Is Coffee haram in Islam? Islamic Story of a Coffee Lover

وَلَا تَقۡفُ مَا لَـيۡسَ لَـكَ بِهٖ عِلۡمٌ​ ؕ اِنَّ السَّمۡعَ وَالۡبَصَرَ وَالۡفُؤَادَ كُلُّ اُولٰۤـئِكَ كَانَ عَنۡهُ مَسۡـُٔوۡلًا‏

"And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart all of these will be questioned about."

(Surah 17 Al-Isra, Ayat 36)

Kanz-ul-Irfan Translation

Laila’s Coffee and the Art of Finding Calm;

October 1st marks International Coffee Day 

A day celebrated across the globe, honoring a simple drink that carries warmth, comfort, and memories in its steam. The first coffee house is said to have opened in Istanbul (then Constantinople) in 1475, named Kiva khan, a place that became a cultural beacon of the Ottoman era.

Readers,

Even if this post is late, but this topic reminds me of someone. Laila, a girl who was nothing short of extraordinary.

Some stories don’t begin with love or heartbreak; they begin with a cup of coffee. And some stories unfold quietly in the hearts of people who watch the world, unnoticed.

Laila was that kind of story. She had a radiant smile, laughter that could light up a dark room, and mischievous, sharp doe eyes always sparkling with curiosity and wit. She spoke her mind freely, often teasing, joking, or laughing before she even realized what she said. Some called her bold, some called her mischievous, others misunderstood her entirely.

Life had not been easy. Her mother, a single parent, was exhausted by life’s harshness and often vented her frustration in sharp words. Teachers and classmates judged her, friends misread her intentions. Laila became a master of self-defense with words, confident yet cautious, wearing her courage like armor. She had learned early that the world would misunderstand her if she didn’t stand up for herself.

But behind those confident eyes, few noticed the depth of her thoughts. Laila often replayed conversations, thoughts, and moments that others had long forgotten. If someone hurt her, she would smile politely, let it slide, and later retreat to the sanctuary of her thoughts.

Coffee became Her Therapeutic Act

Bitter coffee matched the bitterness in her heart, yet soothed it. Cold coffee brought a quiet calm, a pause in the storm of her mind. Reading novels became another refuge books that allowed her to feel, release, and reflect. She didn’t crave drama or envy; she craved a pause, a release from constant judgment and pressure.

Even when overwhelmed with emotions, anxiety, overthinking, frustration she endured. She learned to survive in a world full of judgmental smiles and sweetly deceptive words. And through it all, there was Ayesha, her friend, calm, patient, and understanding, who listened without judging and gave silent strength.

One afternoon at a café, Ayesha gently said:

"Laila, you don’t need to fight with everyone. Sometimes, strength is silent, not loud."

Laila, teasing with a smile, replied:

"I don’t understand you. Are you in lecturing mood today?"

Ayesha smiled, soft and patient:

"It’s not a lecture, it’s a forewarning out of love."

Laila wasn’t ready. Advice often felt like a weight she couldn’t carry. She excused herself and walked out. But the words lingered, quietly settling in her heart.

Home wasn’t easier. Her mother’s sharp words haunted her, mornings were restless, nights sleepless, the world too overwhelming. Yet, Laila persisted. She made her way to school quietly, endured the small cruelties of classmates and teachers, and returned home.

Laila’s Quiet Storm:

The Girl and Her Cup of Coffee When Anger Turned Into a Prayer

The door slammed. Laila didn’t even realize how loud it was until the echo came back at her. Good. No one home. Her mother was at work that meant she could finally breathe, maybe even break down without being questioned.

She threw her school bag on the bed and sat there, motionless for a second. Then it hit that endless storm of thoughts. Her head felt heavy, like it would burst open if one more thought tried to crawl in.

She was angry. Really angry.

And whenever anger or frustration hit her, she reached for coffee her old habit, her comfort, her escape.

By now, it had become a ritual.

She didn’t even know if it was a good or bad thing anymore. All she knew was that her head was pounding, thoughts spinning like a storm.

Something had happened at school that day, something that tore her apart inside.

