(Series of Answers by the Scholar Ata Bin Khalil Abu Al-Rashtah, Ameer of Hizb ut-Tahrir, to the questions of visitors to his Facebook page)
To: Ghadeer Rooz - Mustafa Abd al-Aal - Abu Mahmoud al-Khalili - Iklil al-Jabal - Manal Bader
Questions:
1- Ghadeer Rooz: But Sheikh, toxic substances are now mixed with alcohol to prevent its intoxication—so it becomes a toxic substance and not an intoxicant. The question here is: is "toxic alcohol manufactured for perfumes" impure (najis) such that it invalidates the purity of clothes?
2- Abu Mahmoud al-Khalili: The alcohol found in perfumes is of two types; one is an intoxicant known as Ethyl alcohol, while the toxic one is known as Methyl alcohol. Is the ruling for both of them the same?
3- Mustafa Abd al-Aal: And what if it is not drunk, O Sheikh?
4- Iklil al-Jabal: Does this ruling apply to medical preparations? Especially since many hand sanitizers in most health sectors are alcoholic preparations (ethanol + isopropanol), as is the case for mouthwash. We also use alcohol in some pharmaceutical industries as a solvent or preservative.
5- Manal Bader
Assalamu alaikum dear sheikh barak allahu feek as you kindly mentioned above that alcohol if consumed will result in a drunken state...whereas sd or denatured alcohol is used in perfumes deodorant lotions and facial creams... in these cases they cannot be consumed internally (due to the change of its chemical state) what is hukm for its use? In another situation, the fuel we use for our cars is also derived from alcohol, is this also the same issue of a haram hukm? Jazak allahu kul khair & May etc you.
The Answer:
Walaikum Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh
The questions are similar, and I will summarize the answer for you as follows:
1- One type of alcohol is called Methyl. I have been told that it is not an intoxicant but is a deadly poison. Fuel spirit is of the Methyl type and is derived from wood shavings and other materials. Drinking it causes blindness and leads to death within days. Accordingly, Methyl is not wine (khamr), and it does not take the ruling of wine in terms of impurity (najasah) and prohibition (hurmah), except in terms of using Methyl as a poison according to the principle of harm. Ibn Majah narrated from 'Ubadah bin al-Samit:
عَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَضَى أَنْ لَا ضَرَرَ وَلَا ضِرَارَ
"That the Messenger of Allah ﷺ decreed that there should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm." (Sunan Ibn Majah)
2- Another type is called Ethyl, which is used in fermented or distilled intoxicating drinks. Medical spirit is of this type. Ethyl alcohol is also used in industry as a preservative for some materials, as a drying agent for moisture, as a solvent for some alkalis and fats, as an anti-freeze, as a solvent for some medicines, as a solvent for aromatic substances such as colognes and scents, and it enters into the manufacture of some carpentry materials. These uses fall into three categories:
a- A category in which alcohol is used only as a solvent or as an additive to some materials. This use does not make the alcohol lose its essence or its characteristics; rather, it remains in its composition and its intoxicating property. Therefore, this category is absolutely prohibited (haram) to use. An example of this is cologne. It is not permissible to use cologne and it remains impure (najis) because impurity has mixed with it and the intoxicating alcohol remains in its state within it. Thus, they are materials mixed with wine (khamr), and wine is impure. The evidence for this is the Hadith of al-Khushani:
Al-Daraqutni narrated from al-Khushani, who said: "I said: O Messenger of Allah, we mingle with the polytheists and we have no pots or vessels other than theirs." He said: "Dispense with them as much as you can, but if you do not find (others), then wash them with water, for water is its purifier, then cook in them."
فَإِنَّ الْمَاءَ طَهُورُهَا
"For water is its purifier." (Sunan al-Daraqutni)
This means that those vessels were impure because wine was placed in them, and they became pure after washing them. This is evidence that wine is impure. The question was about those vessels in which wine is placed, as stated in the narration of al-Khushani in Abu Dawud from Abu Tha'labah al-Khushani, that he asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying: "We live near the People of the Book and they cook pork in their pots and drink wine in their vessels." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
إِنْ وَجَدْتُمْ غَيْرَهَا فَكُلُوا فِيهَا وَاشْرَبُوا، وَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدُوا غَيْرَهَا فَارْحَضُوهَا بِالْمَاءِ وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا
"If you find other than them, then eat and drink in them. But if you do not find other than them, then wash them with water and eat and drink (in them)." (Sunan Abi Dawud)
Pork and wine are both impure (najis), so the vessels in which they are placed become impure and must be washed to purify them before use.
b- A category where the alcohol transforms from its essence and loses its intoxicating property, and it forms with other materials a new substance that has characteristics different from those of alcohol, but is not toxic. This is a new substance that does not take the ruling of wine and is pure (tahir) like any other substance to which the principle "The origin of things is permissibility unless there is evidence of prohibition" applies.
c- A category where the alcohol transforms from its essence and loses its intoxicating property, and it forms with other materials a new substance that has characteristics different from those of alcohol, but is toxic. Its ruling is that of poison: pure (tahir), but its use is prohibited for drinking or for causing harm to oneself or others.
3- Accordingly, if Ethyl alcohol is mixed with other materials, the ruling depends on knowing whether the resulting mixture loses the intoxicating property of Ethyl or not, and whether the mixture is toxic or non-toxic... This requires a verification of the reality (tahqiq al-manat) by experts and specialists. If it is proven scientifically or practically that this mixture intoxicates, then it takes the ruling of wine, indicating that the Ethyl in this mixture has not lost its property and essence. However, if it is proven scientifically or practically that this mixture no longer intoxicates and is not toxic, then it does not take the ruling of wine nor the ruling of poison. If it is proven scientifically or practically that this mixture no longer intoxicates but is toxic, then it does not take the ruling of wine, but rather the ruling of poison.
Based on this:
• Regarding the question of "Ghadeer Rooz" who says "toxic substances are mixed with alcohol to prevent its intoxication—so it became a toxic substance and not an intoxicant," the answer is that if this matter is confirmed by specialists—that the mixture in this case does not intoxicate but is a toxic substance—then it does not take the ruling of wine and is not impure (najis). Rather, the ruling of poison is applied to it, meaning its use for drinking or causing harm to others is what is prohibited.
• Regarding the question of Brother Abu Mahmoud al-Khalili who says, "The alcohol found in perfumes is of two types; one is an intoxicant known as Ethyl alcohol, while the toxic one is known as Methyl alcohol. Is the ruling for both of them the same?"
The answer is that their ruling is not one. The intoxicant takes the ruling of wine, while the mixture with toxic Methyl alcohol takes the ruling of poison. However, as it has been conveyed to me, perfumes do not contain Methyl but rather Ethyl. So, verify this matter from specialists, because the ruling depends on whether it is intoxicating or toxic and non-intoxicating.
• Regarding the question of Brother Mustafa Abd al-Aal: "And what if it is not drunk, O Sheikh?"
If the resulting mixture is an intoxicant like cologne, it takes the ruling of wine. Wine is prohibited in ten instances and not only if it is drunk. Al-Tirmidhi narrated from Anas bin Malik who said:
لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي الخَمْرِ عَشَرَةً: عَاصِرَهَا، وَمُعْتَصِرَهَا، وَشارِبَهَا، وَحامِلَهَا، وَالمَحْمُولَةُ إِلَيْهِ، وَساقِيَهَا، وَبَائِعَهَا، وَآكِلَ ثَمَنِهَا، وَالمُشْتَرِي لَهَا، وَالمُشْتَرَاةُ لَهُ
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ cursed ten regarding wine: the one who squeezes it, the one for whom it is squeezed, the one who drinks it, the one who carries it, the one to whom it is carried, the one who serves it, the one who sells it, the one who consumes its price, the one who purchases it, and the one for whom it is purchased." (Sunan al-Tirmidhi)
So any one of these ten is prohibited.
• Regarding the question of Iklil al-Jabal: "Does this ruling apply to medical preparations? Especially since many hand sanitizers in most health sectors are alcoholic preparations (ethanol + isopropanol), as is the case for mouthwash. We also use alcohol in some pharmaceutical industries as a solvent or preservative?"
