SECTION ON DRINKS · 15 – DRINKING BY FOLDING THE MOUTH OF A WATERSKIN OR LEATHER BAG
3720 – It is narrated from Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade folding the mouths of waterskins in two. [397]
EXPLANATION
It has been prohibited to fold the mouth of a waterskin or leather bag in two and drink from it because it is harmful from a health perspective. This is because, as the mouth is repeatedly placed on the doubled-over mouth of the waterskin, it becomes a breeding ground for germs and begins to smell.
3721 – It is narrated from ʿAbdullāh al-Anṣārī, the father of ʿĪsā: The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him), on the day of the Battle of Uhud, asked for a water container made of leather and said, “Fold the mouth of the container in two, fold it.” Then he drank water from the mouth of the container. [398]
EXPLANATION
In this hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded that the mouth of the container, called idāwa, which was used to carry water during a journey, be folded. This is because this incident took place during a journey, and since it was not possible to drink otherwise, the mouth of the container was folded. Although he generally forbade folding the mouth of a leather bag, his own drinking in this manner can be interpreted as having been done out of necessity.