen them drink a lot and sometimes they cannot even walk after having quite a bit of the drink. Please looks into this and tell me so I can let the brothers know the truth regarding this drink. I would appreciate a detailed answer on this please.

    Answer ID: 51542

    Bismillah hir-Rahman nir-Rahim !

    (Fatwa: 444/362/D=05/1435) In view of the details mentioned in the question, we concluded that the drink is intoxicative. And it is mentioned in Hadith that everything that intoxicates is forbidden: كل مسكر حرام رواه مسلم And it is also mentioned in another hadith: ما أسكر كثيره فقليله حرام" رواه الترمذي، وقال العلامة الشامي: لإن ما يخل العقل لا يجوز أيضا بلا شبهة (الدر مع الرد 10/40 زكريا) So, according to Shariah, it is haram and unlawful to drink the above mentioned drink.

    Allah (Subhana Wa Ta'ala) knows Best

    Darul Ifta,

    Darul Uloom Deoband, India