3 Must read proofs why alcohol perfume is not haram
C.J Ahmed-05.03.2023
Using alcohol perfumes is not haram in Islam. There is nothing wrong in using perfumes containing alcohol and in this article I hope to inshaAllah explain and solve this issue giving four powerful points to prove why it is halal to use perfumes containing alcohol. Below are three must read proofs why alcohol perfumes are halal,
Proof-1-There is a Huge Difference between Alcohol and Intoxicants
The biggest confusion of whether we can use alcoholic perfumes or not is due to not understanding the difference between alcohol and intoxicants. The below hadiths will explain this difference.
Narrated Ibn `Umar:
I heard `Umar while he was on the pulpit of the Prophet (sal) saying, "Now then O people! The revelation about the prohibition of alcoholic drinks was revealed; and alcoholic drinks are extracted from five things: Grapes, dates, honey, wheat and barley. And the alcoholic drink is that which confuses and stupefies the mind." (Sahih al Bukhari)
Narrated Abi Burda:
That Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari said that the Prophet (sal) had sent him to Yemen and he asked the Prophet (sal) about certain (alcoholic) drink which used to be prepared there The Prophet (sal) said, "What are they?" Abu Musa said, "Al-Bit' and Al-Mizr?" He said, "Al-Bit is an alcoholic drink made from honey; and Al-Mizr is an alcoholic drink made from barley." The Prophet (sal) said, "All intoxicants are prohibited." (Bukhari)
Narrated Ibn `Umar:
“Umar stood up on the pulpit and said, "Now then, prohibition of alcoholic drinks have been revealed, and these drinks are prepared from five things, i.e.-grapes, dates, honey, wheat or barley And an alcoholic drink is that, that disturbs the mind. (Bukhari)
Abu Musa said:
I asked the prophet (sal) about wine made from honey. He said: That is bit. I said: And the one made from barley and millet? He said: That is mizr. He then said: Tell your people that every intoxicant is prohibited. (Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin:
“I heard the Messenger of Allah (sal) say: Every intoxicant is forbidden; if a faraq of anything causes intoxication, a handful of it is forbidden.” (Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
From these hadiths it is clear that alcohol that causes intoxication of the mind is what is forbidden. Even though drinking or eating anything that has anything that intoxicates is haram even in small amounts. Using such intoxicants as perfumes, soaps or cosmetics is not haram because it is used for a different purpose which has not been forbidden in Islam. There is a difference between eating a cat and petting it. This is the simple fundamental point we should understand and once we have understood this it would become easy for us to differentiate between alcohol and intoxicants.
Proof-2-Alcohol is Only a Chemical
Among the misunderstandings that are prevalent among Muslims with regards to using perfumes containing alcohol, one wrong opinion is that alcohol cannot be used in your body because it is an intoxicant. First of all alcohol whether it is in normal level or up to intoxicating levels is just a chemical. What Islam forbids is drinking intoxicant level alcohol and using in perfumes and cosmetics is not at all haram. Alcohol is also called ethanol and ethanol is a chemical compound and is an important source in manufacturing, medicine, fuel, antidote, antiseptic and many other purposes. There is a huge difference between eating or drinking something which is forbidden and using it for something other than that. One example is petroleum. Petroleum has chemical elements like paraffin and naphthene and it has many uses and one important usage is in running vehicles. Now no fool will drink petroleum because it is harmful and the reason why intoxicants was forbidden because of the great harm it could inflict to the individual and society. It was narrated from Abu Bakr bin 'Abdur-Rahman bin Al-Harith that his father said:
"I heard 'Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, say: 'Avoid Khamr (intoxicants) for it is the mother of all evils. There was a man among those who came before you who was a devoted worshipper. An immoral woman fell in love with him. She sent her slave girl to him, saying: We are calling you to bear witness. So he set out with her slave girl, and every time he entered a door, she locked it behind him, until he reached a beautiful woman who has with her a boy and a vessel of wine. She said: 'By Allah, I did not call you to bear witness, rather I called you to have intercourse with me, or to drink a cup of this wine, or to kill this boy.' He said: 'Pour me a cup of this wine.' So she poured him a cup. He said: 'Give me more.' And soon he had intercourse with her and killed the boy. So avoid Khamr, for by Allah faith and addiction to Khamr cannot coexist but one of them will soon expel the other."
(Sunan Nasai-graded sahih by Albani)
From this hadith it is clear that intoxicants were forbidden not because they were Najis or not, they were forbidden because of the great damage it could cause to an individual and society. There are many incidents reported throughout the world of men and women been raped or murdered due to getting intoxicated. There is no evidence from the Quran or the authentic Sunnah stating that alcohol is Najis.
