Question # 569: Many people from the subcontinent say that drinking from a chipped cup is makrooh. Is this correct?

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All praise and thanks are due to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم).

Dear questioner,

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Shorter Answer: Multiple ahadith prohibit drinking from the cracked or chipped part of a vessel. Scholars generally interpret this as a recommendation rather than an absolute prohibition, classifying it as makrooh (disliked) but not haraam (forbidden). The recommendation appears to be rooted in concerns for potential injury, difficulty in cleaning, risk of spilling, and the possibility of bacteria accumulation. However, drinking from the unbroken portion of a chipped vessel is generally considered permissible. This guidance is seen as part of the Prophet’s wisdom in promoting hygiene and safety.

Long Answer: There are ahadith that prohibit drinking from the cracked or chipped part of a cup/vessel:

  1. Abu Saeed al-Khudri (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) “…forbade from drinking from the cracked and chipped part of the pot and that a person should not blow in the drink.” (Collected by Abu Dawood, Ibn Hibban, Ahmad and Al-Albani graded it Hasan in Silsilah Saheehah)
  2. Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) narrated: ‘It is prohibited to drink from the broken part of the pot.” (Collected by Tabarani in ‘Mujam al-Awsat’ & Al-Albani said ‘and this hadith is sahih, its isnad is sahih its narrators are trustworthy, narrators of Muslim)
  3. Abu Saeed al-Khudri (رضي الله عنه) reported: “The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) forbade drinking from the cracked place on a cup…” (This hadith is found in Abu Dawood, and classified as “Sahih li ghairihi” (authentic due to supporting evidence) by Al-Albani)

[With respect to the last hadith above,] Al-Albani [further]… quoted Ibn al-Athir’s explanation of the term, cracked place,’ “I.e., the place where it is broken, and he only forbade it because the mouth of the one drinking cannot grasp [the cup] properly and [thus] the water may spill onto his garments or body.  And it has been said: [it was said] because when the cup is washed, the place where it is cracked cannot be cleaned completely.” (An-Nihaayah) [al-Albani also] said, “And today it is possible to say: [it was said] because it is the place where germs and microbes gather, so it is from Prophetic medicine, and a scientific miracle. (Saheeh Mawaarid adh-Dhamaan)

According to Shaykh Assim al-Hakeem, the prohibition is not to state that it is prohibited or sinful to do so, but it’s not recommended. The scholars have therefore provided several possible reasons for this prohibition:

  • Potential injury from the sharp edges
  • It may be difficult to place one’s mouth properly on the cracked part
  • Water could spill from the crack onto one’s clothes.
  • The cracked area is harder to clean thoroughly and may harbor germs/bacteria.

However, it seems to be permissible to drink from the unbroken portion of a chipped vessel. (Paraphrased from Audio Lecture)

(The above reply is based on the following resources:

  • YouTube lecture of Shaykh Assim al-Hakeem
  • thealbaani.site
  • preciousgemsfromthequranandsunnah.wordpress.com)

Allahu A’lam (Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows best) and all Perfections belong to Allah, and all mistakes belong to me alone. May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive me, Ameen.

Wassalaam