A rumor.

A label.

An accusation.

Her own friend, the one she used to tease playfully, joking that she was “too flirty” had turned against her.

It was never meant to hurt anyone; it was always just laughter, harmless teasing. She was a decent girl , reserved and strong.

But today, the whispers were cruel.

A lie spread like wildfire.

They said she was the flirty one. She was the problem.

No one saw what really happened ,how those same boys had mocked her, crossed limits, thrown words like knives.

No one noticed the moments she endured quietly, until the day she fought back and suddenly, she was “the bad girl.”

The bad character, who flirts with girls and Fight with boys leaving a stain on her reputation.

"Always the girl's fault, right? No matter what happens. She's the one to blame."

Ayesha, her only friend left, said gently, “Tell your mom.”

But she couldn’t.

Because her mother’s words hurt more than the world’s judgment. They didn’t heal they pierced.

So she did what she always did when the world felt too loud

She made herself a cup of black iced coffee.

The bitter taste matched the storm inside her.

Her hands trembled as she took each sip. Her thoughts froze, her brain felt heavy, swollen with everything unsaid.

She wanted to disappear.

A voice. Quiet, but firm.

The inner voice that speaks truth, not whispers of doubt(negative voice) is the voice of conscious it tells you What's right, not what confuses you

• Why would you become what they say you are?

• You’re not bad. You’re good.

• Allah made you pure and He sees your pain.

Tears welled up.

She whispered to herself,

She whispers to her inner voice, "they call me characterless, I fight, I love, I live, and for that they brand me with a stain that no one can wash away.

But her inner voice denied and whispered, "No, there is One who can".

“Talk to Allah.”

She washed her face, made wudu(ablution), and bowed down in prayer.

Every tear that fell carried a piece of her pain.

Her tears soaked into the prayer mat not of weakness, but of surrender.

Because a false accusation on a girl’s character cuts deeper than any wound and yet, she found healing not from the world, but in the quiet conversation between her and her Creator.

What’s wrong with me? Why can’t they just understand that I’m normal? That I’m just… me.

"Ya Allah,” she whispered, "You made every soul, every kind of heart. You’re the One who gives life, who shapes minds. Then why do people hate my attitude? If my softness feels like a sin, should I become hard just to survive?"

"Tell me, Allah what do You want me to be?”

Her chest hurt, but her heart it felt lighter. Somehow, she felt heard.

After a long silence, she stood up. Her eyes were swollen, her face pale but peaceful. She made herself a cup of coffee her only ritual, her one comfort. The warmth touched her lips like a friend she’d known forever.

Scrolling through her phone, she tried to distract herself with a film including her favorite character, a “bad boy”, she secretly loved. That careless charm, that rebellion she’d never dare to live. She had grown so used to those pretending-to-be-good hypocrites the ones who never missed a chance to stain her name that she’d started believing maybe bad people were the only real ones left.

Their words had twisted her thoughts so deeply that sometimes a whisper crept into her mind:

What if I become bad too? Maybe then, the world will finally stop hating me.

she was just about to open his video,when something inside her paused, trembling between guilt and longing.

The screen blurred. Her head leaned back. Sleep crept in, gentle and uninvited.

But just as her eyelids fell shut, a voice rose deep, echoing, powerful. A man’s voice. Not flirtatious. Not mocking. It was real, grounding, and somehow, divine.

Her phone had auto-played a video a scholar’s voice speaking softly about balance, about how Allah loves the heart that struggles between what it wrong and what is right?

Islam's warning against False accusations

Islam is strongly condemns false accusations. She was startled had he read my heart ? She immediately turned her attention. The scholar recited a hadith.

“Whoever falsely accuses a Muslim, Allah will throw him into Hell until he withdraws his false statement.”

(Sunan Abi Dawood, Hadith No. 3597)

An accusation is not just words, its pointing a finger at someone's character and honor.

The scholar explained, "So do not be afraid if someone speaks ill of you. Allah is with you, even if the whole world turns against you".

