In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.

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)

Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani states in Takmila Fath al-Mulhim: “The ruling with regards to the various types of alcohol, the usage of which has become widespread and they are used in many medicines and perfumes, becomes known, in that if the alcohol is extracted from grapes or dates, then there is no question of it being permissible or pure. However, if the alcohol is derived from other than grapes or dates, then there is no problem according to the view of Imam Abu Hanifa, in that it will not be unlawful to use such alcohol for medical or other lawful purposes as long as the alcohol does not reach the level of intoxication…. And normally the alcohol used in medicines, perfumes, etc is not extracted from grapes and dates, rather it is derived from seeds, honey, chemicals, petrol, etc. (Vol 3, P608)

In conclusion if the alcohol is not that of grapes and dates then according to the above it may be used. However, piety is to avoid using such products where there is a doubt of alcohol being used. The prophet (sallal laho alaihi wa sallam) said: Leave those things which create doubts in your mind and adopt that which does not create any doubt in your mind. (Tirmidhi, 206)

And Allah knows best.

Sayeedur Rahman

Darul Ifta Birmingham