Is Mouthwash Containing Alcohol Prohibited in Islam?

Question: 20034

I have been advised not to use Listerine, a kind of mouthwash, because it contains some form of alcohol. However, if the kind of alcohol it contains is not an intoxicant, is there some other reason for its prohibition or would it be permissible to use it?

Summary of answer

If the alcohol which this mouthwash contains is not intoxicating, then it is OK to use it, so long as it is not harmful, because what is prohibited is only that which is intoxicating.

Answer

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.

Shaykh Sa`d Al-Humayd (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

If the alcohol which this mouthwash contains is not intoxicating, then it is OK to use it, so long as it is not harmful, because what is prohibited is only that which is intoxicating.

In this case, we should look at the drink as a whole: if a lot of it causes intoxication then a little of it is haram.

For more details, please refer to the following answers: 201520 , 59899 , 40530 , and 1365 .

And Allah knows best.

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Source:

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid