ETHANOL
The bane of the inebriated Scholars for Dollars!
عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ إِنَّ مِنَ الْحِنْطَةِ خَمْرًا وَمِنَ الشَّعِيرِ خَمْرًا وَمِنَ التَّمْرِ خَمْرًا وَمِنَ الزَّبِيبِ خَمْرًا وَمِنَ الْعَسَلِ خَمْرًا ”
Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Indeed khamar (liquor) is made from wheat, khamar is made from barley, khamar is made from dates, khamar is made from raisins and khamar is made from honey.” [TIRMIDHI SHAREEF]
عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَامَ عُمَرُ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَقَالَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ نَزَلَ تَحْرِيمُ الْخَمْرِ وَهْىَ مِنْ خَمْسَةٍ الْعِنَبِ وَالتَّمْرِ وَالْعَسَلِ وَالْحِنْطَةِ وَالشَّعِيرِ، وَالْخَمْرُ مَا خَامَرَ الْعَقْلَ.
Hadhrat Ibn Umar (Radhiallahu anhuma) reports that (his father) Umar (Radhiallahu anhu) stood on the pulpit and after praising Allah Ta`ala and sending salutations upon Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “When the Aayat which made khamar haraam was revealed, it (khamar at the time) was produced from five things – grapes, dates, honey, wheat and barley. khamar is that which covers (intoxicates) the brain.”
[BUKHARI SHAREEF]
The issue of the total prohibition of intoxicants such as alcohol is something known to every believer – learned or otherwise. There has been of late a sty-full of Scholars for Dollars (we cannot bear to address them as Ulama or even molvis) that have classified this Haraam as Halaal. This very treacherous act places their Imaan on a precipice of certain ruin. Their ignorance and love for monetary gain have led them to destroy the Imaan of the Muslim Ummah. They perfectly fit the description given to them by Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) of being the “worst of creation, under the canopy of the sky”.
CHANGING THE NAME
These cretins are fast inviting the Wrath and Punishment of Allah Rabbul Izzat by their wanton disregard of the Deen and Shariah. Their love for earning pennies in lieu of trashy ‘halaal-certificates’, and their yearning for public support by condoning haraam consumption of alcohol, will ultimately lead the Ummah to certain ruin.
عَنْ أَبِي مَالِكٍ الْأَشْعَرِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَيَشْرَبَنَّ نَاسٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِي الْخَمْرَ يُسَمُّونَهَا بِغَيْرِ اسْمِهَا يُعْزَفُ عَلَى رُءُوسِهِمْ بِالْمَعَازِفِ وَالْمُغَنِّيَاتِ يَخْسِفُ اللَّهُ بِهِمْ الْأَرْضَ وَيَجْعَلُ مِنْهُمْ الْقِرَدَةَ وَالْخَنَازِيرَ
Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Soon people from my Ummah will consume khamar calling it by other names, musical instruments will be played for them and singing girls will perform for them. Allah will sink them into the earth and He will make some of them into monkeys and pigs.” [SUNAN IBN MAJAH – Classified Saheeh]
ETHANOL
The prohibition and Hurmat of Ethanol is as clear as daylight. Only those who are obviously dense in the mind are obstinate enough to ignore the obvious facts.
Let us dissect this issue for ease of understanding.
What is Ethanol?
“Ethanol (also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, drinking alcohol, or simply alcohol) is a chemical compound, a simple alcohol with the chemical formula C2H6O. Ethanol is a volatile, flammable, colourless liquid with a slight characteristic odour. It is a psychoactive substance and is the principal type of alcohol found in alcoholic drinks.” [Wikipedia]
“Ethanol is produced from biomass mostly via a fermentation process using glucose derived from sugars (sugar cane, sugar beet and molasses), starch (corn, wheat, grains) or cellulose (forest products) as raw materials.” http://biofuelsassociation.com.au/biofuels/ethanol/how-is-ethanol-made/
Ethanol is chiefly made from grain and wheat. The fact that this is clearly classified as ‘Khamar’ (alcohol) is apparent from the hadith cited at the beginning of this article. This fact alone renders Ethanol Haraam!
Although commercial Ethanol used as an ingredient is chiefly made from corn, grain, etc. the resultant intoxicant and alcohol in wine is also Ethanol!
Those touched by the intoxication of what they consume may stupidly argue that not all Ethanol is made from grain or wheat. This argument is as thin as the intellect they profess to demonstrate. Firstly, there is no way of knowing for certain the Ethanol used commercially is not from wheat or grain. Secondly, even if it is made from some other source, the very fact that it is an intoxicant – an extremely strong one at that – renders it haraam.
THE STRONGEST ARGUMENT OF THE FUQAHA
عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ : كُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ خَمْرٌ وَكُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ حَرَامٌ
Hadhrat Ibn Umar (Radhiallahu anhuma) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Every intoxicant is khamar (alcohol) and every intoxicant is Haraam.” [SAHEEH MUSLIM]
This Hadith appears throughout the Kutub of Hadith. Furthermore, it has been reported:
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ “ كُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ حَرَامٌ وَمَا أَسْكَرَ كَثِيرُهُ فَقَلِيلُهُ حَرَامٌ ”
Abdullah Ibn Umar (Radhiallahu anhuma) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Every intoxicant is Haraam. That which intoxicates in large quantity, (even) its little quantity is Haraam (even though this little quantity may not intoxicate).” [SUNAN IBN MAJAH]
Based on the above authentic Ahaadith, the Fuqaha have ruled that every intoxicant is Haraam, even though it may not classified under what is termed “Khamar Asli”. The proponents of the permissibility claim that ethanol is not from “Khamar Asli” (alcohol derived from grapes or dates), hence they aver it is not haraam. The Ahaadith cited above prove that every intoxicant is regarded as “Khamar”. It is owing to this technicality that those who claim ethanol is permissible, cannot be classified as kaafir. The Fuqaha are emphatic that any person who regards Khamar as halaal, is kaafir! Although in ‘technical terms’ ethanol may not be classified as Khamar Asli in absolute terms, it is an intoxicant, which does fall under the ruling of Khamar and it is definitely haraam.
RULING OF AHNAAF
It is mentioned in Shaami (one of the most authoritative Kitaabs on Hanafi Fiqh): “Indeed every intoxicant is Haraam, that is, whatever intoxicates in a large quantity, even its smaller quantity is Haraam. This is the view of (Imaam) Muhammed (Rahmatullahi alaih). It is the Mufta Behe view.” [Shami, vol. 3, page 651]
It is also stated in Shaami, vol. 4, page 38:
وَعِنْدَ مُحَمَّدٍ مَا أَسْكَرَ كَثِيرُهُ فَقَلِيلُهُ حَرَامٌ، وَهُوَ نَجَسٌ أَيْضًا قَالُوا: وَبِقَوْلِ مُحَمَّدٍ نَأْخُذُ
“According to Mohammed, whatever intoxicates in large quantity, even its little quantity is Haraam. And it is Najis also. They (the Fuqaha of Ahnaaf) say, “We accept and take the view of Mohammed.”
That is, the unanimous view of the Hanafi Fuqaha, upon which the Fatwa of practice is decreed, every intoxicant is Haraam, regardless of whether it is classified under ‘Khamar Asli’ or not!
The difference of opinion does not come into play here, because if some Scholars for Dollars aver that they prefer to rule in accordance to those Fuqaha who opine that only Khamar Asli is Haraam ( a choice which is not theirs to make anyway, since the preferred ruling has already been decided), then they would be constrained to accept that one tot or a can of beer, vodka, brandy etc. is Halaal, because these drinks contain Ethanol but are not made from grapes or dates!
It is mentioned clearly in Kutub like Badaai`us Sanaa`i, Hidaya, Shaami, etc. that all intoxicants are Haraam, even though they do not fall under the classification of Khamar Asli. According to all our Fuqaha, other intoxicants (besides those made from grapes or dates) also fall under the banner of Khamar, albeit majaazan (metaphorically).
In the Kitaab, Badaai`us Sanaa`i, in the chapter discussing drinks (Kitabul Ashribati), intoxicants made from wheat and barley (ethanol) is classified and discussed under intoxicants and Khamar.
IT SHOULD BE BORNE IN MIND THAT ACCORDING TO ALL FOUR MATHA-HIB, ALL INTOXICANTS ARE HARAAM. HENCE ETHANOL IS HARAAM FOR ADHERENTS OF ALL FOUR MATHAAHIB.
PRESENCE OF ETHANOL
Brandy: “Brandy is a distilled spirit made from virtually any fermented fruit or starchy vegetable. Distilling concentrates and helps purify the ethanol alcohol created by the fermentation; ethanol is an intoxicant used socially for millennia.” [wwwbbcgoodfood.com]
Vodka: “Vodka is a clear distilled alcoholic beverage that originates from Poland and Russia. It is composed primarily of water and ethanol, but sometimes with traces of impurities and flavourings. Traditionally it is made by distilling the liquid from cereal grains or potatoes that have been fermented, though some modern brands use fruits or sugar as the base.” [Wikipedia]
Beer: “Alcohol, or ethanol, is the intoxicating agent found in beer, wine and liquor.” [www.drugs.com]
Above is just a sample of a few haraam alcoholic drinks. Study properly the excerpt below from Wikipedia that sums up the application of Ethanol:
“An alcoholic drink (or alcoholic beverage) is a drink that contains ethanol, a type of alcohol produced by fermentation of grains, fruits, or other sources of sugar.”
BASED ON THE ABOVE, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT IN ANY SANE MIND THAT ETHANOL IS ABSOLUTELY AND CERTAINLY HARAAM!!! ETHANOL IS THE ALCOHOL WHICH IS THE INTOXICANT FOUND IN ALL ALCOHOLIC DRINKS, INCLUDING THOSE MADE OF GRAPES AND DATES!
ETHANOL IS NAJIS (IMPURE / FILTHY)
Imaam Mohammed (Rahmatullah alaihi) stated: “That which intoxicates in a large quantity, even its little quantity is Haraam, and it is Najis (impure) also.” [Shaami]
It is also a well-known ruling of Fiqh that alcohol is just as impure as urine, blood, stool, etc. In fact, it is classified as Najaasat Ghalizah. That is, if it soils one’s clothes or body, it is waajib to wash it off, lest one’s Salaat is rendered invalid.
COMMON SENSE
Let us now apply some common sense, after which it will become apparent that the ruling given of permissibility for Ethanol is not only nonsensical, but totally ludicrous.
We have now established without a shadow of doubt that Ethanol, which according to the kuffaar is, in fact, alcohol per se, is Haraam and impure. This conclusion applies the same to a single drop of Ethanol as opposed to a barrel full of it.
As mentioned previously, if any person wishes to argue in favour of the minority view of some Ahnaaf, that because Ethanol is not necessarily made from grapes or dates, it is not haraam in itself, this argument will be dismissed with the contempt it deserves. In fact, Ethanol is the alcohol that is produced when grapes are fermented to make wine! Based on this, it would even be safe to argue that Ethanol is the Khamar Asli.
Be that as it may, it truly boggles the mind that some Scholars for Dollars stupidly aver that whilst brandy, wine, whisky, beer and other such alcoholic drinks are Haraam because they contain Ethanol, which is the primary intoxicating agent, drinks such as all cold drinks, flavoured waters and drinks, etc. which also contain the very same Ethanol are permissible!
They claim that the Ethanol used in commercial products are minute in quantity and do not intoxicate, hence permissible. The Ahaadith clearly contradicts their inane claim. Since Ethanol is the chief intoxicant in all alcoholic drinks, it is Haraam there and hence its use in other products, albeit minute in quantity, remains haraam (and najis). Some of these numbskulls stupidly claim that even if you drink copious amounts of cold drink you will not become intoxicated, hence they say it is Halaal. The Ahaadith and Kutub of Fiqh say the opposite! The Shar`i ruling is that since Ethanol intoxicates in brandy, wine, etc. because it exists in larger quantities, it is Haraam even if it is used in small quantities in cold drinks etc. Ethanol is still alcohol, which is still khamar, which remains Haraam and impure, regardless of whether it is found in whisky or Coca Cola or Energade!
Let us use a simple example which even their vacant cranial cavities can comprehend – Let us take for our demonstration two equal-sized glasses.
We will fill the one full with a pure fruit juice and the other half with the same juice. Are the contents of these two glasses halaal and consumable? YES
We will now add just a single drop of urine to the full glass and top up the other glass with urine. Naturally, the contents of the first glass will still look like the juice it contains, and the drop of urine will not be discernible in the least – neither in taste colour or smell. However, the second glass will now look like diluted juice and the contents will most likely smell and taste of urine.
Now, are the contents of these two glasses still pure and consumable? MOST CERTAINLY NOT!
Even a child in basic Maktab class will tell you that when a little napaaki (impurity) falls into a small quantity of water, it will render all that water totally impure.
By what stretch of imagination can the proponents of Ethanol being permissible in soft drinks etc. still rule that it is permissible in small quantities when we have conclusively established that Ethanol is Haraam in any and all quantities and therefore, Ethanol, per se, is also impure?
The Hadith Shareef and Kutub of Fiqh are absolute on the ruling that whatever intoxicates in large quantities (like Ethanol in brandy, whisky, etc) will remain Haraam even if it is consumed in small quantities where it will not intoxicate.
We will repeat our question: If Ethanol is permissible in cold drinks, etc. because it is in small quantities and it does not intoxicate, will it be permissible to consume one tot of whisky or one can of beer, which will not intoxicate also???
COLD DRINKS ETC. ARE NOT ONLY HARAAM, THEY ARE NAJIS (IMPURE)
All such beverages that contain Ethanol, like all cold drinks, fizzy drinks, flavoured waters, energy drinks, essences used in baking, many sweets and confectionaries, amongst them, Flings, etc. are all, WITHOUT A SHRED OF DOUBT, HARAAM AND NAJIS!
Just as a drop of brandy, whisky or beer will contaminate your clothes or body if it touches it, so too will a drop of cold drink!
Many flavourings and almost all essences used in confectionery either contain alcohol or alcohol is used to extract the flavour. All such ingredients are Haraam.
The preposterous argument presented by the inebriated Scholars for Dollars is that the alcohol is ‘evaporated’ in the baking process. We cannot fathom the utter ignorance displayed here. The alcohol gets further permeated into the confectionary rather than ‘evaporated’. The same example of urine can be used – If a teaspoonful of urine is added to a cake and baked, the urine is ‘evaporated’ (according to their stupid argument), will they then consume that cake? The addition of urine made that cake najis, hence Haraam. The very same applies to alcohol. Alcohol, like urine, is haraam to consume and it is also najis.
Why then do they condone Ethanol, but would frown at the mention of urine in its place? The answer is simple, they have learnt to accept the consumption of alcohol and they condone its consumption, thereby literally bringing to fruition the hadith of Nabi (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) that a time will come where people will change the name and designation of alcohol and consume it. Wine and khamar are now disguised as the ingredient ‘Ethanol’, which the Scholars for Dollars of our time have given their (impure) stamp of approval.
May Allah Ta`ala have mercy on this Ummat and guide all the readers to understand the gravity of this sin. Muslims should educate themselves on the ingredients of the foods they consume and become wary of the haraam ingredients.
CONCLUSION
Ø Ethanol IS ALCOHOL.
Ø Ethanol is Haraam.
Ø Ethanol is Najis (Impure).
Ø Ethanol is what makes wine, brandy, whisky, liquors, beer and all such alcoholic beverages intoxicants.
¬ It is that very same Ethanol that they add to ALL cold drinks, flavoured waters and other ‘fruit’ and ‘energy’ drinks, etc.
¬ It is that very same Ethanol they add to Flings.
¬ It is that very same Ethanol they use in essences and other flavourings used in confectionery and sweets, etc.
CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT NABI (SALLALLAHU ALAIHI WASALLAM), HIS SAHABAH (RADHIALLAHU ANHUM) AND THE FUQAHA HAVE DECREED ETHANOL (AND ALL INTOXICANTS) AS HARAAM AND NAJIS,
ARE YOU GOING TO CONTINUE CONSUMING THIS HARAAM ETHANOL?