The Ruling on Using Perfumes Mixed with Alcohol
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From the Arab Republic of Egypt, the listener (A. M. A.) sent a message containing a collection of questions, one of which reads: Is it permissible to use the perfumes currently in circulation, which contain a percentage of alcohol in their manufacture, and to perform prayer while wearing them, or is it necessary to remove them before prayer, whether they are on the limbs of wudu or on parts other than the limbs of wudu?
Answer: The original ruling for perfumes and other things is purity. This is the original ruling for perfumes; the original ruling for them is purity, for clothing is purity, for the earth is purity, and for water is purity, until you, O believer, or O believing woman, know of impurity. If it is known that this perfume contains alcohol that intoxicates in large quantities, then you are not permitted to use it. Like the perfume called: Colonia. It has been established for us by the testimony of reliable doctors that it contains an intoxicant from spirit, so it should not be used, and indeed it is not permissible to use Colonia because of the intoxicating mixture in it. As for the other perfumes, nothing has been established for me indicating that they contain an intoxicant, or that they contain something that intoxicates in large quantities. So the original ruling for them is purity and safety until the believer or believing woman knows that this perfume contains something that intoxicates in large quantities. Whoever knows that should leave this perfume that contains the intoxicant. And if something of it touches his garment, he should wash it; because the majority of scholars say: Every intoxicant is impure. This is the opinion of the majority of scholars, who hold that what intoxicates is impure. So the believer should be cautious with his religion; if something of that touches him, he washes it as a precaution and to get out of the disagreement of scholars. But if he does not know, the original ruling is purity. If you do not know that this perfume contains something that intoxicates in large quantities, the original ruling is safety, and praise be to Allah. You pray in the garment that was touched by it, and what touches your body likewise does not harm until you know with certainty that this perfume contains something that intoxicates in large quantities. And Allah is the One who grants success. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh! You mentioned that if it touches the clothing, the person must wash it if he knows that this perfume or this Colonia contains something intoxicating. What if it touches a limb of the human body? Does he wash it as well?
The Shaykh: Likewise, he washes it if it touches him, ... according to the majority. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Answer: The original ruling for perfumes and other things is purity. This is the original ruling for perfumes; the original ruling for them is purity, for clothing is purity, for the earth is purity, and for water is purity, until you, O believer, or O believing woman, know of impurity. If it is known that this perfume contains alcohol that intoxicates in large quantities, then you are not permitted to use it. Like the perfume called: Colonia. It has been established for us by the testimony of reliable doctors that it contains an intoxicant from spirit, so it should not be used, and indeed it is not permissible to use Colonia because of the intoxicating mixture in it. As for the other perfumes, nothing has been established for me indicating that they contain an intoxicant, or that they contain something that intoxicates in large quantities. So the original ruling for them is purity and safety until the believer or believing woman knows that this perfume contains something that intoxicates in large quantities. Whoever knows that should leave this perfume that contains the intoxicant. And if something of it touches his garment, he should wash it; because the majority of scholars say: Every intoxicant is impure. This is the opinion of the majority of scholars, who hold that what intoxicates is impure. So the believer should be cautious with his religion; if something of that touches him, he washes it as a precaution and to get out of the disagreement of scholars. But if he does not know, the original ruling is purity. If you do not know that this perfume contains something that intoxicates in large quantities, the original ruling is safety, and praise be to Allah. You pray in the garment that was touched by it, and what touches your body likewise does not harm until you know with certainty that this perfume contains something that intoxicates in large quantities. And Allah is the One who grants success. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh! You mentioned that if it touches the clothing, the person must wash it if he knows that this perfume or this Colonia contains something intoxicating. What if it touches a limb of the human body? Does he wash it as well?
The Shaykh: Likewise, he washes it if it touches him, ... according to the majority. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.