FatwaFederal TerritoriesPurification (Taharah)
IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-185 : MENGGUNAKAN ALCOHOL SWAB DAN MINYAK WANGI BERALKOHOL
Is the alcohol in perfume and alcohol swabs impure, and may they be used during prayer, medical treatment or cupping?
Short answer
Scholars differ: the majority view holds alcohol to be impure because it is an intoxicating liquid, while the minority view holds that wine is forbidden to drink but not impure in substance.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Irsyad al-Hukum (Umum)
- Topic
- Purification (Taharah)
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Scholars differ: the majority view holds alcohol to be impure because it is an intoxicating liquid, while the minority view holds that wine is forbidden to drink but not impure in substance. The National Fatwa Committee resolved that alcohol from the winemaking process is forbidden and impure, but alcohol from other processes is not impure though forbidden to drink, and medicines and perfumes containing alcohol are permissible and excused. It is better to be cautious and choose alternatives believed to be pure and halal, but when there is a need, they may be used following the committee's guidelines.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Ubat-ubatan dan pewangi yang ada kandungan alkohol adalah harus dan dimaafkan.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-185 : MENGGUNAKAN ALCOHOL SWAB DAN MINYAK WANGI BERALKOHOL”, 9 March 2017. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/irsyad-hukum/umum/953-irsyad-al-fatwa-siri-ke-185-menggunakan-alcohol-swab-dan-minyak-wangi-beralkohol. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-alcohol-perfume-alcohol-swab/