1. What is the ruling on the use of alcohols (natural/organic/synthetic) in cosmetics and personal care products?
(Natural/organic alcohol is made from fruits, vegetables, herbs, grain, crops etc.)
(Synthetic alcohol is made artificially or from chemicals)
2. What is the ruling on the use of alcohols (natural/organic/synthetic) in pharmaceutical industries (i) as an ingredient (ii) and as a processing agent/aid?
3. What is the ruling on using alcohols for cleaning equipment in food industries?
4. What is the ruling on homeopathic medicine which is alcohol based?
5. What is the ruling on the use of genetically modified organisms (agricultural/animal) sources in Halal cosmetics and personal care products?
الجواب حامدا و مصلیا
It is evident that the alcohol added in the mentioned products are usually that extracted from things other than grapes and dates, such as wheat, barley, sulfur, flowers, chemicals or other fruits and vegetables. There are differences of opinion regarding the usage of this type of alcohol. Hence, if the products in which this type alcohol is added are not intoxicant, then there is leeway in using them, but it is better to avoid using such products. However, if it is acknowledged through proper research that the alcohol added in any specific product has been extracted from grapes or dates, and its natural and intrinsic qualities has not been changed through any scientific or alchemic procedure (i.e. by the use of chemicals etc.) then such products will be impure, and its internal and external usage will not be permissible as per Shari’ah, which must be avoided.