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Fatwa CenterRuling of Methanol
Question
Assalamualikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu. Is methanol impure?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
The reason for holding something to be Najis (impure) is intoxication. As for methyl alcohol (methanol), we cannot definitively say whether it is intoxicating or not. Upon reviewing the statements of some specialists in this field, we found conflicting opinions. Some affirm that it is intoxicating, while others state that it is not. Others argue that it does not cause intoxication because a person would die from its high toxicity before consuming an intoxicating amount.
It should also be noted that, according to the opinion of the majority of scholars, Khamr (wine or intoxicating liquor) is physically impure (Najāsah Hissiyyah). However, some scholars view its impurity as metaphorical (Najāsah Maʿnawiyyah) and not physical - thus, it is considered pure in substance even if it is forbidden.
Lastly, among those scholars who uphold the view of physical impurity for wine, there are some who distinguish between Khamr and alcohol that is industrially produced and not derived from wine. In such cases, they do not judge the alcohol to be impure.
Allah knows best.
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