By Allaah I will never drink alcohol again

 

There was a Muslim, Aboo Mihjan Ath-Thaqafee (may Allaah be pleased with him) who was an alcoholic. He was punished several times for it but he still went back to it. In fact, due to his serious addiction to alcohol, he willed to his son saying:

“If I die, bury me by the side of a grapevine so that its root will water my bones after my death. And do not bury in the desert for I fear to have to taste it if I die.”

When the Muslims were summoned to go out to fight the Persians in the battle of al-Qaadisiyyah, Aboo Mihjan went out with them carrying his provisions and belongings. He did not forget to carry along wine with him! He inserted it between his belongings. When they got to Al-Qaadisiyyah, Rustum requested to face Sa’d bin Abee Waqqaas, the commander of the Muslims.

The exchange of fire commenced between the two armies. Then the devil whispered to Aboo Mihjan, so he concealed himself in a distant place and drank the wine. When Sa’d (may Allaah be pleased with him) knew about it, he was angry with him and forbade him from entering into the battle, and gave instruction that Aboo Mihjan should be chained and locked up in the tent. When the battle started and Aboo Mihjan heard the whining of the horses and shouting of warriors, he could not bear to remain in chains. Rather, he yearned for martyrdom; he yearned to serve this religion and to sacrifice his life for the sake of Allaah, the Most High, even if he was a sinner and even if he was addicted to alcohol. But he was a Muslim who loves Allaah and His Messenger. So he began to be regretful over his condition and began to chant moving poetic stanzas mentioning his strong desire to partake in the battle.

He began to call out with a loud voice. So the wife of Sa’d answered him: “What do you want?” He said: “Untie the chain from my legs, and give me Balqaa’ (Sa’d’s horse) to fight. If Allaah grant me martyrdom, and that is what I want (then good); but if I live, I promise you, by Allaah, that I will return so that you will put the chains back on my legs. He was pleading and begging her till she unchained him and gave him the horse. He put on his coat of mail and covered his face with armour. Then he mounted the horse like a lion and threw himself in the midst of the disbelievers, defending and protecting this religion. He attached his soul to the hereafter and the devil did not succeed in discouraging him from rendering service to this religion. He pounced on the people playing with their necks between the two rows with his spear and weapons, people were amazed about him since they did not see him during the day. Aboo Mihjan went forth fighting and risking his life cheap for the sake of Allaah. Indeed Aboo Mihjan went forth!

Meanwhile Sa’d bin Abee Waqqaas, had been injured in his thigh and was not in the battle field. However, he was watching the battle from afar. When he saw Aboo Mihjan, he was surprised about the strength of the fight and said: “Fight, Aboo Mihjan fight and attack, al-Balqaa’, attack!’ When the battle was over, Aboo Mihjan returned to his prison and chains. Sa’d came down and found his horse sweating and said: “What is this?” Then they narrated the story of Aboo Mihjan to him and he was pleased with him.  He released him and said: “By Allaah, I will never flog you because of alcohol.” So Aboo Mihjan said: “By Allaah, I will never drink alcohol again.”  

Source: Refer to Ibn Abee Shaybah (33746) and Sa’eed bin Mansoor in his Sunan (2502). The chain of narrators is authentic as mentioned by Ibn Hajar is al-Isaabah. See also Tahdheeb at-Tahdheeb (8/127). Transl. by Abdus-Samee’ Abdus-Salaam.