Message #16007

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Walaikum As-Salam dear Sister Ruhi.  Yeah, I think I would have some details you may find useful.

Personally my family and I are of the opinion that unless used occasionally as medication, apple cider vinegar better fits the Haram category.  My husband researched this issue a few years ago and we found a couple of sites that said ACV is Haram.  Mentioning no reasons, they quoted one or two hadiths citing it as Haram.  But that of course is not the reason why we see it as Haram.  We are focused on the analytical reasons.  We researched where the vinegar actually comes from.  The apple juice is allowed to brew or fizz in airtight containers until its natural sugar turns to 100% alcohol.  The second step is to add vinegar or acetic acid to this alcohol and it's again left to age a bit  in open containers.  The transformation that takes place is called apple cider vinegar or ACV.  If you read the label of apple cider vinegar it will probably not mention 'alcohol' under its contents.  But it's a matter of common sense.  That has also led scientists to test the stuff who have asserted that they have found about 90 different substances in processed ACV containing at least 18 types of alcohol alongside other contents like ketones, ethyl acetates etc. It might not have an intoxicating effect but could be harmful in other ways.

Some people consume ACV daily as a tonic.   They claim it's a health food, fights stomach bacteria such as salmonella, lowers blood sugar and controls hypertension etc.  While it may help to treat minor stomach bugs, there are no foolproof professional evidences that it lowers blood sugar or controls high blood pressure. The other thing to remember is that it's a harsh substance that causes erosion.  Though it's supposed to be heavily diluted with water before consumption - 1 tablespoon ACV with almost 1 glass of water - yet it may be erosive if taken daily because it's semi-raw and not undergoing the process of cooking.  It can exacerbate stomach acidity (commonly known as heartburn).  Daily use, even if diluted, could possibly erode teeth enamel.  Still much worse, it may likely erode lining of the throat and esophagus that can lead to cancer.

If used once in a while or even for a few days or a couple of weeks as a medication to treat digestive problems is okay.  But I wouldn't go beyond that.

As for Halal or Haram status of regular vinegars, well you're right.  Most of our Muslim circles know very little about it and so they presume some vinegars aren't distilled from alcohol.  Though the alcoholic content is generally little - around 2% - yet it cannot be labelled as alcohol-free.

Wine vinegars such as red or white wine and balsamic vinegar are made by fermenting diluted wine and contain approximately 2% alcohol.  The term "distilled vinegar" (which is also a kind of vinegar) is actually a misnomer for it's not produced by "distillation" rather by fermentation of distilled alcohol and may contain traces of alcohol.

Concerning the regular table vinegar commonly available in grocery stores is actually made with alcohol.  Pure vinegar which maybe labelled as containing 'acetic acid and water'  is actually made by fermenting "ethanol."  And ethanol is another label for alcohol.  Hence similar to AVC, traces of alcohol may also be left in table vinegar.  However, I know of many practicing Muslim families who do keep this stuff in their kitchen and use it - a teaspoon or a tablespoon or sometimes more - in certain dishes like home cooked Chinese etc.   Personally I would not call it a violation at all.  It's okay.   It's only for the purpose of mild acidic flavoring with certainly NO intoxicating affect.  However, my husband and I are more comfortable substituting it with either La Choy's non-alcoholic Halal soya sauce or simply fresh lemon juice or fresh tangerine juice.  That's simply our personal decision and choice.  We aren't suggesting that to everyone.  If you have a bottle of regular vinegar in your kitchen, you may continue using it if you so desire, there is nothing wrong with it Sister.  Choosing a substitute over items like these is only a matter of one's own peace of mind.

We also have a bottle of table vinegar with the rest of our household cleaning products which we use for cleaning purposes.  Diluted vinegar is a good source of cleaning the sink, kitchen counters etc. and also for removing white water stains from stainless steel cooking pots.

After all, when Allah Almighty tells us alcohol is Haram, there are two reasons for it.  First its intoxicating affect on the human system and second, its harsh corrosive effect on the human body.   You will find 90% or more of those diagnosed with mouth, throat or esophagus cancers are drinkers and smokers (smoking too has similar corrosive effect).  It's well known that diseases like cirrhosis of the liver and pancreatic cancer are typical of heavy drinkers of pure alcoholic drinks.  These illnesses don't happen with the use of vinegar or vanilla.

Having said, at the end of the day what needs to be remembered is that prohibition of alcohol by the Noble Quran means drinks which contain enough alcohol to make a person intoxicated or drunk.  It's that level of intoxication that's detrimental on both family relations as well as one's health. A few drops or even a couple of tablespoons/teaspoons of liquids like vinegar or vanilla etc. may contain 2% or less of alcohol used as food condiments cannot possibly make anyone drunk nor hurt their health.   It's presumed that baked bread made by fermenting yeast contains very small amounts of alcohol, around 1% or 1.5%, about the same as regular table vinegar .. something we eat everyday.  It's also presumed that packaged orange juice which we all consume almost daily undergoes some bit of fermentation by the time it reaches the stores and we carry it home and may contain 1% or so of alcohol.   However, we don't even need to think of worrying over such issues.  These are not the kind of alcoholic prohibition the Quran forbids.  Yet if anyone desires to avoid any such harmless items, it's their personal choice but certainly not a necessity as per Quranic instructions.  Quran only prohibits alcohol that causes intoxication, even slightly.  Vinegar, vanilla, bread, orange juice don't cause even the slightest intoxication.  Cider drinks can cause slight intoxication.  That must be taken as Haram.