QUESTION:

What is the verdict of the Learned Scholars of the Sacred Shar’īah regarding medication that contains alcohol? Besides medication any other drink which contains a little or less amount of alcohol is it permissible? Is it correct to use such liquid in which alcohol was put during the process and during the process it evaporated?

Questions received from: Adnān (England)

ANSWER:

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب

Alcoholic medication is deemed as permissible because of ‘Umūm-e-Balwā (common plight) [the affliction of the elite and the general masses]. This permissibility is to eradicate obstacle and hardship.

Almighty Allāh states,

{مَایُرِیۡدُ اللہُ لِیَجْعَلَ عَلَیۡکُمْ مِّنْ حَرَجٍ}

{Allāh does not desire to place any hardship upon you}

[Sūrah Mā’idah, verse 6]

Sayyidī Imām Ahmad Ridā Khān (may Allāh shower him with mercy), with the consideration of ‘Umūm al-Balwā gave the verdict of purity concerning a colouring sachet into which alcoholic spirits were added. Sayyidī Imām Ahmad Ridā Khān (may Allāh shower him with mercy) states that even if the mixing of spirits into the colouring sachet is proven in accordance to the Shar’īah [method of establishing proof], so there is no doubt that those who live in the Sub-Continent are afflicted by its colouring in a widespread manner and ‘Umūm al-Balwā in regards to agreed upon impurity is a cause of lightening [of the ruling].

[Fatāwā Ridawiyyah, vol 4, pg 381]

Sayyidī Imām Ahmad Ridā Khān (may Allāh shower him with mercy) further states that just as ‘Umūm al-Balwā causes the judgement to be lightened in the case of impurity, it is similarly effective in regards to the permissible and the forbidden.

“ولایخفی علی خادم الفقۃ ان ھذا کماھوجار فی باب الطھارۃ والنجاسۃ کذٰلک فی باب الاباحۃ والحرمۃ”

“It is not hidden from the servant of Islamic Jurisprudence that just as this principle is in application in the chapters of purity and impurity, likewise it is in application in the chapters of permissibility and prohibition.”

[Fatāwā Ridawiyyah, vol 25, pg 88]

But this permissibility is specifically for those scenarios where there is widespread, common plight [the elite and the general masses are all afflicted] and hardship is proven. Whereas this is not the case in regards to the scenario of alcohol in drinks and for this reason there is no permissibility in consuming alcoholic drinks.

Firstly, the consumption of alcohol-containing drinks is not an absolute necessity in order to stay alive, nor is there ‘Umūm al-Balwā in regards to them, furthermore non-alcoholic drinks are also available and easily attainable at every place. Likewise, all those liquids containing alcohol do not fall under the ruling of ‘Umūm al-Balwā.

In those liquids wherein alcohol is mixed, even if it is added for processing and in due course of the process the alcohol evaporates, safety is in refraining from them.

واللہ تعالی اعلم ورسولہ اعلم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم
کتبہ ابو الحسن محمد قاسم ضیاء قادری

Answered by Mufti Qasim Zia al-Qadri

Translated by Mohamed Raza Qadri

Read the original Urdu answer here – [Q-ID0289] What is the Islamic ruling on consuming medicine that contains Alcohol?

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