Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamualikum.

As understood we know that any food product is halaal if they are prepared as per the halaal requirement that is alcohol or any haraam product is not used during its preparation.

But if any of the vessel used in the production  is cleaned by disinfectants containing Alcohol. Will this food product still be termed as Halaal.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Alcohol as cleansing agent

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah Subhanah has absolutely forbidden the consumption of all types of intoxicants for the believers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 90:

O you who have believed! ‘Khamr’ (all types of intoxicants), gambling, (ungodly) shrines, and divining devices are all abominable works of Shaitaan; therefore, refrain from these so that you may attain true success!

Not all ‘haraam’ (forbidden) things in Islam are impure… for example: gold and silk are declared ‘haraam’ for the believing men, but gold and silk in their essence are not impure substances. Similarly, the majority of the scholars and jurists in Islam are of the opinion that although the consumption of alcohol is ‘haraam’ and absolutely forbidden, alcohol by itself is not an impure substance.

Thus if a vessel or utensil used for preparing food has perchance been cleansed by disinfectants containing alcohol, and that vessel is thoroughly washed thereafter whereby no trace of the alcohol remains….lawful food prepared in this vessel will be deemed lawful for the believers to consume. And Allah Alone Knows Best.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan