Can I consume anything that has some Alcohol in it?

by Asma bint Shameem

First of all, we should define what is Khamr (that which intoxicates) and alcohol.

🍃 Shaikh Moosaa Richardson explains the difference between the two.

He said:

“It is important to differentiate between “khamr”

(intoxicants) and “alcohol”.

The substance called “alcohol” is of three types:

1) That which is deadly, if you consume it you will die or become seriously ill.

This is considered “summ“ (poison) and it is permissible to buy, sell, transport, or use it, but NOT CONSUME it.

You can use it when found in mouthwash (in minute quantities), perfume (health and beauty products), bug spray, etc., but NOT in foods or drinks.

2) That which INTOXICATES when consumed, a little of it or a lot, then it’s considered Khamr (intoxicant), and it is NOT permissible to buy, sell, transport, use, or consume.

3) That which does NOT INTOXICATE, no matter how much of it is consumed, then it is NOT a khamr, rather it is HALAL, like the small amounts of alcohol found in many foods and drinks that we eat every day.

(Example: the small amount of alcohol in bread, orange juice, banana, etc as a as a result of natural fermentation)

This type is PERMISSIBLE to buy, sell, transport, use, and consume.

So if the type of alcohol used in your medicine or food is type #3, then you may use and/or consume it.

If it is type #1 or #2, then NO, (you cannot INGEST it) unless the resulting product has a diluted amount, so small that it does not make the product an intoxicant, even when large amounts are consumed.

And Allaah knows best.”

So the basic principle for ANY food or drink is the following:

If the effects of alcohol such as taste, smell, etc are seen in the food or drink and it makes you intoxicated, we should not be consuming this because it would be forbidden.

And if there’s no effect of the alcohol seen or felt or tasted in the food, and it has completely absorbed into it, such that it doesn’t make you intoxicated even if it is ingested in large quantities, then it is permissible.

And if you’re in doubt about something, stay away.

🍃 Here’s what the ulama say about foods containing some alcohol:

“With regard to foods and drinks that are mixed with alcohol, there are two scenarios:

The first is where the alcohol is fully absorbed into the food or drink and has disappeared in it, in such a way that its essence is no longer present and no trace of it can be detected in the drink (or food) in terms of color, taste or odor.

There is nothing wrong with eating or drinking such things at all.

🍃 Ibn Taymiyah said:

“If alcohol falls into water and is completely absorbed in it, then someone drinks it, he is not regarded as drinking alcohol and the hadd punishment for drinking alcohol is not to be carried out on him, because nothing of its taste, color or odor remained.”

[al-Mustadrak ‘ala Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa (3/12)]

The second scenario is where the essence of the alcohol remains present or its traces may be detected in the mixture, in terms of taste, color, odor or flavor.

In this case it is haraam to consume this food or drink, because of the presence in its ingredients of a percentage of alcohol that has not been fully absorbed.

The presence of alcohol in this food or drink makes it prohibited, even if the percentage of alcohol is very small.

🍃 Shaykh ibn al-‘Uthaymeen said:

“If this alcohol is mixed with something and is not fully absorbed into what it is mixed with, and does not disappear into it, then that thing becomes haraam, because this mixture is affected by it.

But if the alcohol has been fully absorbed into what it has been mixed with, and no trace of it can be detected, then it does not become haraam thereby.”

(Fataawa Noor ‘ala ad-Darb)

Secondly:

Even though we say that it is “permissible” to eat and drink things that are “mixed” with alcohol if the alcohol is fully absorbed, this does NOT mean that it is permissible that “WE” ourselves mix things with alcohol.

So it is not permissible to put any nabeedh (fermented drink made from dates), alcohol or any other intoxicating substance into drinks, foods or anything else, because every intoxicant is khamr, as the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said:

“Every intoxicant is khamr and every khamr is haraam.” (Saheeh Muslim 2003)”

(Islamqa Fatwa #201520)

🍃 Someone asked Shaikh Ibn ʻUthaymeen about non-alcoholic beer, given that some brands of non-alcoholic beer have alcohol content.

He said:

“As to percentage, do not think that any percentage of alcohol in a thing makes it unlawful;

rather if the percentage of alcohol has an effect whereby when a person drinks this mix, he becomes intoxicated, then it is unlawful.

But if the percentage is very small without effect, then it is lawful.

For example, a percentage such as 1%, 2% or 3% does not make the beverage unlawful.

Some people misunderstood the hadeeth that states, 'Whatever intoxicates in large quantities, then a small quantity of it is forbidden,' to mean that if a small percentage of an intoxicant is mixed with a large amount of a substance that is not intoxicating, then it is unlawful.

This is a misunderstanding of the hadeeth. 'Whatever intoxicates in large quantities, a little of it is unlawful' means that if a lot of something will cause intoxication, and a little of it will not cause intoxication, then a lot or a little are both unlawful, because you may drink a little that does not cause intoxication, then you may be tempted to drink more and become intoxicated.

But if something is mixed with alcohol, while the alcohol content is a minute amount and does not have any effect, then it is lawful and does not come under the ruling of this Hadeeth.”

And Allaah knows best.