Is it wrong to let a muslim friend try a marginally alcoholic probiotic?

I have a friend who is originally from a repressive Middle-Eastern country. She is in her twenties and a moderate Muslim and lover of democracy (which is why she isn't there anymore). She has the most beautiful long wavy hair.

I was getting us some tea in the kitchen and she saw my water kefir and asked what it was. I told her that it is a fermented drink and probiotic that I drink every day because it helps me with bloating and gas and makes it more comfortable to drink milk. She said she had noticed that I seemed healthier than when she last saw me and that I had lost weight. I said to her that the beverage is very slightly alcoholic - about 1% volume - because of the fermentation process.

She then asked if she could have some.

I was delighted that she wanted to try my special drink and that she could afford herself this freedom despite being a Muslim, because I know that Muslims don't normally drink alcohol. But then I wondered: did she just not know that she was not allowed to drink alcohol under her religion and was it bad of me not to tell her?

If I was a Muslim I would have said "hey, don't you know that alcoholic beverages are haram (unclean)?". But I am not a Muslim and I do not believe that alcohol is in itself sinful. I'm the kind of Christian who believes that anything you eat or drink is fine as long as it doesn't lead you to cause harm or needlessly torture someone else's conscience or give out an inaccurate impression of who you are.

Then again, I don't know how she follows her faith (apart from being a moderate Shi'a Muslim) or whether she feels ambivalent about it. For the record it wasn't just the kefir she wanted to try: she was determined to try British tea with milk and the Italian-style gnocchi I had prepared for the both of us. She was absolutely scintillated by everything that seemed different.

Was what I did bad?

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Based on 4 votes (3 yes)
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Comments ( 9 )
  • SkullsNRoses

    You told her that it was alcoholic and she still wanted it, you did nothing wrong here. I’ve known Muslims who drink, it’s their decision.

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    • Thanks so much for your perspective.

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  • Meowypowers

    It should be her choice no matter what.

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  • kikilizzo

    I have a Muslim friend who moved to Russia and started drinking like daily. Not surprised tho seeing as that is Russian culture. I guess they arent as strict with all parts of their religion as they like to act.

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  • LloydAsher

    Depends on how stringent they take the no alcohol aspect. I think in my very rudimentary understanding of the Quran. That as long as it's not an intended benefit of the drink, ie you use it to get drunk period. It's fine

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    • I hope it's that - thanks.

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      • LloydAsher

        I mean you got to think of the muslims in pre germ theory world. It's highly likely they used water that had a slight concentration of alcohol in it to keep it fresh, as did anyone who was making a long trek. Dysentrary was a killer.

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        • Wow3986

          And here we go with the bigoted muslim hatred. You're an insensitive asshole.

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  • Millie_the_evil_saint

    That's barely alcoholic at all.... Also plenty of Muslims drink kefir. I think it's popular in Turkey?? Yeah it's a Turkish drink. Like the country Turkey... where a lot of people are Muslim. So this is such a non-issue.

    I don't know what your age is, but you don't have to treat her like a child. She's in her 20s. She might be young, but she's an adult just like you.

    And quite likely, from everything else you say about her, she probably has more life experience than you: having to leave her native home community and traveling overseas and settling in a totally different culture environment. It's nice that you are there for her and helping her adapt. But don't fall into the trap of treating her like a helpless child. She sounds like a very strong and mature adult woman.

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