Vinegar

Vinegar is halal, but I read one hadith:
 
Hadith says that Abu Talha asked our Prophet (SAWS) if it was possible to prepare vinegar from wine. Wine was inherited from other people. Our Prophet (SAWS) said something like: “No, get rid of it”. Muslim, Tirmizi and Dawood mention this Hadith.
 
So, if human prepares vinegar from wine, it is not halal. If wine turns to vinegar itself without action from human, it is halal. True or not?
 
I see vinegar among ingridients in bread, mayonaisse, many other things. I do not know vinegar produced from wine or not. What to do?

Jazakallahu Khairan

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

According to the Hanafi mazhab, both the following types of vinegar are halal and pure: 1) vinegar that is made from wine (or other types of alcohol) by human intervention (i.e. by adding something to it); 2) vinegar that turns into vinegar from wine (or other types of alcohol) without human intervention.

The hadith that you referred to is as follows:

Anas Ibn Malik (Radiyallahu Anhu) narrates that Abu Talha (Radiyallahu Anhu) asked the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) about certain orphans who inherited wine. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said “Throw it (the wine)”. Abu Talha (Radiyallahu Anhu) said, “Should I not make it into vinegar?” The Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) replied, “No.” (Sunan Abu Dawud: 2/162, Maktaba Rahmaniya)

Note the following about the abovementioned hadith:

– The Prophet’s (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) reply in the negative to Abu Talha’s (Radiyallahu Anhu) question was an advice and recommendation, not a command.

– The reason why the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) advised Abu Talha (R.A.) not to keep the wine for making vinegar is because wine had just become prohibited and the sahabah had just abandoned consuming wine; and by keeping wine in one’s house at such a stage – even for making vinegar – there was a strong possibility that Shaitan may tempt one to drink it (wine).

– After considerable time had passed after the prohibition of wine and the abhorrence of wine had firmly settled in the hearts of the Muslims, the abovementioned fear no longer existed.

(Bazl-ul-Majhood: 4/330)

Hence, the abovementioned hadith does not prohibit vinegar made from wine (and other types of alcohol) and, therefore, vinegar made from wine (and other types of alcohol) is halal and pure. One hadith says, “Vinegar is an excellent condiment” (Sahih Muslim).

Note: It is prohibited for a Muslim to buy wine or other types of alcohol, even for making vinegar.

And Allah knows best.

Mufti Faizal Riza
20/5/2012