Proof -3-Alcohol is Not Najis (impure)
From the teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah, it is clear that intoxicants (khamr) are forbidden to be taken inside the body through food or drink. Alcohol is a chemical like all the other chemicals and there is nothing wrong in using perfumes or cosmetics containing alcohol because nowhere in the Quran or sahih hadith does it forbid doing so. Those who forbid the use of alcoholic perfumes and cosmetics first of all are ignorant and their main argument is that alcohol is impure (Najis). There is no evidence in Islam to prove that alcohol is impure.
In a hadith narrated in Baihaqi and Darqutni graded as hasan sahih, the prophet (sal) said
“Verily Allah has obligated the obligations-so do not neglect them. And he has limited the limits-so do not transgress them. And his silence about things is from his mercy, not his forgetfulness, so do not investigate them”.
There is no evidence to say that using alcohol as a perfume or as a cosmetic is haram because Islam is silent on it and like in the above hadith, it came as a mercy from Allah (swt).
Abu Tha’labah al-Khushani who said: I said,
“O Prophet of Allaah, I live in a land where there are some of the People of the Book; can we eat from their vessels?” He said: “As for what you said about the People of the Book, if you can find anything else, do not eat from their vessels, but if you cannot find anything else then wash them and eat from them.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
In this hadith the prophet (sal) allowed the use of vessels which was used by the people of the book to cook food and if touching anything haram was filthy then the prophet (sal) would have told so in this hadith. There is an incident mentioned in the hadiths that the prophet (sal) forbade the use jars or vessels which was used to make wine but later he allowed it hence this was abrogated.
Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib:
“The Messenger of Allah (sal) forbade us the use of pumpkins, green jars, hollow stumps and wine made from barley.” (Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
Jabir b. ‘Abd Allah said:
When the Messenger of Allah (sal) forbade the use of (wine) vessels, Ansar said: They are inevitable for us. Thereupon he said: If so, then no” (Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
This prohibition was abrogated in the below hadiths,
Abdullah bin Buraydah, on the authority of his father, reported Allah's Messenger (sal) as saying:
“I had forbidden you from the preparation of Nabidh except in a water skin. But now you may drink in all vessels, but do not drink what is intoxicant.”
(Sahih Muslim)
Ibn Buraydah, on the authority of his father, reported Allah's Messenger (sal) as saying:
I had forbidden you from the drinking (and preparation of) Nabidh in the vessels made out of leather, but (now) you may drink in all vessels, but you do not drink an intoxicant. (Sahih Muslim)
In this hadith it is clear that you can touch and use vessels where intoxicant beverages were made and if it was Najis then the prophet (sal) would have told so.
The above three proofs clearly prove that alcohol perfumes are not haram for both men and women.
Using alcohol perfumes is not haram in Islam. There is nothing wrong in using perfumes containing alcohol and in this article I hope to inshaAllah explain and solve this issue giving four powerful points to prove why it is halal to use perfumes containing alcohol. Below are three must read proofs why alcohol perfumes are halal,
Proof-1-There is a Huge Difference between Alcohol and Intoxicants
The biggest confusion of whether we can use alcoholic perfumes or not is due to not understanding the difference between alcohol and intoxicants. The below hadiths will explain this difference.
Narrated Ibn `Umar:
I heard `Umar while he was on the pulpit of the Prophet (sal) saying, "Now then O people! The revelation about the prohibition of alcoholic drinks was revealed; and alcoholic drinks are extracted from five things: Grapes, dates, honey, wheat and barley. And the alcoholic drink is that which confuses and stupefies the mind." (Sahih al Bukhari)
Narrated Abi Burda:
That Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari said that the Prophet (sal) had sent him to Yemen and he asked the Prophet (sal) about certain (alcoholic) drink which used to be prepared there The Prophet (sal) said, "What are they?" Abu Musa said, "Al-Bit' and Al-Mizr?" He said, "Al-Bit is an alcoholic drink made from honey; and Al-Mizr is an alcoholic drink made from barley." The Prophet (sal) said, "All intoxicants are prohibited." (Bukhari)
Narrated Ibn `Umar:
“Umar stood up on the pulpit and said, "Now then, prohibition of alcoholic drinks have been revealed, and these drinks are prepared from five things, i.e.-grapes, dates, honey, wheat or barley And an alcoholic drink is that, that disturbs the mind. (Bukhari)
Abu Musa said:
I asked the prophet (sal) about wine made from honey. He said: That is bit. I said: And the one made from barley and millet? He said: That is mizr. He then said: Tell your people that every intoxicant is prohibited. (Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin:
“I heard the Messenger of Allah (sal) say: Every intoxicant is forbidden; if a faraq of anything causes intoxication, a handful of it is forbidden.” (Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
From these hadiths it is clear that alcohol that causes intoxication of the mind is what is forbidden. Even though drinking or eating anything that has anything that intoxicates is haram even in small amounts. Using such intoxicants as perfumes, soaps or cosmetics is not haram because it is used for a different purpose which has not been forbidden in Islam. There is a difference between eating a cat and petting it. This is the simple fundamental point we should understand and once we have understood this it would become easy for us to differentiate between alcohol and intoxicants.
