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Face Cream Containing Alcohol

Question

I want to know about face cream containing alcohol which I use it for dry skin.

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  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

If the alcohol contained in this cream can normally cause drunkenness and if it has not been transformed through manufacturing into a different product, then it is unlawful to use it.

The majority of scholars are of the opinion that alcohol is impure just like urine and blood as Allah called it Rijs (Shaitan's handiwork). Allah Says (what means): {O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.} [Quran 5:90]

However, some scholars believe that alcohol is not impure as a product, and that its impurity is immaterial. This is the opinion of Rabee’ah, the teacher of Maalik, as well as As-San'aani, Al-Shawkani, …etc.

But the first opinion is safer, and it is the opinion of the majority of scholars.

So, it is unlawful to use these creams as long as the alcohol they contain has not changed through manufacturing into a different product.

For more benefit on the existence of a small percentage of alcohol in food or other substances, please refer to Fataawa 382309, 327754, 299059, 301753, and 81423.

For more benefit on the prohibition of alcohol in Islam, please refer to Fataawa 81900, 81389, and 81461.

Allah knows best.

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