Fatwa ID: 08077

Answered by: Aalimah Saleha Bukhari Islam

Question: 

Salaams, I have a few questions around the same topic. As there are many cosmetics/conditioners that contain ingredients like glycerine etc., they can be made from both animal or plants, so to what extent should we research these ingredients? Do we just assume they are pure, or do we contact manufacturers? Although it’s good to stay away from doubtful things, what about other family members that use these impure cosmetics; what if they spread them throughout the home? Also, a family member used a leave-in conditioner on wet hair with doubtful/haram ingredients (still waiting on the manufacturer’s response). They walked around the house constantly touching their wet hair, and they touched other surfaces. Also, occasionally there were loose strands of hair all over the carpet/floor, so now I think I have spread this impurity across the floors as I walked over the hairs (which had leave-in conditioner) with wet feet/slippers. Also, since the conditioner, when put in the hair, becomes invisible, I am unsure of how to identify it as it becomes an invisible impurity. If you could please tell me how to deal with this situation, I would be very grateful.

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Wa alaikum as salām wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh,

Glycerine, also known as glycerol, is a widely used ingredient in the cosmetic, food, and pharmaceutical industries. It can be derived from vegetable, synthetic, or animal origins. Synthetically produced glycerine and glycerine derived from plants are permissible to use in products. However, glycerine obtained from the fat of impermissible (haram) animals is generally forbidden for use by Muslims.

Ideally, if a product explicitly states that its glycerine is derived from forbidden animals, it should be avoided. However, because glycerine is a common and widespread ingredient in many external-use products, and the specific source is often not listed, it becomes challenging to identify and avoid in everyday life. On this basis, if no alternative products are available and the source of the glycerine is unspecified or potentially from impermissible animals, its use is considered permissible under the principle of u’mumul balwaa (public/widespread hardship). Since trying to avoid all products containing glycerine would cause a widespread public predicament, a concession is made based on this principle. [1], [2]

Regarding family members using such cosmetics, while it is our duty to advise them on Islamic rulings, we are not responsible for their actions. If they use impure cosmetics, the general principle is that impurity (najasa) is transferable upon contact with a wet surface. However, in situations where the impurity is unseen (like the residue of leave-in conditioner after application) and its spread is based on mere suspicion without clear evidence, we do not act upon this suspicion.

The scenario you described with the leave-in conditioner falls under this category of potential, unseen impurity. While the conditioner itself might contain doubtful ingredients, once applied to the hair, it becomes an invisible substance. Walking over stray hairs with wet feet or slippers does not automatically transfer a confirmed impurity, especially when the presence of the impure ingredient on the hair and its transfer are not definitively established.

In such situations, Islamic law provides ease and does not burden individuals with excessive precautions based on mere speculation. Unless there is clear and visible impurity, the surfaces in your home are generally considered pure (tahir). You are not required to clean every surface potentially touched by the hair with the leave-in conditioner.

The principle to follow is to avoid confirmed impurities. In cases of doubt or unseen potential impurities, especially when dealing with everyday household situations, we do not act on suspicion. Focus on maintaining general cleanliness in your home as part of Islamic hygiene.

Only Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) knows best.

Written by Aalimah Saleha Bukhari Islam
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham

[1] ثُمَّ هَذِهِ الْمَسْأَلَةُ قَدْ فَرَّعُوهَا عَلَى قَوْلِ مُحَمَّدٍ بِالطَّهَارَةِ بِانْقِلَابِ الْعَيْنِ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الْفَتْوَى وَاخْتَارَهُ أَكْثَرُ الْمَشَايِخِ خِلَافًا لِأَبِي يُوسُفَ كَمَا فِي شَرْحِ الْمُنْيَةِ وَالْفَتْحِ وَغَيْرِهِمَا. وَعِبَارَةُ الْمُجْتَبَى: جَعْلُ الدُّهْنِ النَّجِسِ فِي صَابُونٍ يُفْتَى بِطَهَارَتِهِ؛ لِأَنَّهُ تَغَيَّرَ وَالتَّغَيُّرُ يُطَهِّرُ عِنْدَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَيُفْتَى بِهِ لِلْبَلْوَى. اهـ. وَظَاهِرُهُ أَنَّ دُهْنَ الْمَيْتَةِ كَذَلِكَ لِتَعْبِيرِهِ بِالنَّجِسِ دُونَ الْمُتَنَجِّسِ إلَّا أَنْ يُقَالَ هُوَ خَاصٌّ بِالنَّجِسِ؛ لِأَنَّ الْعَادَةَ فِي الصَّابُونِ وَضْعُ الزَّيْتِ دُونَ بَقِيَّةِ الْأَدْهَانِ تَأَمَّلْ، ثُمَّ رَأَيْت فِي شَرْحِ الْمُنْيَةِ مَا يُؤَيِّدُ الْأَوَّلَ حَيْثُ قَالَ: وَعَلَيْهِ يَتَفَرَّعُ مَا لَوْ وَقَعَ إنْسَانٌ أَوْ كَلْبٌ فِي قِدْرِ الصَّابُونِ فَصَارَ صَابُونًا يَكُونُ طَاهِرًا لِتَبَدُّلِ الْحَقِيقَةِ. اهـ.
ثُمَّ اعْلَمْ أَنَّ الْعِلَّةَ عِنْدَ مُحَمَّدٍ هِيَ التَّغَيُّرُ وَانْقِلَابُ الْحَقِيقَةِ وَأَنَّهُ يُفْتَى بِهِ لِلْبَلْوَى كَمَا عُلِمَ مِمَّا مَرَّ، وَمُقْتَضَاهُ عَدَمُ اخْتِصَاصِ ذَلِكَ الْحُكْمِ بِالصَّابُونِ، فَيَدْخُلُ فِيهِ كُلُّ مَا كَانَ فِيهِ تَغَيُّرٌ وَانْقِلَابُ حَقِيقَةٍ وَكَانَ فِيهِ بَلْوَى عَامَّةٌ، فَيُقَالُ: كَذَلِكَ فِي الدِّبْسِ الْمَطْبُوخِ إذَا كَانَ زَبِيبُهُ مُتَنَجِّسًا وَلَا سِيَّمَا أَنَّ الْفَأْرَ يَدْخُلُهُ فَيَبُولُ وَيَبْعَرُ فِيهِ وَقَدْ يَمُوتُ فِيهِ، وَقَدْ بَحَثَ كَذَلِكَ بَعْضُ شُيُوخِ مَشَايِخِنَا فَقَالَ: وَعَلَى هَذَا إذَا تَنَجَّسَ السِّمْسِمُ ثُمَّ صَارَ طَحِينَةً يَطْهُرُ، خُصُوصًا وَقَدْ عَمَّتْ بِهِ الْبَلْوَى وَقَاسَهُ عَلَى مَا إذَا وَقَعَ عُصْفُورٌ فِي بِئْرٍ حَتَّى صَارَ طِينًا لَا يَلْزَمُ إخْرَاجُهُ لِاسْتِحَالَتِهِ.
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[2] السَّادِسُ: الْعُسْرُ وَعُمُومُ الْبَلْوَى؛ كَالصَّلَاةِ مَعَ النَّجَاسَةِ الْمَعْفُوِّ عَنْهَا كَمَا دُونَ رُبْعِ الثَّوْبِ مِنْ مُخَفَّفَةٍ وَقَدْرِ الدِّرْهَمِ مِنْ الْمُغَلَّظَةِ، وَنَجَاسَةُ الْمَعْذُورِ الَّتِي تُصِيبُ ثِيَابَهُ وَكَانَ كُلَّمَا غَسَلَهُ خَرَجَتْ
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