Fatwa ID: 09188
Answered by Muftiyah Aisha Qureshi
Question:
Any info on urea in products used for teeth whitening?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Urea is the main nitrogenous product of protein metabolism in mammals and some fish, naturally found in urine, blood, bile, milk, and sweat.
It is a colourless crystalline substance that is stable and non-toxic, and it is widely manufactured for medical and industrial use. In teeth whitening products, urea is combined with hydrogen peroxide to form carbamide peroxide, which stabilizes the gel and supports the bleaching process.
In Hanafi Fiqh, using urea in this manner is permissible because it is applied externally, is safe, and not intended for ingestion.
Even if its original source were impure, the chemical transformation it undergoes makes it a new substance, removing any prior rulings of impurity.
Therefore, applying urea-based whitening gels in the mouth for cleaning or whitening purposes is allowed, provided it is not swallowed intentionally and does not cause harm.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Muftiyah Aisha Qureshi
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
Britannica.com
الأصل في الأشياء الإباحة
Qawaid al fiqhiya
وَمِنْهَا) الْإِحْرَاقُ السِّرْقِينُ إذَا أُحْرِقَ حَتَّى صَارَ رَمَادًا فَعِنْدَ مُحَمَّدٍ يُحْكَمُ بِطَهَارَتِهِ وَعَلَيْهِ الْفَتْوَى. هَكَذَا فِي الْخُلَاصَةِ وَكَذَا الْعَذِرَةُ. هَكَذَا فِي الْبَحْرِ الرَّائِقِ.
إذَا أُحْرِقَ رَأْسُ الشَّاةِ مُلَطَّخًا بِالدَّمِ وَزَالَ عَنْهُ الدَّمُ يُحْكَمُ بِطَهَارَتِهِ.
الطِّينُ النَّجِسُ إذَا جُعِلَ مِنْهُ الْكُوزُ أَوْ الْقِدْرُ فَطُبِخَ يَكُونُ طَاهِرًا. هَكَذَا فِي الْمُحِيطِ.
وَكَذَا اللَّبِنُ إذَا لُبِّنَ بِالْمَاءِ النَّجِسِ وَأُحْرِقَ. كَذَا فِي فَتَاوَى الْغَرَائِبِ.
إذَا سَعَّرَتْ الْمَرْأَةُ التَّنُّورَ ثُمَّ مَسَحَتْهُ بِخِرْقَةٍ مُبْتَلَّةٍ نَجِسَةٍ ثُمَّ خَبَزَتْ فِيهِ فَإِنْ كَانَتْ حَرَارَةُ النَّارِ أَكَلَتْ بَلَّةَ الْمَاءِ قَبْلَ إلْصَاقِ الْخُبْزِ بِالتَّنُّورِ لَا يَتَنَجَّسُ الْخُبْزُ. كَذَا فِي الْمُحِيطِ.
سُعِّرَ التَّنُّورُ بِالْأَخْثَاءِ وَالْأَرْوَاثِ يُكْرَهُ الْخُبْزُ فِيهِ وَلَوْ رَشَّهُ بِالْمَاءِ بَطَلَتْ الْكَرَاهَةُ. كَذَا فِي الْقُنْيَةِ.
(وَمِنْهَا) الِاسْتِحَالَةُ تَخَلَّلَ الْخَمْرُ فِي خَابِيَةٍ جَدِيدَةٍ طَهُرَتْ بِالِاتِّفَاقِ.
Fatawa hindiya vol 1 pg 44 maktaba shamila