Proof-2-Alcohol is Only a Chemical
Among the misunderstandings that are prevalent among Muslims with regards to using perfumes containing alcohol, one wrong opinion is that alcohol cannot be used in your body because it is an intoxicant. First of all alcohol whether it is in normal level or up to intoxicating levels is just a chemical. What Islam forbids is drinking intoxicant level alcohol and using in perfumes and cosmetics is not at all haram. Alcohol is also called ethanol and ethanol is a chemical compound and is an important source in manufacturing, medicine, fuel, antidote, antiseptic and many other purposes. There is a huge difference between eating or drinking something which is forbidden and using it for something other than that. One example is petroleum. Petroleum has chemical elements like paraffin and naphthene and it has many uses and one important usage is in running vehicles. Now no fool will drink petroleum because it is harmful and the reason why intoxicants was forbidden because of the great harm it could inflict to the individual and society. It was narrated from Abu Bakr bin 'Abdur-Rahman bin Al-Harith that his father said:
"I heard 'Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, say: 'Avoid Khamr (intoxicants) for it is the mother of all evils. There was a man among those who came before you who was a devoted worshipper. An immoral woman fell in love with him. She sent her slave girl to him, saying: We are calling you to bear witness. So he set out with her slave girl, and every time he entered a door, she locked it behind him, until he reached a beautiful woman who has with her a boy and a vessel of wine. She said: 'By Allah, I did not call you to bear witness, rather I called you to have intercourse with me, or to drink a cup of this wine, or to kill this boy.' He said: 'Pour me a cup of this wine.' So she poured him a cup. He said: 'Give me more.' And soon he had intercourse with her and killed the boy. So avoid Khamr, for by Allah faith and addiction to Khamr cannot coexist but one of them will soon expel the other."
(Sunan Nasai-graded sahih by Albani)
From this hadith it is clear that intoxicants were forbidden not because they were Najis or not, they were forbidden because of the great damage it could cause to an individual and society. There are many incidents reported throughout the world of men and women been raped or murdered due to getting intoxicated. There is no evidence from the Quran or the authentic Sunnah stating that alcohol is Najis.
Proof -3-Alcohol is Not Najis (impure)
From the teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah, it is clear that intoxicants (khamr) are forbidden to be taken inside the body through food or drink. Alcohol is a chemical like all the other chemicals and there is nothing wrong in using perfumes or cosmetics containing alcohol because nowhere in the Quran or sahih hadith does it forbid doing so. Those who forbid the use of alcoholic perfumes and cosmetics first of all are ignorant and their main argument is that alcohol is impure (Najis). There is no evidence in Islam to prove that alcohol is impure.
In a hadith narrated in Baihaqi and Darqutni graded as hasan sahih, the prophet (sal) said
“Verily Allah has obligated the obligations-so do not neglect them. And he has limited the limits-so do not transgress them. And his silence about things is from his mercy, not his forgetfulness, so do not investigate them”.
There is no evidence to say that using alcohol as a perfume or as a cosmetic is haram because Islam is silent on it and like in the above hadith, it came as a mercy from Allah (swt).
Abu Tha’labah al-Khushani who said: I said,
“O Prophet of Allaah, I live in a land where there are some of the People of the Book; can we eat from their vessels?” He said: “As for what you said about the People of the Book, if you can find anything else, do not eat from their vessels, but if you cannot find anything else then wash them and eat from them.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
In this hadith the prophet (sal) allowed the use of vessels which was used by the people of the book to cook food and if touching anything haram was filthy then the prophet (sal) would have told so in this hadith. There is an incident mentioned in the hadiths that the prophet (sal) forbade the use jars or vessels which was used to make wine but later he allowed it hence this was abrogated.
Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib:
“The Messenger of Allah (sal) forbade us the use of pumpkins, green jars, hollow stumps and wine made from barley.” (Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
Jabir b. ‘Abd Allah said:
When the Messenger of Allah (sal) forbade the use of (wine) vessels, Ansar said: They are inevitable for us. Thereupon he said: If so, then no” (Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
This prohibition was abrogated in the below hadiths,
Abdullah bin Buraydah, on the authority of his father, reported Allah's Messenger (sal) as saying:
“I had forbidden you from the preparation of Nabidh except in a water skin. But now you may drink in all vessels, but do not drink what is intoxicant.”
(Sahih Muslim)
Ibn Buraydah, on the authority of his father, reported Allah's Messenger (sal) as saying:
I had forbidden you from the drinking (and preparation of) Nabidh in the vessels made out of leather, but (now) you may drink in all vessels, but you do not drink an intoxicant. (Sahih Muslim)
In this hadith it is clear that you can touch and use vessels where intoxicant beverages were made and if it was Najis then the prophet (sal) would have told so.
The above three proofs clearly prove that alcohol perfumes are not haram for both men and women.