Fatwa ID: 07429
Answered by Alimah Shireen Mangera-Badat
Question:
I live in a non Muslim country (Canada) and almost all external products such as lotions, skincare, and cosmetics often contain ingredients like glycerine or alcohol. Given the uncertainty about whether these ingredients are derived from animal sources or khamr (grape/dates), I feel considerable anxiety. Having to research EVERY product or contacting manufacturers to confirm the sources of these ingredients will only worsen my OCD and cause me excessive hardship.
Considering the practical difficulties of avoiding such products in the West, should I assume that external products containing glycerine or alcohol/ethanol are permissible to use? Will my prayers be invalid if I use external products with alcohol or glycerine on my body?
Glycerine that is used in external products can either be sourced from pig or plants. Alcohol used in external products can either be sourced from khamr (dates/grape) or more commonly non-khamr (synthetic/plant/grain/wheat/sugar). The ingredients don’t typically mention the sourcing of these products and because of this uncertainty, should I just assume that it is permissible?
Having to go through the hassle of trying to find out the sources for every one of these common ingredients in all my externally applied products will cause me so much distress and hardship
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Your question touches on an important issue for Muslims living in non-Muslim countries, where many products may contain ingredients that raise concerns about their permissibility. Given the complexities involved, particularly the concern about causing distress or exacerbating conditions like OCD, it is crucial to address this issue with compassion and practicality, based on Hanafi Fiqh.
- Principle of Certainty and Doubt (اليقين لا يزول بالشك)
In Islamic jurisprudence, a fundamental principle is that certainty is not overruled by doubt. According to Hanafi Fiqh, when there is uncertainty about whether an ingredient is derived from a permissible (halal) or impermissible (haram) source, and when it is difficult to determine the exact nature of the ingredient, the presumption remains that it is permissible unless proven otherwise.1
- Ruling on Glycerine and Alcohol in External Products
Glycerine can be derived from either plant or animal sources. If the source of glycerine is uncertain, and you are not reasonably able to confirm whether it is from a halal or haram source, then it is permissible to assume it is halal. The same principle applies if it’s difficult to ascertain the source.
Alcohol used in external products is often not the same as the khamr prohibited in Islam. In Hanafi Fiqh, if the alcohol used is not derived from grapes or dates (khamr), it is generally considered not najis (impure). Furthermore, when used externally, it is even more likely to be considered permissible, especially if it does not intoxicate, is not consumed, and its source is uncertain.2
- Practicality and Hardship in Islamic Law (المشقة تجلب التيسير)
Islamic jurisprudence considers hardship a valid reason for ease and flexibility (رُخصة). Given that researching every ingredient for its source would cause undue hardship, it is permissible to use such products without needing to investigate the source extensively; based on the Quranic verse in Surah Baqarah: 286 “ Allah does not burden a soul more than it can bear”.
- Impact on Salah (Prayer)
Using external products that contain glycerine or alcohol does not invalidate your prayer, provided that the alcohol is not from khamr and does not intoxicate, and that you have done your due diligence according to your capacity. Hanafi scholars generally permit the use of such products, especially when avoiding them would cause significant hardship.3
Given the practical difficulties and the principles of Islamic jurisprudence that prioritise ease in cases of doubt and hardship, you can assume that products containing glycerine or alcohol are permissible to use externally. This assumption holds if you do not have definite knowledge that the substance is haram. Your prayers will remain valid even if you use these products, and you are not required to investigate every ingredient unless you have clear evidence that it is impermissible.
1 لان الشك أضعف من اليقين فلا يعارضه
(Qawaaid Fiqiyya, Page 15)
“الأصل في الأشياء الإباحة حتى يقوم الدليل على التحريم”
(الدر المختار) page 210
2 “ما لا يسكر ليس بنجس” (Murghinani page 32)
3 “كل ما هو في الأصل مباح لا ينجس إلا إذا ثبت نجاسته”
“Everything that is originally permissible does not become impure unless its impurity is proven.”
(Vol. 1, pg. 210- على الدر المختار)
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Alimah Shireen Mangera-Badat
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
