Shaykh Abdul-Muhsin Al-Abbaad was asked:

Question:

“I understood from your answer in regards to alcohol mixed in medicines that are used to cure coughs and other than it that it is allowed if the amount of alcohol is very small. My question Oh your Eminence is how is that allowed when the ruling is dependent on intoxication and there are those who use this for intoxication. Next, this contradicts the Hadith:

ما جعل الله شفائكم فيما حرم عليكم

Allah did not make your cure in what He made Haram (unlawful) to you

[Silsilatus-Saheeha 4/175]

Specifically since many of these medicines that have alcohol, which is the mother of all evil, are used without a necessity [while] there exists a beneficial, tested alternative like sesame oil for coughs [, so why is it okay to take this medicine still]?

Answer:

“In any case, something that does not have any issues/problems is more deserving. However, something that has a little [alcohol] which is immersed and does not have any affect, then there is no harm in it. There is no preventive”. End translation. [Sharh Sunan Tirmidhi no. 206]

Translator’s Note: “A similar fatwa was passed by the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Verdicts of Saudi Arabia headed by Shaikh Bin Baz rahimahahullah. It can be found here.

Translated by

Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan