Does 'Alcohol Denat' invalidate the ṣalāh?

Question

What is the ruling on alcohol denat and does it break the salah?

— Iyaaz Haji, Preston, England

Answer

Khamr (alcohol) is a najāsah ghalīzah (major impurity) and its consumption, along with its application, is ḥarām. Ethyl alcohol or denatured alcohol fits the classification of khamr which is absolutely forbidden in the Qur’ān. The Noble Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم has stated:

ما أسكر كثيره فقليله حرام

“That which intoxicates in large amounts, its small quantity is ḥarām”

[Sunan ‘Ibn Mājah, Kitāb al-‘Ashbribah]

It is listed in Bahār-e-Sharī`at what has been classified as a major impurity:

ہر قسم کی شراب اور نشہ لانے والی تاڑی

“Every type of alcohol or date wine that causes intoxication.”

[Bahār-e-Sharī`at, Rules of Impurities]

Khamr is such an impurity that if applied or poured into something pure, the pure substance will be rendered as impure, unless the substance was equal to a Mā' Kathīr (a large body of water).

Since denatured alcohol is classified as a major impurity, if a small amount is applied, then it will not invalidate the ṣalah. A small amount refers to an amount smaller than a shar`ī dirham (the amount of water one can hold in his palm when open flat). This means that if there is a major impurity on your body or clothing and it is equivalent to the amount of water that you can hold in your palm, then the ṣalah is incomplete. One must repeat the ṣalah after removing the impurity or changing the garment. If it is larger than a shar`ī dirham, then the ṣalāh is rendered invalid. It is stated in Bahār-e-Sharī`at:

نَجاستِ غلیظہ کا حکم یہ ہے کہ اگر کپڑے یا بدن میں ایک درہم سے زِیادہ لگ جائے تو اس کا پاک کرنا فرض ہے بے پاک کیے نماز پڑھ لی تو ہو گی ہی نہیں …اگر درہم کے برابر ہے تو پاک کرنا واجب ہے کہ بے پاک کیے نماز پڑھی تو مکروہ ِتحریمی ہوئی یعنی ایسی نماز کا اِعادہ واجب …اور اگر درہم سے کم ہے تو پاک کرنا سنّت ہے کہ بے پاک کیے نماز ہوگئی مگر خلافِ سنّت ہوئی اور اس کا اِعادہ بہتر ہے

“The ruling of a major impurity is that if more than one [shar`ī] dirham is on the clothing or body, then it is farḍ to purify it; if ṣalāh is prayed without purifying it, then it is invalid… If it is equal to the size of a dirham, then it is wājib to purify it, if he prayed ṣalāh without purifying it, it is makrūh taḥrīmī, meaning such ṣalāh must be repeated… And, if it is less than the size of a dirham, then it is sunnah to purify it, since the ṣalāh prayed is valid, but contrary to the sunnah and repeating it is better.”

[Bahār-e-Sharī`at, Rules of Impurities]

Allāh, the Exalted, knows best.

Faqīr Salmān al-Nūrī · (May he be forgiven) · Ramaḍān 10, 1445 AH

Verified by Muftī Zāhid Ḥussain al-Qādirī