What should I do if someone gives me alcohol as a gift?
In most cases, thank them warmly, then pour the alcohol away or hand it back. The kind thing is to accept the thought and not the bottle, if you can. If you already have it, don't drink it, sell it or give it to someone else. You can stay kind and friendly throughout.
If you can, gently decline
When someone holds out a bottle, the easiest moment to say no is right then. Smile and say, "That's so thoughtful of you. I don't drink, so I can't accept it, but thank you for thinking of me." Most people take it well, especially if you add something warm. Handing the bottle straight back to the giver is generally seen as different from passing it on to someone else. If you are unsure, ask a trusted local imam.
What the Prophet ﷺ did
A man once brought the Prophet ﷺ a small water-skin of wine as a gift. The Prophet ﷺ asked if he knew that Allah had forbidden it. The man didn't know, so he whispered to another man to sell it. The Prophet ﷺ said that the One who forbade drinking it has forbidden selling it too, and the skin was opened and the wine was poured out (Sahih Muslim 1579). Notice that he did not shame the man. He taught him gently, and then dealt with the wine.
When Abu Talha asked what to do with wine that orphans had inherited, the Prophet ﷺ told him to pour it out. Abu Talha asked whether it could be made into vinegar, and he answered no (Sunan Abi Dawud 3675).
If you already accepted it
- Don't drink it, even a sip "to be polite".
- Don't sell it or pass it on. The Prophet ﷺ said Allah cursed wine, its drinker, its server, its seller, its buyer and the one to whom it is conveyed, among others (Sunan Abi Dawud 3674). That is why most scholars say not to regift it either.
- Pour it away down the sink and put the bottle in the recycling.
- Don't keep it "for guests". See Can I keep alcohol at home for non-Muslim guests?
It may feel wasteful, especially if the bottle was expensive. Remember that you are protecting your faith, which is worth far more.
Keep the relationship warm
A gift of alcohol is almost always a sign of affection from someone who doesn't know the rule or forgot. Send a thank-you note or text for the thought. Then, kindly steer future gifts in a different direction: "I love chocolates, tea or dates, if you ever want to bring me something." If the giver is a boss or client, see Can Muslims accept gifts from clients? For buying alcohol as a present, see Can I buy duty-free alcohol as a gift?
- Decline politely if you can, and thank the giver for the thought.
- Never drink, sell or give away the bottle; pour it out.
- The Prophet ﷺ taught gently and dealt with the wine firmly.
- Suggest other gifts for next time.
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