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Is topical fluoride therapy permissible since it has ethanol in it?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Askimam.org

My child’s dentist has recommended an application of Topical Fluoride. This is a preventative treatment to help reduce the risk of tooth decay. The Topical Fluoride application contains a trace of alcohol (Ethanol).The fluoride is painted on to the teeth and is easily removed using toothbrush.

Is the above mentioned dental treatment permissible?

Answer

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

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

According to Hanafi Madhab, the prohibition of Khamr is restricted to the alcohol derived from grapes [and dates]. [1] The alcohol (ethanol) used in these medication is derived from non khamr sources. Consumption of non-khamr alcohol is permissible when used for the purpose of medication as long as it does not intoxicate.[2] Hence the use of Topical Fluoride Therapy will be permissible.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mawlana Faisal bin Abdul Hameed
Student, Darul Iftaa
Canada

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net



[1] بدائع الصنائع في ترتيب الشرائع (5/ 112)

 أَمَّا الْخَمْرُ فَهُوَ اسْمٌ لِلنِّيءِ مِنْ مَاءِ الْعِنَبِ إذَا غَلَى وَاشْتَدَّ وَقَذَفَ بِالزَّبَدِ، وَهَذَا عِنْدَ أَبِي حَنِيفَةَ عَلَيْهِ الرَّحْمَةُ وَعِنْدَ أَبِي يُوسُفَ وَمُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِمَا الرَّحْمَةُ مَاءُ الْعِنَبِ إذَا غَلَى وَاشْتَدَّ فَقَدْ صَارَ خَمْرًا وَتَرَتَّبَ عَلَيْهِ أَحْكَامُ الْخَمْرِ قَذَفَ بِالزَّبَدِ أَوْ لَمْ يَقْذِفْ بِهِ (وَجْهُ) قَوْلِهِمَا أَنَّ الرُّكْنَ فِيهَا مَعْنَى الْإِسْكَارِ وَذَا يَحْصُلُ بِدُونِ الْقَذْفِ بِالزَّبَدِ (وَجْهُ) قَوْلِ أَبِي حَنِيفَةَ – رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ – أَنَّ مَعْنَى الْإِسْكَارِ لَا يَتَكَامَلُ إلَّا بِالْقَذْفِ بِالزَّبَدِ فَلَا يَصِيرُ خَمْرًا بِدُونِهِ
العناية شرح الهداية (10/ 89)

الْخَمْرُ، وَهِيَ عَصِيرُ الْعِنَبِ إذَا غُلِيَ وَاشْتَدَّ

 

[2] لانّ الاشربة المتخذة من غير العنب و التمر تحلّ عند ابى حنيفة و ابى يوسف بقصد التقوى او لتداوى ما لم تبلغ حد الاسكار … فان كانت الكحول المستعملة فى الادوية متخذة من غير العنب و التمر فان تناولها جائز فى مذهب ابى حنيفة و ابى يوسف رحمهما الله ما لم تبلغ حد الاسكار و يمكن ان يؤخذ بقولهما لحاجة التداوى ( بحوث في قضايا فقهية معاصرة   ج 1  ص 340)

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This answer was collected from Askimam.org, which is operated under the supervision of Mufti Ebrahim Desai from South Africa.