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@Halal | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER. 2019
Science Talk
BY BRO AMIN
Chairman,Global Haltech
Alcohol is
not haram
We should change the way we think of alcohol in products
T
HERE are literally thousands of
chemical compounds with their
own molecular structure and char-
acteristics. The nomenclature for
all those chemical groups depends
mostly to the type of functional
group attached to those molecular structure.
By defi nition, a functional group is a group
of atoms responsible for the characteristic
reactions of a particular chemical compound.
Among those chemical compound having
their own characteristics is alcohol, which
carries their own functional group, - OH.
alcohol’s group.
Essentially, this group of alcohol has their
own ‘members’ and every single ‘member’ is
named based on the numbers of carbon atom
in their molecules.
Members in the alcohol group include
methanol, ethanol, propanol, and others.
As for the one found in the intoxicating
alcoholic beverages (our main discussion for
this interview), ethanol is the one contribut-
ing to that eff ect.
THE PERCENTAGE MATTERS
THE (IN)FAMOUS SUBSTANCE
Alcohol is categorised as an organic
compound that contains a single or more
functional group – OH. It was founded by a
Muslim scientist, JABIR IBN HAYYAN who
lived between 0712 – 0825 A.D.
This was narrated in a book titled Ikhraj
Ma Fi Al-Quwwa Ila Al-fi’l. The alcohol
findings refer to a research done on an
ethanol, which is one of members of the
Alcohol-free perfumes
are rising in popularity,
mainly targeted to
Muslims who are afraid
of using alcohol-based
fragrances during prayers
and generally.
The percentage of ethanol contained in an
alcoholic beverage determines how quick and
severe one would be intoxicated by it. That
percentage is also used as a cutting point for
the Ministry of Health to determine either
the beverage falls under the status of alco-
holic beverage or not. The cutting point is set
at two per cent and above in general.
The level of ethanol percentages that natu-
rally occurs from fermentation is also used as
a guideline by JAKIM for halal certifi cation
process for beverages. The ethanol percentage
allowed is set below one per cent.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
The has created a misconception and confu-
sion in using the term ‘alcohol content’ for
the prohibition of alcoholic beverages for
Muslims.
If we study deeply into the hadis and verses
from the holy Quran that broadly discusses on
the prohibition of alcoholic beverages, only
two words is used to describe its prohibition.
Those two words are ‘intoxicants’ and
‘intoxicates’, translated into English. In the
hadis and verses from the Quran, intoxicants
is mentioned as
(khamru) while intoxi-
cated or intoxicating is mentioned as
(muskir).
WIDE MISCONCEPTION
However, the word ‘alcohol’ has been publicly
and widely used by the public when speaking
of alcoholic beverages. Seems fi tting, given
that the level of alcohol in those beverages is
the reason why it is haram. However, in cer-
tain ways, using the term alcohol to describe
its prohibited nature could carry a bigger
eff ect elsewhere.
You see, by using the word ‘alcohol’ as term
to describe the prohibition for alcoholic bev-
erages, we generally will presume that alcohol
itself is haram.
This brings up a lot of confusion among
consumers, especially for products that has
alcohol content. Among them are:
1
. Alcohol-free fragrances
There is a misconception saying that only
alcohol-free fragrances are allowed to be used
by Muslims, because it is thought that alcohol
itself is haram. Hence, ‘Alcohol-free’ labels
were created to show that the product is now
supposedly shariah compliant.
And those who are not interested in going
alcohol-free may be viewed as trying to avoid
shariah guidelines in their business practises.
Referring back to the Quran and hadis,
the only words used in relation to alcohol are
intoxicants, intoxicated and intoxicating.
Thus, it clearly refers to beverages that are
intoxicating.
Perfumes or deodorants are not intoxicants
and does not cause intoxication, therefore do
not fall into the same category as a haram
alcoholic beverage. The factor which makes
it haram is when the level of alcohol is high
enough to cause intoxication, not the alcohol
itself.