Food Containing Less than 1% Alcohol: Lawful?

12 July, 2018

Q As-salamu `alaykum. Dear scholars, is it ok to eat some food containing less than 1% alcohol found in some dressing or sauce ingredients such as sushi rice vinegar called Mirin? What do you say about alcohol that gets burned off in cooking?

Answer

Dr. Main Al-Qudah

12 July, 2018

Wa `alaykum as-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

In this fatwa:

It is known that any food or drink containing any percentage of alcohol is prohibited. So, Muslims should resort to alcohol-free alternatives.

Responding to your question, Dr. Main Al-Qudah, Assistant Professor, AOU, IAU, SAA, Member of AMJA Fatwa Committee, and Imam, MAS Katy Center, states:

The evaporation of alcohol while cooking or processing the food is not completely guaranteed. Because of that, there might still some taste or flavor in the food. That is why consuming any food or drink containing any percentage of alcohol is prohibited.

On the other hand, the alternative is available; there are many other alcohol-free products.

Allah Almighty knows best.

Editor’s note: This fatwa is from Ask the Scholar’s archive and was originally published at an earlier date.