Issue: The ruling on medicines that contain alcohol.

The Shaykh : Now, what is your opinion regarding some of the medicines and drugs that currently contain a percentage of alcohol, which is sometimes given to patients in cases of dire necessity? What is your opinion on this? We say that our opinion on this is that these do not intoxicate, but they produce a degree of sedation and pain relief for the patient. However, they do not cause the intoxication of one who drinks khamr (intoxicants). They are similar to anesthesia, which disables sensation without the patient feeling pleasure or delight. It is well known that if the ruling is contingent upon a cause, and that cause is absent, then the ruling is absent. Since the ruling is contingent upon intoxication, and there is no intoxication here, there is no prohibition. And Allah knows best.