Question
Many perfumes and shampoos contain some form of alcohol. Is it permissible to use such perfumes and shampoos?
Answer
بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم
Generally, the alcohol used in perfumed and shampoos is not sourced from grapes or dates and is not intoxicating. It is therefore permissible to use such perfumes and shampoos (Aḥsan al-Fatāwā, 8: 486; Takmilah Fatḥ al-Mulhim, 3: 608). It is worth noting that alcohol has thousands of types and forms as apparent from the study of Organic Chemistry. The Arabic term ‘Khamr’ usually translated as alcohol, is not an accurate translation, as ‘Khamr’ refers to specific types of alcohols. It is nevertheless preferable to use the traditional non-alcoholic perfumes in accordance with the Prophetic Sunnah.
Allah knows best
Yusuf Shabbir
17 Rabīʿ al-Awwal 1427 / 15 April 2006
