Alcohol in cosmetics

22-4-2004 | IslamWeb

Question:

Nowadays nearly every cosmetic or toiletry we buy contains some sort of alcohol, like alcohol denat, cetryl alcohol, ethanol and many others. I need to know which if any of the alcoholic substances found in shampoos and creams, etc. are Halal and which are Haram.

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Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

 

What we know about wine/alcohol is that it intoxicates.  The scholars rule that intoxicants are forbidden.

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: “Everything that intoxicates is forbidden”. [Al Bukhari]

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) also said: “Everything that intoxicates is considered wine/alcohol”.  Alcohol is impure according to the majority of scholars.  So, it is unlawful to use alcohol in the manufacturing of anything except in dire necessity.  Indeed, staining one’s body or clothes with impurity (by using alcohol in make-up …) is originally unlawful. The forbidden thing is not made lawful except in dire necessity.  As for the kinds of alcoholic products, we do not know them.  You may direct your question to Islamweb medical consultation which might give you the appropriate answer about this subject.

 

Allah knows best.