Q&A: Perfumes ('Utoor) that Contain Alcohol

Question:

As-Salaamu Alaikum,

I would like to seek an explanation of the ruling (Hukm) related to the use of perfume ('Utoor) that contains some forms of alcohol? Baarakallahu Feekum.

From Firas Khbou

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Answer:

Wa Alaikumu Salaam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuhu,

In regards to 'Utoor (perfumes) that contain alcohol then the rulings of alcohol apply upon them and this is because the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said in a Hadeeth collected by Muslim and extracted from Ibn 'Umar who said: The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

كُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ خَمْرٌ، وَكُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ حَرَامٌ

"Every intoxicant is Khamr and every intoxicant is Haraam."

And he صلى الله عليه وسلم said in a Hadeeth from Abu Dawood from Jaabir Bin 'Abdullah:

مَا أَسْكَرَ كَثِيرُهُ، فَقَلِيلُهُ حَرَامٌ

"That which a lot of it intoxicates then a little of it is Haraam."

So he صلى الله عليه وسلم has explained the liquid that is called Khamr so every intoxicant whether there is a little or a lot, is considered as Khamr. And at this point comes the role of Tahqeeq Al-Manaat (establishing the reality) in order to know whether this 'Atr (perfume) or cologne or what is similar to that if consumed will intoxicate whether in a small or large amount. If it intoxicates then it is Khamr and the Ahkam (laws) of Khamr are applied to it in regards to its prohibition in the ten forms according to the Hadeeth extracted by Al-Haakim in his 'Mustadrak' on the authority of 'Abdullah Ibn Abdullah Ibn 'Umar on the authority of his father that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الْخَمْرَ، وَلَعَنَ سَاقِيهَا، وَشَارِبَهَا، وَعَاصِرَهَا، وَمُعْتَصِرَهَا،

وَحَامِلَهَا، وَالْمَحْمُولَةَ إِلَيْهِ، وَبَايِعِهَا وَمُبْتَاعَهَا، وَآكِلَ ثَمَنِهَا

"Allah has cursed Khamr (intoxicants – alcohol, wine etc.), the one who drinks it, the one who pours it for others, the one who sells it, the one who buys it, the one who makes it, the one who it is made for, the one who carries it, the one who it is carried to and the one who consumes the money from its sale."

In accordance to the view of the experts about the effect of the alcohol substance mixed in the liquid, then this fluid would become intoxicating if it was drunk and because the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

كل مسكر خمر وكل خمر حرام

"Every intoxicant is Khamr and every Khamr is Haram." (Muslim)

Then due to this the Ahkam of Khamr are applied upon the 'Utoor (fragrances) that have been combined with alcohol.

Your Brother,

Ata Bin Khalil Abu Al-Rashtah

21 Rajab 1434 AH

31 May 2013 CE