Ruling on cologne

Fatwa no. 3951 All praise be to Allah, Alone, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger, family and Companions!The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' has read the question submitted by the Director of Islamic Awareness in the Armed Forces, Shaykh Muhammad ibn Nasir Al-Ja`wan, to His Eminence, the President, which was transferred to it under no. 1356 on 1/8/1401 A.H. And which reads:We have received many inquiries about the cologne sold in stores at cheap prices, and used by people as an intoxicant because it contains a substance called methyl alcohol in various percentages (Part No. 22; Page No. 143) that could reach 88% at times. Moreover, all types of this cologne are authorized by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, which is a very serious issue. It is used as Khamr (intoxicant) and it is so intoxicating to the extent that if anyone wants to drink it, they must add some other substance to reduce its strength. I am hereby sending some of the received documents along with a report of one of the physicians regarding this issue. We ask Allah to support you in arriving at a prompt solution to prevent these poisons from entering Muslim lands, and I hope that you will provide us with your opinion so we may circulate it at our work places. May Allah reward you! Peace be upon you!

The Committee gave the following answer: If the alcohol content in the cologne is such that drinking a large amount of it results in intoxication, it is not permissible to keep it, whether it exists in small or large amounts. Thus, it should be spilt because it is Khamr. It is confirmed that the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered the Muslims to pour out the Khamr they had upon the revelation of this Ayah (Qur'anic verse): O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), and gambling, and Al-Ansâb, and Al-Azlâm (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaitan’s (Satan) handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful. Shaitân (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allâh and from As-Salât (the prayer). So, will you not then abstain? (Part No. 22; Page No. 144) It is also confirmed that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "If a large amount of anything causes intoxication, a small amount of it is prohibited." Based on that, it is not permissible to drink it, apply it, or use it for cleaning. However, if the alcohol content does not reach a level that makes it intoxicating if drunk in a large amount, it is permissible to buy, keep, apply, and use as a cleaner. The basic ruling is the permissibility of things unless otherwise proven.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.