The answer is that the use of wine in medicine, as well as medicine in which alcohol enters... its ruling is permissibility with dislike (karahah), and the evidence for that is:
Ibn Majah narrated from Tariq bin Suwayd al-Hadrami who said: "I said: O Messenger of Allah, in our land there are grapes which we squeeze and drink. He said: 'No.' So I went back to him and said: We use it as medicine for the sick. He said:
إِنَّ ذَلِكَ لَيْسَ بِشِفَاءٍ وَلَكِنَّهُ دَاءٌ
'It is not a cure, but rather a disease.'" (Sunan Ibn Majah)
This is a prohibition against using the impure or prohibited "wine" as medicine. However, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ allowed treatment with something impure "camel urine." Al-Bukhari narrated from Anas (ra):
أَنَّ نَاسًا مِنْ عُرَيْنَةَ اجْتَوَوْا الْمَدِينَةَ فَرَخَّصَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ يَأْتُوا إِبِلَ الصَّدَقَةِ فَيَشْرَبُوا مِنْ أَلْبَانِهَا وَأَبْوَالِهَا
"That some people from 'Uraynah came to Madinah and found its climate unsuitable, so the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave them permission to go to the camels of sadaqah and drink their milk and urine..." (Sahih al-Bukhari)
Found the climate unsuitable: meaning the climate did not suit them and they fell ill, so the Messenger ﷺ allowed them to be treated with camel urine, which is impure. Likewise, the Messenger ﷺ allowed treatment with what is prohibited "wearing silk." Al-Tirmidhi and Ahmad narrated, and the wording is for al-Tirmidhi, from Anas:
أَنَّ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ عَوْفٍ وَالزُّبَيْرَ بْنَ الْعَوَّامِ شَكَيَا الْقَمْلَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي غَزَاةٍ لَهُمَا، فَرَخَّصَ لَهُمَا فِي قُمُصِ الْحريرِ. قَالَ: وَرَأَيْتُهُ عَلَيْهِمَا
"That 'Abd al-Rahman bin 'Awf and al-Zubayr bin al-'Awwam complained of lice to the Prophet ﷺ during a battle of theirs, so he permitted them to wear silk shirts. He (Anas) said: And I saw them wearing them." (Sunan al-Tirmidhi)
These two Hadiths are an indication (qarinah) that the prohibition in the Hadith of Ibn Majah is not decisive, meaning that seeking treatment with impure and prohibited things is disliked (makruh).
Therefore, the use of medicine in which alcohol is used in its manufacture is permissible with dislike, and it is better not to use alcohol in the manufacture of medicine. But if it is used in the manufacture of medicine, its ruling is disliked, and likewise if a patient takes a medicine containing alcohol, it is disliked. All of this is if the mixture containing alcohol is a medicine according to the opinion of specialists, and not something else.
• Regarding the question of Sister Manal Bader
"Assalamu alaikum dear sheikh barak allahu feek as you kindly mentioned above that alcohol if consumed will result in a drunken state...whereas sd or denatured alcohol is used in perfumes deodorant lotions and facial creams... in these cases they cannot be consumed internally (due to the change of its chemical state) what is hukm for its use? In another situation, the fuel we use for our cars is also derived from alcohol, is this also the same issue of a haram hukm? Jazak allahu kul khair & May etc you."
The answer is that you have mentioned a type of alcohol of the "SD" type or chemically treated alcohol, and you say it is "toxic ethanol." I do not know if this type falls under Ethyl or Methyl, but the broad guideline is that if the resulting mixture does not intoxicate but is toxic, then it does not take the ruling of wine but rather the ruling of poison. Thus, it is prohibited if a person uses it as a poison to cause harm to himself or others, and the substance is pure (tahir) unless a text has been mentioned regarding the impurity of that resulting substance.
However, if the resulting mixture intoxicates, then its ruling is the ruling of wine, and it is prohibited not only if drunk but in the ten instances.
As for car fuel in which alcohol is mixed, the broad guideline is the same. If the reality is that it intoxicates if drunk, then it takes the ruling of wine. If it is not intoxicating but toxic, then it takes the ruling of poison, and that is determined by specialists.
Your brother, Ata Bin Khalil Abu Al-Rashtah
Link to the answer from the Ameer's Facebook page