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Fatwa CenterComparing reading books to consuming alcohol is wrong
Question
Al salaam alaykum i am asking regarding the meaning and interpretation of a certain hadith, the text was "What is intoxicating in abundance, then little quantaties of it are haram" I apologize for my weak translation. Could you explain that? I am very confused does it apply to good things as well, for instance if someone is passionate about reading good books and feels a rush while doing so, does that mean even reading every over periods of time is wrong?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
The mentioned Hadeeth was reported by Ahmad, Abu Daawood, At-Tirmithi, Ibn Maajah, and An-Nasaa’i 
as stated by As-Sindi in his commentary on "Sunan An-Nasaa’i", indicating that if a thing causes drunkenness by consuming much of it, then a big quantity of it or a small quantity of it is forbidden even if its small quantity does not cause drunkenness. Thus, it is clear that this Hadeeth is about alcohol [intoxicants]. In fact, its small quantity is forbidden even if it does not cause drunkenness because it leads to consuming much of it, as stated by Ibn Rajab, in his commentary on in "Saheeh Al-Bukhari". So, the Hadeeth does not talk about the good things.
As regards the example that was given in the question, which is about reading beneficial books, then reading them is permissible and it might be a recommended matter, so a person is not prevented from this unless it leads him to neglecting a religious obligation and it is not desirable for him to quit this unless it diverts him from what is more important.
With regard to the reader feeling a rush after reading these books and acquiring beneficial knowledge from them, then this is something praiseworthy.
Allaah Knows best.
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