Using mouthwash containing alcohol

18-11-1999 | IslamWeb

Question:

Can I use mouthwash with alcohol?
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

The majority of the scholars agree that alcohol is impure because it is a kind an intoxicant; Allah Says (what means): {O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.} [Quran 5:90]

Therefore, anything containing alcohol is impure and it is not permissible to use it except in case of necessity when there is no other permissible alternative, such as some kinds of medicine. Therefore, you should know that using mouthwash that contains alcohol is prohibited according to the view of the majority of the scholars because of the existence of permissible alternatives.

Finally, we advise all people to use the Miswak (tooth stick) as much as they can. This is very hygienic and very useful as testified by trustworthy doctors. In addition to this, this is a Sunnah of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ).

Allah knows best.

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