Can one use any face cream or body spray, which contains alcohol?
In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.
Answer
Allah states in the Quran: “O you who believe! Alcohol, games of chance, idols and divining arrows are only an infamy of Satan’s handiwork. Leave it aside in order that you may succeed.” (Al-Maida: 90)
The impermissibility of alcohol is clear from the above verse. Therefore to use or consume alcohol will not be permissible.
Abu Hurayrah narrates that the Prophet of Allah (sallal lahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Wine (alcohol) is prepared from the (fruit) of these two trees – date-palm and vine.” (Sahih Muslim, 926)
Therefore, if the alcohol used in creams, perfumes and deodorants are extracted from sources other than the above, as is in most cases that chemical alcohol is used, then it would be permissible to use. However piety is that even those are avoided.
Only Allah knows best.
Sayeedur Rahman
Darul Ifta, Birmingham
