Question

Assalamu alaikum,
I have a skin balm which contains papaya fermented extract. I understand that small amounts of ethanol is produced during the fermentation process. Would this be permissible to use? If so, even on the lips?
JazakAllah.

Answer

There is a difference of opinion amongst jurists regarding the use of alcohol-based products. According to Imam Abu Hanifah and Imam Abu Yusuf, if an intoxicant is not sourced from dates or grapes then it will be considered clean and also permissible to consume as long as it is for a beneficial reason and the dosage does not lead to intoxication. According to Imam Muhammad all alcohols are impure and not permissible to consume regardless of source or quantity. Fatwa is given on Imam Muhammad’s position and this position must be followed. However, in certain cases of need, the position of the former two scholars maybe adopted under the guidance of scholars.[1]

As many products such as deodorants, creams, perfumes etc contain alcohol, contemporary jurists have permitted adopting the position of the former two scholars for external application. Hence, those products which will be applied to the body or clothing that contain alcohol can be considered pure. This permissibility would also apply to balms used one’s lips. The only exception to this rule is where the alcohol is derived from dates and grapes, in which case it will be impure.

[1] الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (6/ 452)

(والحلال منها) أربعة أنواع: الأول (نبيذ التمر والزبيب إن طبخ أدنى طبخة) يحل شربه (وإن اشتد) وهذا (إذا شرب) منه (بلا لهو وطرب) فلو شرب للهو فقليله وكثيره حرام (وما لم يسكر) فلو شرب ما يغلب على ظنه أنه مسكر فيحرم، لأن السكر حرام في كل شراب. (و) الثاني (الخليطان) من الزبيب والتمر إذا طبخ أدنى طبخة، وإن اشتد يحل بلا لهو. (و) الثالث (نبيذ العسل والتين والبر والشعير والذرة) يحل سواء (طبخ أو لا) بلا لهو وطرب.

(و) الرابع (المثلث) العنبي وإن اشتد، وهو ما طبخ من ماء العنب حتى يذهب ثلثاه ويبقى ثلثه إذا قصد به استمراء الطعام والتداوي والتقوي على طاعة الله تعالى، ولو للهو لا يحل إجماعا حقائق … (وحرمها محمد) أي الأشربة المتخذة من العسل والتين ونحوهما قاله المصنف (مطلقا) قليلها وكثيرها (وبه يفتى) ذكره الزيلعي وغيره؛

Answered by:
Ifta Research Fellow

Checked & Approved by:
Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Mufti Zubair Patel