Fatwa ID: 07892
Answered by: Alimah Saniyah bint Asrar
Question:
I live in the UK and us western muslims are faced with a common dilemma when it comes to using products Skincare, creams, lotions, Cosmetics i.e makeup, shampoo, conditioner, cleaning products, and more. Most if not all of these products contain some kind of alcohol or may contain an animal product. What are we supposed to do? Do I have to check each ingredient of each product I buy from the store. Is this not causing undue hardship? Are all my salahs invalid or will be invalid, is my entire house impure? Is my bed impure? Do I have to check or can I go with belief that it’s pure. I’m not ingesting any products but perhaps there may be some residue left over on my hand (such as creams) and then I go to eat. Islam is supposed to be a religion of ease, yet stuff like this cause so much hardship? What are we supposed to do now? How can I convince my family to change their products, they probably think I am crazy!
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Yes, it is necessary to check the ingredients of cosmetics and shampoo that will be used on yourself. Most alcohols used in these cosmetics are synthetic or derived from things other than grapes and dates, and are therefore permissible to use. As for animal products, you should try your best to stay away from them. If a product has animal extract that is taken from the bones, hair, fur, etc. of the animal, it is permissible to use as long as the animal in question isn’t pig.
As for cleaning solutions containing alcohol, most of that alcohol is synthetically derived and is permissible to use for cleaning.
It can be a little inconvenient to check before purchasing every time, but nowadays there are many vegan brands that are propping up. Once you are able to identify Halal products, stick to them in order to avoid the trouble of checking every time.
Your house isn’t impure, as it’s not that easy for impurity to transfer. In order for impurity to transfer, there are certain criteria that must be met.
بدائع الصنائع في ترتيب الشرائع ٧/١٤٧
(وَجْهُ) قَوْلِهِ: أَنَّ حُرْمَةَ الْخَمْرِ وَالْخِنْزِيرِ ثَابِتَةٌ فِي حَقِّ النَّاسِ كَافَّةً لِقَوْلِهِ ﷾ فِي صِفَةِ الْخُمُورِ أَنَّهُ: ﴿رِجْسٌ مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ﴾ [المائدة: ٩٠] وَصِفَةُ الْمَحَلِّ لَا تَخْتَلِفُ بِاخْتِلَافِ الشَّخْصِ وَقَوْلُهُ ﵊: «حُرِّمَتْ الْخَمْرُ لَعَيْنِهَا» أَخْبَرَ ﵊ كَوْنَهَا مُحَرَّمَةً وَجَعَلَ عِلَّةَ حُرْمَتِهَا عَيْنَهَا، فَتَدُورُ الْحُرْمَةُ مَعَ الْعَيْنِ، وَإِذَا كَانَتْ مُحَرَّمَةً لَا تَكُونُ مَالًا؛ لِأَنَّ الْمَالَ مَا يَكُونُ مُنْتَفَعًا بِهِ حَقِيقَةً، مُبَاحَ الِانْتِفَاعِ بِهِ شَرْعًا عَلَى الْإِطْلَاقِ.
فتح القريب المجيب في شرح ألفاظ التقريب = القول المختار في شرح غاية الاختصار ١/٥٩
ولما فرغ المصنف مما يطهر بالغسل شرَع فيما يطهر بالاستحالة، وهي انقلاب الشيء من صفة إلى صفة أخرى؛ فقال: (وإذا تخللت الخمرة)؛ وهي المُتخَذة من ماء العنب، محترمةً كانت الخمرة أم لا. ومعنى تخللت صارت خلًاّ، وكانت صيرورتها خلا (بنفسها طهرت). وكذا لو تخللت بنقلها من شمس إلى ظل وعكسه، (وإن) لم تتخلل الخمرة بنفسها بل (تخللت بطرح شيء فيها لم تطهر). وإذا طهرت الحمرة طهر دَنُّها تبعا لها.
Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.
Written by Alimah Saniyah bint Asrar
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
