What is the Islamic ruling on wearing perfumes that contain alcohol?

Question: Scholars of Islam, as-Salamu `alaykum!

What is the Islamic ruling on wearing perfumes that contain alcohol?

Answer:
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear brother in Islam, we are very pleased for the great confidence you repose in us and we really commend your apparent interest in having a better understanding of the teachings of Islam and the rulings of this great religion in all matters. In fact, Islam is a religion that encompasses all aspects of life and secures guidance and light for all mankind.

As for your question, some Muslim scholars say that wearing alcohol-based perfumes is allowed in Islam.

In this regard, Al-Azhar House of Fatwa issued the following Fatwa:

"In Islam, it is unanimously held that all things are supposed to be deemed pure, and that it is not necessary that all what is declared forbidden is considered impure. This is because impurity is a legal ruling that needs evidence. For example, drugs and fatal poisons are forbidden, yet this by no means qualify them to be impure.

For this reason, some scholars including Rabi`ah, Al-Layth Ibn Sa`d, Al-Muzani (the companion of Ash-Shafi`i) and some other scholars hold that wine is pure regardless of its being unlawful, and that only drinking it is forbidden. However, the majority of jurists are of the view that wine is impure and forbidden.

Thus, we conclude that all that is impure is deemed forbidden, but not vice versa. This is because regarding something as impure is to forbid any physical contact with it, whereas regarding something as unlawful is not necessarily to forbid any contact with it. To illustrate, wearing gold and silk is unlawful (for men), yet they are considered pure by the consensus of scholars and thus can be touched by men.

As far as perfumes containing alcohol is concerned, they consist of many ingredients like water, perfume, and alcohol that comprises the highest percentage. It is known that alcohol is produced from sugarcane by way of distillation. Thus, according to the juristic rule, which states that all things are presumed to be originally pure and that being prohibited does not render something impure, perfumes that contain alcohol are pure, particularly if we bear in mind that they are used for cleaning and perfuming the body. Thus, it is permissible to use these perfumes and there is nothing wrong in that."

Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, former President of the Islamic Society of North America, adds:

"It is forbidden to drink alcohol. In the perfumes usually denatured alcohol is used. This alcohol is not unclean (najas). According to some jurists even natural alcohol is not najas. According to the Shari`ah, there is nothing wrong in using alcohol based perfumes."

Source: http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503544278

“Using Products Containing Alcohol, Permited?” Part-3

Question: As-Salamu `Alaykum. I know that drinking alcoholic beverages is Haram according to Islamic law. What about other uses of alcohol in the following categories: rubbing over an injury, cologne or perfumes that contain alcohol, toothpaste that contains alcohol and using any soap or any cleaning material that contains alcohol?

Answer:Wa`alaykum As-Salaamu Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear questioner, thank you very much for having confidence in us, and we hope our efforts, which are purely for Allah’s Sake, meet your expectations.

In his response to the question, Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, former president of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), states the following:

“There are many types of alcohol, actually there are hundreds of members in alcohol family. Among them ethyl is the best known and this alcohol is generally used in beverages. There are some types of alcohol that are denatured and are used in perfumes and other cleansing agents. The rubbing alcohol does not contain ethyl alcohol. It is dangerous for drinking and may cause blindness and death. The external use of such alcohol is not forbidden in Islam.

According to the Qur’an and Sunnah, it is Haram to drink alcohol or alcoholic beverages. Even a small amount of alcohol is Haram and it must be avoided. However, jurists have differed on the Najasah or the physical impurity of alcohol. Some of them consider it Najis (impure), meaning that if it touches the body and clothes then it must be washed. There are others who do not consider it Najis. There are many jurists who have allowed the use of rubbing alcohol and the use of perfumes that contain alcohol.

As far as toothpaste or mouthwash that contain alcohol is concerned, it is better to avoid them, because they go inside the mouth.”

May Allah guide you to the straight path, and guide you to that which pleases Him, Amen.

Source: http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503543222

Can make Salat wearing Perfume that contain Alchohol?” Part-2

Question: Assallammu alaikum. Please advise me on the ruling of girls using perfumes. Is it allow to use perfumes among girls as I am in the girls madressah. Perfumes contain alcohol and non alcohol. Can we do our prayer with the perfume on? I know it is not allow if I were to go out but what if I am in the madressah? Please advise Jazakaullah

Answer: You can wear perfume if you are in a women gathering.
Alcoholic perfume is Halal.
You can make Salat wearing it too.

Source: http://www.islamonline.net/livefatwa/english/Browse.asp?hGuestID=j2y56m

“Is perfumes that contain alcohol, permitted?” Part-1

Dear Friends…

I have got some sources on “Is perfumes that contain alcohol, permitted?”

I wanted to share it with you.

Question 1: Is it haram to use cologne with alcohol in it?

Answer 1: All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Thanks for your interesting question, and we implore Allah to increase your knowledge about Islam.

First of all, we would like to anchor the basic concept that Islam recommends Muslims to smell good and to purify themselves within the realm of that which is lawful. It is no wonder to know that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is reported to have said, “Purification is half of faith.”

According to imam Shafi’i, alcohol is haram to drink, not for external use. At the same time, according to the experts, alcohol is a brand name under which there are many kinds that are intoxicating.

Based on this, alcohol-based cosmetics or deodorants are permissible since one doesn’t drink them and they are made for external use. It is worthy mentioning here that such alcohol-based perfumes usually go through chemical process of transformation, and hence there is nothing wrong with using them.

Allah Almighty knows best.

Source: http://www.islamonline.net/livefatwa/english/Browse.asp?hGuestID=5h3YpT

Iltija- A Dua: Written by My Father Janab Alauddin Ansari