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NOVEMBER-DECEMBER. 2019 | @Halal
alcohol-free-perfume-brands-in-India
In fact, the reason for the usage of alcohol
in fragrances is for dilution, as it increases the
dispersion of the perfume molecules. In this
case, a product is not haram and can be used
by Muslims despite it containing alcohol,
because it is not for consuming.
A lot of alcoholic-free
beverages come in
the form of a non-
alcoholic beer, and it has
created confusion and
misinterpretation among
Muslims.
2
. A product’s ingredient containing the
word alcohol
There have been many cases where a certain
product’s halal status is misinterpreted
because of an ingredient in the packaging
that contain the word alcohol.
A prime example are lozenges. The main
ingredient for many lozenge products is
Dichlorobenzyl alcohol. Dicholorobenzyl
alcohol or its full name 2,4-dicholorobenzyl
alcohol, is a mild antiseptic serving the pur-
pose of killing bacteria and viruses associated
with mouth and throat infections.
Due to how alcohol is commonly inter-
preted as haram, these lozenges suff ers the
same misconceptions by Muslims.
In the case for dichlorobenzyl alcohol, the
name is actually trivial, and does not actually
contain intoxicating substances.
The specifi c name is 2,4-dicholorobenzyl
methanol. The methanol in this case is just
part of the whole molecular structure. Thus,
this chemical compound or ingredient does
not stand as one of the members of the alco-
hol group and does not carries any alcohol
characteristics.
The lozenges are a victim of misconcep-
tion because of the name of its ingredient. It
cannot be considered haram because dichlo-
robenzyl alcohol does not fulfill the
‘intoxicants, intoxicating and intoxicated’
described in the Quran and hadis.
3
. Alcohol-free beverages made by alco-
holic beverage manufacturers
This is an issue Muslims worry most. It may
wants to still drink beer, but doesn’t want to
get drunk while doing so can choose to have
alcohol-free beers.
However, this creates signifi cant confusion
in Muslim-majority countries such as Malay-
sia. It is our responsibility to understand why
alcohol-free beers are still haram.
Remember, we identify a beverage that is
prohibited by: Being categorised as an intoxi-
cant, and having intoxicating eff ect.
Therefore, if the product is promoted as
‘alcohol-free’ but still leave drinkers intoxi-
cated, then it is haram for Muslims. Likewise,
if a product is promoted as ‘alcohol-free’ but
is manufactured by an alcoholic beverage
manufacturer, it is haram for Muslims despite
it leaving no intoxicating eff ect.
The harmonisation of the Muslim com-
munities around the world could be shaken
if this mindset continues without any cor-
rective eff ort.
Based on the misinterpretation and
misunderstanding leading to the opposite
decisions, there is a need to change the usage
of the word ‘alcohol’ as defi nition for haram.
The word ‘alcohol’ shouldn’t be the defi ning
factor, and it should be replaced with intoxi-
cants, intoxicating, and intoxicated.
Here are some simple guidelines as to why
alcohol shouldn’t defi ne the halal or haram
status of a product:
i) Alcohol was never mentioned as Haram
in the Quran and hadis. The only words
used to define alcoholic beverages is
intoxicants and intoxicated.
ii) Any product consumed by Muslims is
considered haram whenever it fulfi ls
the two factors mentioned in the Quran
and hadis, which is intoxicants and
intoxicated.
iii) Alcoholic beverages are intoxicants and
leave drinkers intoxicated, thus haram
for Muslims regardless of how small or
big the volume consumed or whether
there is any alcohol left in the fi nished
product.
iv) Wine vinegars, which are widely used
in hotel kitchens are considered intoxi-
cants, even though it does not leave
people intoxicated and there is little to
none alcohol in them. Thus it is haram
for Muslims.
v) Fragrances and deodorants are not
intoxicants, does not leave people intoxi-
cated, and are for external use only. Thus
it is halal for Muslims to use as intended
even though it contains alcohol.
vi) Tuak water (juice from fermented palm),
Nira (juice extracted from coconut
blossom, palm or sugar palm), or Tapai
water (juice from fermented rice) are not
intoxicants, and does not leave people
intoxicated. Thus it is halal by law to con-
sume. However, when said substances
are taken too much, it does cause intoxi-
cation. It is considered haram when the
level has reached intoxication.
vii) Recreational drugs are not intoxicants,
but can cause intoxication. Thus it is still
haram even though there is no alcohol
content.
DEFINING FACTOR
SHOULDN’T BE ALCOHOL
as well be, as it promotes misinterpretation
by the public who might not be in-depth in
Islamic law well enough.
This is because they think the reason
for the prohibition of alcoholic beverages
is because of the alcohol itself. When a
commonly-alcoholic beverage such as beer
is now ‘alcohol-free’, then this new formula-
tion of beverages is viewed as no longer haram
for Muslims.
Traditionally, the creation of these
alcohol-free beers are done to promote a more
responsible way to drink. Non-Muslims who
Ethanol, CH3CH2-OH
As a conclusion, the term ‘alcohol’ shouldn’t
be a determinant on whether a product
is haram or halal. It is how the product is
categorised as an intoxicant, and can leave
people intoxicated are the things to be consid-
ered. Most intoxicants that are intoxicating
normally contain alcohol. However, not all
products contain alcohol are intoxicants that
are intoxicating.
That’s the importance of Halal Sciece,
that’s the value of the Halal logo, and that’s
the beauty of Islam. Islam is easy, and we
are at ease about it. But don’t take things too
easy.