Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Salam

I wanted to know something regarding state of purity. I heard that when you are intoxicated, you are impure for a period of 40 days. Recently, some one told me that this is not true.

For example, if I was to take drugs then would my prayers not be acceptable for the next 40 days?

It would be appreciated if you can advise me on this.

Jazakallah 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Alcohol and prayer invalid forty days

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 3643 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "If anyone consumes ‘khamr’ (intoxicants), Allah will not accept prayer from him for forty days, but if he repents Allah will forgive him. If he repeats the offence Allah will not accept prayer from him for forty days, but if he repents Allah will forgive him. If he again repeats the offence Allah will not accept prayer from him for forty days, but if he repents Allah will forgive him. If he repeats it a fourth time Allah will not accept prayer from him for forty days, and if he repents Allah will not forgive him, but will give him to drink of the river of the fluid flowing from the inhabitants of Hell."

Such is the gravity of the sin of consuming ‘khamr’ or intoxicants (alcohol, wine, drugs, etc.) in the Sight of Allah Subhanah, that He will not accept the prayers of a person who consumes the unlawful ‘khamr’ for forty days unless the person seeks sincere repentance for his transgression.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan