Q 5: What is the ruling on someone who is about to die and nothing can cure them except Khamr (intoxicant) especially that they live in a very cold area?

A: Receiving medical treatment is Mashru` (Islamically acceptable) provided that it is done by means that Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) and His Messenger (peace be upon him) permit. Only permissible objects can be sources of cure. On the contrary, Haram (prohibited) objects can not be means to recovery. Amongst the proofs for the Tahrim (prohibition) of seeking treatment in Haram medicines generally and in Khamr particularly is the Hadith Mu`allaq (a Hadith missing link in the chain of narration, reported directly from the Prophet) which is related by Al-Bukhari in his Sahih (authentic) Book of Hadith on the authority of Ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him): "Allah did not make your cure in whatever He prohibited for you." However, Al-Tabarany found the missing link in the chain of narration of the foregoing Hadith Mu`allaq and mentioned that all its narrators are narrators of Sahih Hadith. The foregoing Hadith is also related by Ahmad, Ibn Hibban in his Sahih Book of Hadith, Al-Bazzar, Abu Ya`la, and Al-Tabarany on the authority of Um Salamah while the narrators of Abu Ya`la are Thiqat (trustworthy). Another proof for this is related by Abu Dawud in his Sunan (Hadith compilations classified by jurisprudential themes) from the Hadith of Abu Al-Darda' who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, Allah has sent down both the disease and the cure, and He has appointed a cure for every disease, so treat yourselves medically, but use nothing unlawful. Moreover, it is related in Sahih Muslim on the authority of Tariq ibn Suwayd Al-Ju`fy that he asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) about Khamr so the Prophet forbade him to make it and detested this. Tariq told the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he would make Khamr for medical treatment. The Prophet (peace be upon him) then said, It is not a medicine, but an ailment. (Part No. 22; Page No. 88) It is worth mentioning that things which are prescribed by Allah comprise interests either pure or preponderant and vice versa. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) is All-Wise and All-Knowing. Thinking that a disease can not be cured except by drinking Khamr is a delusion. There are many religious and natural medicines and Allah Alone (Glorified and Exalted be He) is the One Who grants recovery when a medicine is used. Thus using the Mashru` medicines is sometimes accompanied by relying on the medicines themselves and at other times is accompanied by relying on Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He). According to Shari`ah (Islamic law), people have to believe that medicines may or may not be beneficial (up to Allah's Will). Yet, relying entirely on medicines (without linking their effect to Allah's Will) is Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship). (Part No. 22; Page No. 89) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.