Is it true that drinking a lot of coffee is disliked?
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The questioner : Is it true that drinking a lot of coffee is disliked?
The Shaykh : Coffee is a permissible drink, but if it is said that drinking a lot of it is harmful, it becomes forbidden. Consequently, people differ in this matter. As for the man who is told, "Do not drink coffee, for it is harmful to you," we say, "Do not drink it; it is forbidden for you." And as for the other man who is accustomed to drinking it and it does not affect him, we say, "Drink as much as you like." For this reason, no one doubts that dates are lawful. However, if it were said to a man suffering from diabetes, "Do not eat dates, for they will affect you and harm you," we would say, "Dates are forbidden for you," even though they are lawful in general. Thus, a lawful thing, whether it is food, drink, or clothing, becomes forbidden for a person if it entails harm to him. Similarly, a forbidden thing becomes lawful if it removes a dire necessity. The hungry man who fears for his life is permitted to eat carrion, the meat of the pig, and what was slaughtered for idols. A person in dire need of wearing silk—and by that I mean a man who is permitted to wear silk if he has a sensitivity, meaning itching, and the doctors say that wearing silk removes it—we say, "Wear the silk," even though it is forbidden, but it is permissible for him to wear it due to the need. The important point is that a thing may be forbidden for one person and lawful for another, depending on what his condition requires.
As for what is absolutely forbidden, it is forbidden for everyone. However, even that which is forbidden for everyone becomes lawful for a person if he is in dire necessity and his need is removed by consuming it. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Coffee is a permissible drink, but if it is said that drinking a lot of it is harmful, it becomes forbidden. Consequently, people differ in this matter. As for the man who is told, "Do not drink coffee, for it is harmful to you," we say, "Do not drink it; it is forbidden for you." And as for the other man who is accustomed to drinking it and it does not affect him, we say, "Drink as much as you like." For this reason, no one doubts that dates are lawful. However, if it were said to a man suffering from diabetes, "Do not eat dates, for they will affect you and harm you," we would say, "Dates are forbidden for you," even though they are lawful in general. Thus, a lawful thing, whether it is food, drink, or clothing, becomes forbidden for a person if it entails harm to him. Similarly, a forbidden thing becomes lawful if it removes a dire necessity. The hungry man who fears for his life is permitted to eat carrion, the meat of the pig, and what was slaughtered for idols. A person in dire need of wearing silk—and by that I mean a man who is permitted to wear silk if he has a sensitivity, meaning itching, and the doctors say that wearing silk removes it—we say, "Wear the silk," even though it is forbidden, but it is permissible for him to wear it due to the need. The important point is that a thing may be forbidden for one person and lawful for another, depending on what his condition requires.
As for what is absolutely forbidden, it is forbidden for everyone. However, even that which is forbidden for everyone becomes lawful for a person if he is in dire necessity and his need is removed by consuming it. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh.