Fatwa ID: 05510

Answered by: Alimah Sofia Mirza

Question:

Salam, I have purchased a hand sanitiser which has 70% alcohol content. The ingredients are as follows:

Ethanol, Aqua, Glycerol, Propylene, Glycol, Carbomer, Aminoethyl, Propanol. Will my salah with this hand sanitiser be accepted and can I use it? What about the previous salah with this sanitiser?

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

Answer:

There are types of alcohols that are unlawful to consume and use on a general basis are those which are derived from grapes, dates and barley[1]. The alcohol which is synthetic and chemically processed these days are not suitable purely for consumption. It is for this reason according to contemporary scholars it is permissible to use these types of products that contain synthetic alcohol for external use only as consuming them is poisonous. Mufti Taqi Usmani Sahib mentioned in Takmilatu Fathil Mulhim:[2] the alcohols which are used in perfumes etc. if they are not derived from grapes and dates according to Imam Abu Hanifah it is permissible to use them as they are mixed with other substances. Therefore, your prayer is valid and there is no need to repeat them.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Alimah Sofia Mirza

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

[1] Fatawa Hindiyyah, Darul Kutub al Ilmiyyah, vol 5, Pg.494-495

[2] Takmilatu Fathil Mulhim, Vol 9, Pg.506,507