[Q 711] Permissibility of Alcohol in Tinctures

Question

I pray all respected scholars are in the best of health.

My question is in regards to herbal tinctures using alcohol to extract benefits. Most tinctures use either alcohol or glycerite to extract the benefits, but alcohol is significantly better and requires a smaller amount. In order for us to extract the benefits and keep the herbal strength above 50% (for some immunal herbs) alcohol is the only option.

Is it permissible to consume such tinctures that include alcohol? If the specific herb is required, it’s Echinacea angustifolia.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

The use of the enquired-about medicine containing alcohol is permissible; because in the present era, the use of alcoholic medicines has become widespread to the extent of umum-e-balwa. And abstaining from them causes haraj. Since Shari’ah grants takhfif and rukhsat in situations of umum-e-balwa and haraj, therefore, on this basis, their use is Islamically permissible.

It is stated in the decisions of Majlis-e-Shar’i:
“In this era, the use of spirit or alcohol-containing (English) medicines has reached the extent of umum-e-balwa… The members of the decision board agree that the use of the aforementioned English medicines is also permissible due to umum-e-balwa for the removal of haraj.”

(Majlis-e-Shar’i Ke Faislay, p. 120, Majlis-e-Shar’i, India)

Answered by: Muteeb Madani (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 24th August 2026