Question: 

I wanted to confirm the impressibility of using perfumes that contain alcohol and reading Salaat, as well as the paak/napaaki aspect of the subject. 

Answer: 

Before we give our Fatwa on alcoholic perfumes, we would like to give a little bit of detail on the issue of alcohol and the different views of the Fuqahaa (jurists) and our contemporary Ulama as well.

Alcohol that are found in perfumes are commonly benzyl and ethyl alcohol.

Benzyl alcohol is a synthetically produced alcohol derived from sources other than grapes or dates. There is a difference of opinion amongst the senior Hanafi jurist with regards to the permissibility of using alcohol derived from sources other than grapes or dates. Imam Abu Hanifah and Imam Abu Yusuf (Rahimahullah) have given permission for the usage of such alcohol. However, the fatwa is on the view of Imam Muhammad (Rahimahullah) who has rendered the usage of all types of intoxicants (be if of a grape/date derivative or not) as impermissible. Allamah Shaami has mentioned in his Fatwa:

“Imam Muhammad Rahmatullahi Alayhi has declared all types of intoxicants (i.e. intoxicants derived from honey, figs, etc. be it in a small or large quantities) as Haraam, and the fatwa and final ruling is based on this view.” (Shaami vol. 6 pg. 454) i

Based on the view of Imam Abu Hanifah Rahmatullahi Alayhi some contemporary scholars permit the usage of perfumes, containing alcohol of non-grape and date origin in view of the fact that according to Imam Abu Hanifah such alcohol is Paak and permissible to use. These scholars cite that because of necessity and Umoom-e-Balwaa (public predicament: the general masses being so involved in its usage that it has become unavoidable) the Fatwa should be on the view of Imam Abu Hanifah. (Ahsanul Fatwaa 95/2, Bahisti Zewar 102/9, Takmila Futhul Mulhim 608/3, Asre Haadhir ke Pecheedah Masaa’il Aur Unka Hal 461/2)

We would however advocate against the usage of all alcohol-based perfumes. Even if of a non-grape/date derivative. This is in view of Allamah Shami Rahimahullah. He comments on the view of Imam Muhammad saying:

The fatwa in this age is based on the view of Imam Muhammad Rahamtullaahi Alayhi due to the corruption and evil that could ensue as a result of legalizing such types of intoxicants. This is due to the fact that the general trend is that misguided people gather to consume these drinks for mere pleasure and frivolity”ii

Thus, caution would dictate that a person avoids using products containing any type of alcohol. One should rather opt for other alcohol-free products which are commonly available in the marketplace.

As already cited above through the quotations of Allamah Shami Rahimahullah we come to know that the fatwa with regards to alcohols other than grape or date alcohol, is based on the view of Imam Muhammad Rahimahullah, therefore caution should be exercised using perfumes containing alcohol.

(adapted from the Darul ifta archives)

AND ALLAH TA'AALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST

ANSWERED BY: Zubair Ahmed 

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY: Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B. 

Islamic Date:١١ ذو القعدة ١٤٤١ 

English Date: 3 July 2020

i)وَحَرَّمَهَا مَُُمَّدٌ( أَيْ الَْْشْرِبَةَ الْمُتَّخَذَةَ مِنْ الْعَسَلِ وَالت ينِ وَنََْوِهَِِا قَالَهُ الْمُصَن فُ )مُط لَقًا( قَلِيلَهَا وَكَثِيرَهَا كُلُّ - - « )وَبِهِ يفُْتََ( ذكََرَهُ الزَّيْلَعِيُّ وَغَيْرهُُ فَلَا تََْرُمُ كَغَيْرِهَا ات فَاقًا )قَوْلُهُ وَبِهِ يفُْتََ( أَيْ بِقَوْلِ مَُُمَّدٍ، وَهُوَ قَوْلُ الَْْئِمَّةِ الثَّلَا ثَةِ لِقَوْلِهِ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ رَوَاهُ أَحَْْدُ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ وَالدَّارَقُطْ نِ وَصَحَّحَهُ - - » مَا أَسْكَرَ كَثِيرهُُ فَقَلِيلُهُ حَرَامٌ « " رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ، وَقَوْلِهِ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ » مُسْكِرٍ خََْرٌ وَكُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ حَرَامٌ )قَوْلُهُ غَيْرهُُ( كَصَاحِبِ الْمُلْتَقَى وَالْمَوَاهِبِ وَالْكِفَايَةِ وَالن هَايَةِ وَالْمِعْرَاجِ وَشَ رْحِ الْمَجْمَعِ وَشَرْحِ دُرَرِ الْبِحَارِ وَالْقُهُسْتَانِِ وَالْعَيْ نِ، ） رد المحتار ج 6 ص 454 دار الفكر （

قال في الهداية: وهذا عند أبي حنيفة وأبي يوسف، وقال مُمد حرام، ومثله في الينابيع، ثم قال: والصحيح قولهما، واعتمده الْئمة المحبوبي والنسفي والموصلي وصدر الشريعة، تصحيح؛ لكن يأتي قريبا أن الفتوى على قول مُمد فتنبه… .فإنه يجوز شربه ما دون السكر عند أبي حنيفة وأبي يوسف، وعند مُمد: لا يجوز شربه، وبه نأخذ اه. ） اللباب في شرح الكتاب ج 3 ص 7 / 216 المكتبة العلمية （

ii حَيْثُ قَالُوا الْفَتْوَى فِي زَمَانِنَا بِقَوْلِ مَُُمَّدٍ لِغَلَبَةِ الْفَسَادِ. وَعَلَّلَ بَعْضُهُمْ بِقَوْلِهِ لَِْنَّ الْفُسَّاقَ يَجْتَمِعُونَ عَلَى هَذِهِ الَْْشْرِبَةِ وَيَقْصِدُونَ اللَّهْوَ وَالسُّكْرَ بِشُرْبَِِا. ） رد المحتار ج 6 ص 456 دار الفكر （

قالوا الفتوى في زماننا بقول مُمد، لغلبة الفساد ） اللباب في شرح الكتاب ج 3 ص 216 المكتبة العلمية （