Then he gently changed the topic. He said, "Many people out of anxiety or emotional pain drink too much coffee. Or they lean on some other habit to cope but whatever it is, relying on harmful habits to escape feelings is never the solution."

The Islamic Scholar explained that in the modern world, people seek instant relief, often turning to drinks like tea or coffee as shortcuts. But dependence on anything, even something beneficial, could become harmful.

Islamic Perspective on Coffee as a ritual:

Coffee is permissible, neither haram nor makruh (discourage but doesn't forbidden). It has benefits, but moderation is key. Even centuries before scholars who drank coffee to stay awake for prayers did not exceed limits.

Quranic wisdom:

"Eat and drink, but do not be extravagant. Indeed, He does not like those who waste."

(Al-A'raaf 7:31)

Excess of anything food, drink, or pleasure disturbs balance. It fosters restlessness, anxiety, and inner chaos.

Prophetic guidance:

Miqdam bin Ma'dikarib said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying: 'The human does not fill any container that is worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat what will support his back. If this is not possible, then a third for food, a third for drink, and third for his breath.'

(Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2380)

Don't let yourself be pulled Towards Evil( Self Purification and healthy habits)

"It is not wisdom to see Evil (Bad People) as Good."

On the authority of Abu Sa`eed al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say, “Whosoever of you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then [let him change it] with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart and that is the weakest of faith.

(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 49)

International Coffee Day & Self Reflection.

Laila realized slowly that the sharp words of her mother and the gentle guidance of Ayesha were not burdens they were lessons. Balance, patience, and inner calm were possible.

Too much of anything, even coffee, tastes bitter. But in moderation, it heals, comforts, and clarifies.

Sometimes, we face people who try to pull us down, accuse us unfairly, or spread negativity. It’s natural to feel upset, but becoming bad in return is never the solution.

1. Habits Shape Us

Even small actions, when repeated, can become habits. Drinking too much coffee to cope with stress or guilt can quietly harm your body and mind.

2. Small Wrongs Matter

Avoid using coffee or other distractions to escape your emotions. Facing your feelings with patience and faith strengthens your soul.

3. Check Yourself Daily

Pause. Reflect. Ask yourself: Am I acting in line with my values and Allah’s guidance?

4. Purify Your Heart

Cleanse your mind from envy, anger, and negativity. True peace comes from a calm heart, not endless cups of coffee.

5. Resist Being Pulled into Wrongdoing

Don’t let someone else’s bad behavior make you do wrong. Stay kind, stay patient, stay true.

6. Practical Coffee Tip

Black coffee, latte, espresso all are fine in moderation. But don’t let them replace self-care, prayer, or inner reflection. Your body and soul deserve respect.

Remember: Allah is always with you, even when the world seems against you. Choosing patience, self-discipline, and goodness is the real strength.

Laila understood now that peace is not found in chaos, it lives in balance. Strength is not stubbornness, it’s patience. True friends, like Ayesha, guide us back to ourselves. Their presence is like a blooming garden, refreshing the soul, clearing the mind, and bringing inner smiles.

A Lesson in Truth, Forgiveness, and Guidance

Now, she no longer cared what anyone said about her, because she had found the secret she had been searching for so long. Allah had held her close, and through the guidance of the scholar, she had been rightly guided.

The next day, when she arrived at school, she was surprised. The very girl who had falsely accused her stood before everyone.

To her astonishment, the girl confessed openly:

“I am sorry. Please forgive me. I tried to harm you because I was jealous of your character and your beautiful smile. You are a righteous girl, and your heart is full of goodness.”

In this way, the one who had once falsely accused her became the witness to her truth.

Laila’s healing was gradual, quiet, beautiful. Coffee was still a comfort, but no longer a crutch. She could enjoy life, appreciate people, and dislike evil without hating anyone. She learned to respond to her mother’s harsh words with calm, and finally, she felt at peace.

In the end, Laila understood: true balance, calm, and joy come from moderation, reflection, and the right company just like her favorite cup of coffee. And this was a story of International

Coffee Day & Self Reflection.

Comment and share with someone you can relate to.

جَزَاكُمُ ٱللّٰهُ خَيْرًا