Is Drinking Poison permissible in debates citing Khalid bin Walid drank it?

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Question: What is the ruling on drinking poison in debates between a Muslim and a Christian (or any other Non-Muslim) to prove whose religion is true? It is reported that Khalid bin Walid also drank poison and nothing happened to him. Is this true?

 

Summary of Answer: It is completely forbidden in Islam to deliberately consume anything harmful, such as poison, or any such thing that may cause detrimental consequences to one’s health, safety and life. The Truth of Islam does not require proving its legitimacy with irresponsible and radical actions. Instead, one should strive to defend it through intellectual dialogue as Truth appeals to intellects.

 

Answer: Praise be to Allah.

Firstly,

It is completely forbidden in Islam to deliberately consume anything harmful, such as drinking poison, or any such thing that may cause detrimental consequences to one’s health, safety and life.

As Allah says: “وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ” “And do not kill yourselves” (An-Nisa 4:29), and He also says: “وَلَا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ” “And do not throw yourselves with your own hands into destruction…” (Al-Baqarah 2:195).

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “لاَ ضَرَرَ وَلاَ ضِرَارَ” “There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm.” (Narrated by Ibn Majah (2341), and authenticated by Al-Albani in Sahih Ibn Majah).

It is said in Kashshaaf al-Qina (كَشّافُ القِناع), (6/189): “Anything harmful, whether poisons or otherwise, is not permissible, based on the words of Allah, the Most High: “And do not throw yourselves with your own hands into destruction” (Al-Baqarah 2:195). And in Al-Waadih it states: “The well-known view is that poison is impure. This is possible, given that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ate from the poisoned arm”. In Al-Tabsira it states: “Whatever is harmful in large quantities is permissible in small quantities; therefore, a small amount of scammony, saffron, and similar substances is permissible, provided that they are harmless, since the reason for their prohibition is absent.” End quote. 1

As for what was reported about Khalid bin Walid (may Allah be pleased with him) that he drank poison and it did not harm him is one of his miracles. Miracles are not sought after, nor can they be used as an analogy.

Sheikh Al-Albani, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “This act undertaken by Khalid ibn al-Walid was not based on previous experiences, but rather on his trust in God Almighty. This is one of the extraordinary things that cannot be compared to, nor should it be taken as a basis for any action.

People in such a story, the story of Khalid drinking poison, are on opposite sides. Some of them deny this, although it is proven from him with a sound chain of transmission. Some of them make this the origin of such misguidance that we have previously refuted. Neither of them were correct.

The story of Khalid ibn al-Walid drinking poison is like the story of Al-Ala’ al-Hadrami walking on the sea until he reached the other shore. This was sufficient to persuade the polytheists and disbelievers there to convert to Islam when they witnessed such a miracle.

Things that go against the known general traditions are contrary to the norm, and what goes against the norm cannot be taken as a norm.” End quote. 2

Authenticity of the report regarding Khalid bin Walid drinking Poison

There are few narrations regarding him drinking poison which are weak and unauthentic while there is an authentic report as well.

For example the report narrated by Al-Mu’afi ibn Zakariya in “Al-Jalees Al-Salih” (p. 127), where he said Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Duraid told us, saying: Al-‘Uqali told us, saying: Muhammad ibn Marzuq told us, saying: Hisham ibn Muhammad ibn al-Sa’ib told us, on the authority of ‘Awanah ibn al-Hakam, and Sharqi ibn Qatami and Abu Mikhnaf, who said: When Khalid ibn al-Walid returned from al-Yamamah… he narrated the story. This is a very weak chain of narration, as it includes weak narrators such as Hisham ibn Muhammad, Abu Mikhnaf, and Sharqi. It also has a severe interruption, as these three—Awana ibn al-Hakam, Sharqi ibn Qutami, and Abu Mikhnaf—did not live during the time of Khalid, may God be pleased with him.

Similarly, Al-Tabari reported in “Al-Tarikh” (3/362) a chain of narration which is weak due to the weakness and ignorance of the men in its chain of transmission.

However, there is an authentic narration regarding this as mentioned below:

On the authority of Sufyan ibn Uyaynah, on the authority of Ismail ibn Abi Khalid, on the authority of Qays ibn Abi Hazim, who said: “I saw Khalid ibn al-Walid being presented with poison. He asked, ‘What is this?'” They said, “Poison.” He said, “In the name of God,” and swallowed it.

It was narrated by Imam Ahmad in “Fada’il al-Sahaba” (2/816) and by al-Tabarani in “al-Mu’jam al-Kabir” (4/106), and the wording is his. The editor of “Fada’il al-Sahaba” authenticated it.

Al-Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “There are many virtues of Khalid narrated by Ibn ‘Asakir, the most authentic of which is what Ibn Abi Khalid narrated on the authority of Qays ibn Abi Hazim, who said: ‘I saw Khalid ibn al-Walid being brought poison, and he asked, ‘What is this?’ They said, ‘Poison.’ He said, ‘In the name of God,’ and drank it.” End quote from “Tarikh al-Islam” (2/127-128). 4

Al-Bayhaqi, may God have mercy on him, included it in a chapter entitled, “Chapter on the protection against poison in saying the name of God Almighty.” End quote from “Dala’il al-Nubuwwah” (7/106).

Secondly,

It makes no sense using this incident of Khalid bin Walid (may Allah be pleased with him) drinking poison as a reference to do the same in debates and challenges. This is because the basic principle is that drinking poison is forbidden, as previously mentioned.

There is an authentic hadith in which Uthman bin Affan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “He who recites three times every morning and evening: ‘Bismillahil-ladhi la yadurru ma’as-mihi shai’un fil-ardi wa la fis-sama’i, wa Huwas-Sami’ul-‘Alim (In the Name of Allah with Whose Name there is protection against every kind of harm in the earth or in the heaven, and He is the All-Hearing and All- Knowing),’ nothing will harm him.” [Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi].

So based on above hadith, one may argue saying “can’t we read this dua (supplication) and drink poison?” Scholars have explained that afflictions may occur even with the recitation of the above-mentioned dhikr, due to the weakness of the reciter’s faith, or the presence of an impediment that prevents him from benefiting from the dhikr and its apparent effect, or it can occur as a trial/test for the believer.

Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “Supplications and invocations of protection are like weapons, and a weapon is like its striker, not just its edge. Whenever the weapon is a complete weapon without defect, and the arm is strong, and the impediment is absent, then it can achieve a devastating effect on the enemy. Whenever one of these three is missing, the effect is absent.” (End quote from Al-Daa wad-Dawa’ الداء والدواء, p. 35). 5

Conclusion,

It is completely forbidden in Islam to deliberately consume anything harmful, such as drinking poison, or any such thing that may cause detrimental consequences to one’s health, safety and life. The Truth of Islam does not require proving its legitimacy with irresponsible and radical actions. Instead, one should strive to defend it through intellectual dialogue and reasoning as Truth automatically appeals to intellects.

Walahualam (and Allah knows best)!

 

Footnotes:
    1. https://shamela.ws/book/622/6768
    2. Miscellaneous Recordings – Tape: 212
    3. https://shamela.ws/book/35100/1303
    4. https://shamela.ws/book/721/838