Message #16008

[Ruhi_Rose]

Tons of thanks dear Sis for this very comprehensive information, just the kind we wanted but couldn't find in any of our other Islamic outlets.  It was a relief for my family and I as we got to understand everything well, putting our priorities in order.  My husband and kids also express their thanks to you.  I very much appreciate your stance of first stating the facts on acv and vinegar, and then comparing those facts with the Quranic order on alcoholic prohibition which specifically refers to hard alcoholic drinks that can cause the consumer to lose their minds or even feel light-headed is bad enough.  Neither acv nor common table vinegar come under that category by any stretch of one's imagination.

Okay, so now we've decided not to trash that bottle of plain vinegar in our kitchen     Also, I would like to get some info on the La Choy Halal soy sauce you mentioned.  I would assume not all soy sauces can be trusted as Halal though I guess even the ones that may contain traces of alcohol would be the same as vinegar.  However, again agreeing with your approach, it's all about one's peace of mind and sometimes even small traces of alcohol make us somewhat uncomfortable using that item.

The other point I wanted to clarify just so that we can caution others, I read something at Islamic Awareness.net which didn't sound too precise.  It was written by some Muslim (apparently), a "Ph.D. and presently working as food scientist with Texas A&M University in Texas."  Seemed like the person was trying to downplay certain aspects to suit the rules of his/her job.  Quoting the author on sugar alcohols "Sugar alcohols are chemically the same as other alcohols. But don't contain any qualities for drunkenness."  This statement sounds like it's mixed with some bullshit.  From everything I know, sugar alcohol does cause intoxication .. and the alcoholic element of a drink is largely enhanced by the addition of sugar during the process of fermentation.  Your comments would be a good source of confirmation.  Not that anyone within our family, extended family or friends ever consume sugar alcohol (Nauzbillah), but just asking so that I can handle debates on such issues which often prop up at our community center where some freaky Muslim teenagers enamored by misguided ideas of assimilation try to neglect Haram by getting some of it into the Halal category.