Muslims and the use of alcohol based substances, how do the rules work?

[JeromeTash]

The recent COVID19 outbreak got me thinking and have some questions on how the Islamic faithfuls handle the situation when it comes to things like sanitizing and maybe even use  certain medicines that contain alcoholic substances.
From my understanding, alcohol is prohibited or is considered a taboo in the religion, so;

1. How do they sanitize if they got to places that have alcoholic based hand sanitizers?
2. How do they go about medications that are required for treatment but have some alcoholic content?
3. Most perfumes and deodorants I have come across have at least an alcohol substance in them, and yet I observe some of them highly use the body sprays. Isn't this against their religious principles?

[Gyfts]

They usually just apply their religion in ways that might be convenient. Some muslims refuse to use alcohol related products, while others might just interpret the Quran to mean consumption of alcohol is banned so using alcohol products on the body might be okay. In cases of life or death, then the use of alcohol is permitted.

It boils down to selective interpretation based on whatever scholar they choose to believe. You could give a homeless person LSD and ask them to interpret the Quran, and they would be no more closer to objective truth than the scholar, because both have no idea of what they're talking about. Subjective interpretation is subjective interpretation.

[Hispo]

As far as I am informed, the Muslim people are not allowed to consume alcohol in the form of beverages, beacuse they frown upon the effects they have on the body and soul, it is haram, prohibited by Allah.

I think they are ok with hand sanitizers. I could be wrong though, I have never personally met a muslim close enough to ask.


Something that caught my attention, however, I was at my local Burger Kings and I saw this muslim woman with two muslim men, in the line. The woman ordered a chicken burger with no chicken. I and the guy taking the order were a bit confused about it.

Later I learnt, that muslims can't eat meat if was not sacrificed by the name of Allah. So I believe that explains it.

Perphaps, our friends from the Arabic sub-forum could dispell our doubts.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

The recent COVID19 outbreak got me thinking and have some questions on how the Islamic faithfuls handle the situation when it comes to things like sanitizing and maybe even use  certain medicines that contain alcoholic substances.
From my understanding, alcohol is prohibited or is considered a taboo in the religion, so;

1. How do they sanitize if they got to places that have alcoholic based hand sanitizers?
2. How do they go about medications that are required for treatment but have some alcoholic content?
3. Most perfumes and deodorants I have come across have at least an alcohol substance in them, and yet I observe some of them highly use the body sprays. Isn't this against their religious principles?

Alcohol is forbidden to consume ( drink ) because there are more negative things that will be caused than the benefits from an Islamic point of view it will makes you unconsciousness. it will damage your liver, it will ruin your life style and so on, if the purpose of alcohol is for health, cleanliness is okay.

[semobo]

Google search gave me a result that drinking is prohibited but applying it on your body for medical reasons are not forbidden, anyway when we compare the religious facts with scientific then we can find why they told like that, if we consume alcohol we might get addicted so out future and our's family future will be affected so restrict people from doing it they linked it with the religion.

[Natsuu]

The recent COVID19 outbreak got me thinking and have some questions on how the Islamic faithfuls handle the situation when it comes to things like sanitizing and maybe even use  certain medicines that contain alcoholic substances.
From my understanding, alcohol is prohibited or is considered a taboo in the religion, so;

1. How do they sanitize if they got to places that have alcoholic based hand sanitizers?
2. How do they go about medications that are required for treatment but have some alcoholic content?
3. Most perfumes and deodorants I have come across have at least an alcohol substance in them, and yet I observe some of them highly use the body sprays. Isn't this against their religious principles?

Consuming alcohol is prohibited, but external use of alcohol is not that strict.
1. They can still use hand sanitizer so its all good
2. They will ask/find alternatives from doctors. Besides, doctors won't give a muslim patient a prescription that is against their religious beliefs.
3. No, external use of alcohol is good, but I don't know about bathing in it.

[dondonk]

In Muslims, alcohol is not allowed to be drunk. use it as a hand sanitizer, or as a mixture in perfume while this is still allowed.

[af_newbie]

The recent COVID19 outbreak got me thinking and have some questions on how the Islamic faithfuls handle the situation when it comes to things like sanitizing and maybe even use  certain medicines that contain alcoholic substances.
From my understanding, alcohol is prohibited or is considered a taboo in the religion, so;

1. How do they sanitize if they got to places that have alcoholic based hand sanitizers?
2. How do they go about medications that are required for treatment but have some alcoholic content?
3. Most perfumes and deodorants I have come across have at least an alcohol substance in them, and yet I observe some of them highly use the body sprays. Isn't this against their religious principles?

Quran says that wine is the work of the devil.

It also says that Allah created heaven with rivers full of wine.

Muslims can drink alcohol and many do. Why not?

[Gyfts]

The recent COVID19 outbreak got me thinking and have some questions on how the Islamic faithfuls handle the situation when it comes to things like sanitizing and maybe even use  certain medicines that contain alcoholic substances.
From my understanding, alcohol is prohibited or is considered a taboo in the religion, so;

1. How do they sanitize if they got to places that have alcoholic based hand sanitizers?
2. How do they go about medications that are required for treatment but have some alcoholic content?
3. Most perfumes and deodorants I have come across have at least an alcohol substance in them, and yet I observe some of them highly use the body sprays. Isn't this against their religious principles?

Quran says that wine is the work of the devil.

It also says that Allah created heaven with rivers full of wine.

Muslims can drink alcohol and many do. Why not?

Because literature interpretation is subjective, and the shift away towards secularism means religious societies can become more progressive when it's convenient.

The Quran also says to kill the nonbelievers, but this is obviously very inconvenient because the feasibility of killing billions of people doesn't coincide with modern moral philosophy.

It becomes a double edged sword. The further away you get from the text, the lesser the objective interpretation. This lets the radicals take verses of their holy book and justify barbaric philosophy in accordance to their own beliefs, with slight reinforcements from the literature. On the same note, the original text and most objective interpretation isn't anything pretty either.

[jcojci]

The recent COVID19 outbreak got me thinking and have some questions on how the Islamic faithfuls handle the situation when it comes to things like sanitizing and maybe even use  certain medicines that contain alcoholic substances.
From my understanding, alcohol is prohibited or is considered a taboo in the religion, so;

1. How do they sanitize if they got to places that have alcoholic based hand sanitizers?
2. How do they go about medications that are required for treatment but have some alcoholic content?
3. Most perfumes and deodorants I have come across have at least an alcohol substance in them, and yet I observe some of them highly use the body sprays. Isn't this against their religious principles?

Quran says that wine is the work of the devil.

It also says that Allah created heaven with rivers full of wine.

Muslims can drink alcohol and many do. Why not?

When you drink alcohol, you can forget who you are, what you do, and that can cause to do an evil works. When someone don't know who they are, they can do anything they want, including kill people who they don't like.

You can read on here: https://www.quora.com/How-can-heaven-be-described-as-a-place-full-of-wine-and-women-when-this-is-the-kind-of-life-Allah-forbids-here-Sura-78-32-1

[BADecker]

Basically, the basic rules work the same. Imbibe enough and you will get drunk. If you live in a community that punishes for imbibing, imbibe a lot if you are going to do it at all. This way you won't feel the punishment so much. Of course, you won't be ale to run away as fast, either.

[af_newbie]

The recent COVID19 outbreak got me thinking and have some questions on how the Islamic faithfuls handle the situation when it comes to things like sanitizing and maybe even use  certain medicines that contain alcoholic substances.
From my understanding, alcohol is prohibited or is considered a taboo in the religion, so;

1. How do they sanitize if they got to places that have alcoholic based hand sanitizers?
2. How do they go about medications that are required for treatment but have some alcoholic content?
3. Most perfumes and deodorants I have come across have at least an alcohol substance in them, and yet I observe some of them highly use the body sprays. Isn't this against their religious principles?

Quran says that wine is the work of the devil.

It also says that Allah created heaven with rivers full of wine.

Muslims can drink alcohol and many do. Why not?

When you drink alcohol, you can forget who you are, what you do, and that can cause to do an evil works. When someone don't know who they are, they can do anything they want, including kill people who they don't like.

You can read on here: https://www.quora.com/How-can-heaven-be-described-as-a-place-full-of-wine-and-women-when-this-is-the-kind-of-life-Allah-forbids-here-Sura-78-32-1

Alcohol suppresses the release of glutamate and binds to GABA receptors inhibiting neuronal signaling.  

It has nothing to do with the 'evil works'.

Today, we know what alcohol is, and how it affects our body when ingested.  

Muhammad/Allah did not have a clue what planet he was on, never mind the structure of the alcohol molecule.

[Maestro75]

As far as I am informed, the Muslim people are not allowed to consume alcohol in the form of beverages, beacuse they frown upon the effects they have on the body and soul, it is haram, prohibited by Allah.

This is strange because I get to see Muslims who drink beverages with alcohol in them but they do not drink it in public places. My question then is why do some of them take alcohol and some do not? Is it a matter of choice and selection or pure hypocrisy and pretence? Does it mean that different Muslims have different interpretations of the Quran?

[LTU_btc]

Finally some interesting stuff in Politics and Society after all these conspiracy theories .
From what I understand medications with alcochol and hand sanitizers is ok to use. But perfumes and deodorants aren't. Though, I may be wrong.
I thought that alcochol is bannedvjust inbfew most conservative Islamic countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia, but I checked list of such countries and there is quite many where alcochol is banned. Well, I imagine that for non-muslims living there life isn't that easy there .

This is strange because I get to see Muslims who drink beverages with alcohol in them but they do not drink it in public places. My question then is why do some of them take alcohol and some do not? Is it a matter of choice and selection or pure hypocrisy and pretence? Does it mean that different Muslims have different interpretations of the Quran?

I guess it depends on level how much religious they are. It's same like Christians. Some of them go to church every Sunday, don't eat meat when it's forbidden and follow all rules. While others consider themselves as Christians, but maybe never been in church.

[Hispo]

Finally some interesting stuff in Politics and Society after all these conspiracy theories .
From what I understand medications with alcochol and hand sanitizers is ok to use. But perfumes and deodorants aren't. Though, I may be wrong.
I thought that alcochol is bannedvjust inbfew most conservative Islamic countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia, but I checked list of such countries and there is quite many where alcochol is banned. Well, I imagine that for non-muslims living there life isn't that easy there .

This is strange because I get to see Muslims who drink beverages with alcohol in them but they do not drink it in public places. My question then is why do some of them take alcohol and some do not? Is it a matter of choice and selection or pure hypocrisy and pretence? Does it mean that different Muslims have different interpretations of the Quran?

I guess it depends on level how much religious they are. It's same like Christians. Some of them go to church every Sunday, don't eat meat when it's forbidden and follow all rules. While others consider themselves as Christians, but maybe never been in church.

I found an interesting Wikipedia page that may explain this, it seems some muslims assume the Quran only refer to beverages made using grape and "date plant", which others (the majority) consider the alcohol itself to be haram.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khamr

"Traditions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad indicated that khamr may be made from two plants, the grape-vine and the date palm.

There are some Muslim jurists (particularly of the Hanafi school) who take the concept of khamr literally and forbid only grape-based (or date-based) alcoholic beverages, allowing those made with other fruits, grains, or honey. This is, however, a minority opinion."

[Xinarae*]

Alcohol is not safe in muslim society it is forbidden in the eyes of islam. If a person becomes more addicted to alcohol then it is better to refrain from this because the future is dark the problems that arise in human life are not noticeable in any other as people are more inclined towards natural intoxication alcohol has been banned to free them from disobeying or neglecting the rules of islam. Drinking water is enough to destroy the individual family and society with all the misdeeds.

[Maestro75]

Alcohol is not safe in muslim society it is forbidden in the eyes of islam.

Muslims condemn alcohol but do not refuse the VAT and tax that comes from the government to such muslim states during revenue sharing and allocation in my country. Is that not hypocrisy? You condemn something yet you accept proceeds from that same thing you condemn. They say they are practising sharia in those states and destroy alcoholic beverages but not the money.

[noorman0]

Muhammad/Allah did not have a clue what planet he was on, never mind the structure of the alcohol molecule.

They know, believe me. Because Muhammad came in era of pre-modern chemical science, so it is difficult to explain to people around. Had you lived in his time with today's knowledge, surely Muhammad would have taught you a lot about molecules.

[af_newbie]

Muhammad/Allah did not have a clue what planet he was on, never mind the structure of the alcohol molecule.

They know, believe me. Because Muhammad came in era of pre-modern chemical science, so it is difficult to explain to people around. Had you lived in his time with today's knowledge, surely Muhammad would have taught you a lot about molecules.

The guy said that fresh water and saltwater never mix.  He knew nothing about chemistry to utter such nonsense.

Wine is the works of the devil? WTF? 

He was as ignorant as the people around him.

[yhiaali3]

As far as I am informed, the Muslim people are not allowed to consume alcohol in the form of beverages, beacuse they frown upon the effects they have on the body and soul, it is haram, prohibited by Allah.

I think they are ok with hand sanitizers. I could be wrong though, I have never personally met a muslim close enough to ask.


Something that caught my attention, however, I was at my local Burger Kings and I saw this muslim woman with two muslim men, in the line. The woman ordered a chicken burger with no chicken. I and the guy taking the order were a bit confused about it.

Later I learnt, that muslims can't eat meat if was not sacrificed by the name of Allah. So I believe that explains it.

Perphaps, our friends from the Arabic sub-forum could dispell our doubts.

Thank you. You are the only one who asked for clarification from the members of the Arabic section, because they are the most able to answer this question.
First of all, I am sorry to see some members write offensive things when they really don't know anything about the Qur'an or Islamic law, at least they should respect the feelings of Muslims and not say offensive things.
As for the answer to the question: I simply say Islamic law forbade drinking alcohol, but it did not forbid its use. I mean, you simply cannot drink alcohol, but it can be used for cleaning, sterilization, or to treat some diseases.
Of course, some fanatical jurists forbid even touching alcohol, but this is because they do not understand the Qur’an well, and this is not the fault of the Prophet Muhammad or the Holy Qur’an. Beyond that, the Qur’an permits eating pork even though it is completely forbidden in Islamic law if there is a necessity for that because there is a jurisprudential rule that says: “Necessities allow prohibitions.” This means that in case of necessity, all rules are broken, so even if alcohol is forbidden, it can be used in case of necessity, as in the case of the Covid-19 virus.