Benzylalkohol

[Legend Killer]

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Benzyl alcohol (synthetic alcohol) used in cosmetics, lotions etc. is permissible.^[1]

Such alcohols (as long as they are not sourced from dates or grapes) for external use in the form of medicines or beauty products are permissible to use provided the remaining ingredients are Halal.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mufti Arshad Ali

[Legend Killer]

Benzyl alcohol isn’t you conventional alcohol (khamr) for drinking.

 

According to the contact dermatitis institute:

 

“Benzyl alcohol is found in many naturally occurring plant products such as Balsam of Peru and is also a component of essential oils such as hyacinth, jasmine, and ylang ylang oils. Benzyl alcohol is also prevalent in hair dyes, shampoos, facial cleansers, sunscreens, fragrances, and cosmetics.”

 

Our beloved prophet SAW has mentioned:

 

وَالْخَمْرُ مَا خَامَرَ الْعَقْلَ

 

“khamr” is that which befogs the mind. [Muslim Hadeeth no: 3032]

 

كُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ خَمْرٌ وَكُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ حَرَامٌ

 

“Every intoxicant is Khamr and every intoxicant is forbidden” [Muslim Hadeeth no: 2003]

 

This (Benzyl alcohol) is not conventional alcohol. This isn’t an intoxicant like the “fermented” alcohol which is derived from grapes/potatoes for intoxicating consumption etc.

 

The alcohol in drinks is called ethanol (ethyl alcohol). It is made when yeast ferments the sugars in grains, fruits and vegetables. For example, wine is made from the sugar in grapes and vodka is made from the sugar in potatoes. [HealthGov]

 

Khamr (alcohol) is derived from certain types of food etc.

 

Umar (RA) mentioned:

 

قَالَ نَزَلَ تَحْرِيمُ الْخَمْرِ يَوْمَ نَزَلَ وَهِيَ مِنْ خَمْسَةِ أَشْيَاءَ مِنَ الْعِنَبِ وَالتَّمْرِ وَالْعَسَلِ وَالْحِنْطَةِ وَالشَّعِيرِ وَالْخَمْرُ مَا خَامَرَ الْعَقْلَ

 

The prohibition of wine came down when (the Qur’anic verse) came down. It was made from five thing namely, grapes, dates, honey, wheat, barley. Wine is what infects (khamara) the mind. [Sunan Abi Dawood Hadeeth no: 3669]

 

 

 

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Burhaan Rahman

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham