Alcohol in perfume and Listerine: HARAM???

During our organic chemistry lecture with Dr Qamar today, he told us that perfume contain high level of alcohol in ethanol form. It should not be use when you pray. OH NO, my favourite gervenne bouqet fragrance smell very good. Of course, it ingredients are ethanol, butane, propane and fragrance. I was once ask ustaz about this and I remember he told us in the class that it is ok because it is not intoxicant (memabukkan) such as in liquor.

Thing become worsen in class this morning when dr qamar said Listerine contains more ethanol in it compared to beer. (refer above diagram). Then, how you consider it? OH MY GOD, my friend who sit in front of me in the lecture hall told me “macam kumur- kumur ngan arak je kan?”. Hmm…macam mana ni? Buleh guna ke x ni?

I eagerly send sms to ustaz kabuye, one of pious man that I know in my life.

About the perfume different ulama’ have different views because those who allow the use of such a perfume argue that that type of alcohol is different from the one intoxicating and thus permitted to use without any restriction. But one should not use it when one is in the state of uncertainty.

When I asked about the Listerine, he replies me:

Many products contain alcohol but the type of alcohol they contain is described differently by the ulama’. Some consider such products haram to use while others simply allow them. People who take chemistry know about the types of alcohol. I assume it is one of the types which may not be the one intoxicating but still have to find out. Better not to use such products as we are uncertain. Wallahua’lam

Thanks ustaz. Ustaz kabuye send his regards and ask me to convey his salam to all my DQ’s collogue.Assalamualaikum.

During our ungs of Islamic worldview lecture last night, Dr Ibrahim once again remind us how the forbidden of alcohols was made in 3 delicate steps. Everyone during jahiliyah period consume wine. Thus, God asks them to avoid wine step by step.

First, HE asks muslim not to pray while they are not aware of their condition due to wine.
O ye who believe! Approach not prayers with a mind befogged, until ye can understand all that ye say,
(an- nisa:43)

Then ALLAH revealed this ayah:

They ask thee concerning wine and gambling Say: "In them is great sin, And some profit, for men; But the sin is greater Than the profit.
(al- baqarah:219)

Finally, ALLAH declares that wine is HARAM!
O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination,- of Satan's handwork: eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper.
(al- maidah:90)

“Infrequent consumption of ethanol in small quantities may be harmless or even beneficial …’ stated in my notes. BENEFICIAL? Yet to be discovered…still a long journey to reach there.

Still, We must thankful to ALLAH because being born as a Muslim keep us away from those unbeneficial stuff and we are not living in the community who easily consume it. Wallahu’alam.

Siapa yang ingin mengetahui kedudukannya di sisi ALLAH, maka hendaklah memerhatikan bagaimana kedudukan ALLAH dalam hatinya. Maka sesungguhnya ALLAH menempatkan hamba- hambaNYA disisiNYA sebagaimana hamba itu menempatkan ALLAH dalam hatinya.