Shar‘i Ruling on the Use of Alcohol or Intoxicating Substances in Medicines
Source: Fatāwā Rashidiyyah, p. 491
❖ Question:
Many medicines contain intoxicating ingredients such as alcohol. What is the Shar‘i ruling regarding the use of such medicines?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!
✿ General Principle
- Medicines are not composed of intoxicating substances alone; they contain various ingredients.
- When these ingredients are mixed, their properties often change, and the intoxicating effect may disappear.
- If the intoxicating property is nullified, the use of such medicines is permissible, because they no longer intoxicate.
This assessment requires expertise from chemists and specialists who study the composition, properties, and effects of compounds.
✿ When It Becomes Harām
- If a medicine still retains its intoxicating property, such that in a certain dosage or larger amount it causes intoxication, then it is harām without doubt.
- The Prophet ﷺ said:
((مَا أَسْكَرَ كَثِيرُهُ فَقَلِيلُهُ حَرَامٌ))
“Whatever intoxicates in large amounts, a small amount of it is also harām.”
✿ Scholarly Responsibility
- This issue belongs to modern-day fiqh challenges.
- Competent scholars familiar with both Shar‘i and worldly sciences should deliberate on such matters with experts.
- After thorough research and clarity, a united and authoritative conclusion should be issued to remove doubts.
- For now, a definitive verdict is difficult, and Allah knows best.
✿ Clarification by Abu al-Qāsim (‘Afāhu Allāh)
- He maintained that the safest approach is to avoid such medicines in all cases.
- Even if it is claimed that mixing removes intoxication, the Prophet ﷺ declared intoxication itself a disease, not a cure.
- What is itself a disease cannot truly cure another.
- The Prophet ﷺ never considered intoxicants as medicine, and his guidance is more truthful than all medical claims.
Thus, even if doctors unanimously claim benefit, we must hold firmly to the words of the Prophet ﷺ.
✿ Our Belief
- This is our creed and faith: intoxicants cannot be considered medicine.
- Whoever elevates medical opinion above the words of the Prophet ﷺ should reflect upon his īmān.
- True guidance is only from Allah.
✿ Common Objection & Response
Question: If these medicines bring cure, then what is the harm?
Answer:
- Allah has created countless ḥalāl herbs, minerals, and plants as sources of healing.
- Why abandon the ḥalāl and turn towards the ḥarām?
- Allah says:
﴿وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي ٱلدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ﴾ (Al-Ḥajj: 78)
“Allah has not placed upon you any hardship in religion.”
Hence, there is no true necessity to resort to ḥarām; sincerity and resolve in following Qur’an and Sunnah suffice.
Conclusion:- If alcohol or intoxicants lose their effect when mixed in medicines → use is permissible.
- If intoxicating property remains → such medicine is ḥarām.
- The safer and stronger opinion is to avoid medicines with intoxicating substances altogether and seek cures from the countless ḥalāl alternatives Allah has created.
