Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

We live in a western country. They use vanilla extract to bake many products here such as cookies. Vanill extract is mde of alcohol. Is that haram to eat these products?

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Vanilla extract alcohol

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

There are about 150 varieties of vanilla, though only two are used commercially--Bourbon and Tahitian. Vanilla extract is made by percolating or macerating chopped vanilla beans with at least 35% ethyl alcohol and the balance water mixture. While the Federal Food and Drug Administration has specific regulations in the United States regarding commercial extract manufacturing, there are variables that create significant differences in extract flavor and quality. For instance, the FDA requires a minimum of 13.35 ounces of vanilla beans to a gallon of a minimum of 35% alcohol to 65% water mixture.

There are no regulations on the quality of the beans, so beans can range from premium-quality to the driest cuts and splits containing only small amounts of natural vanillin. Although 35% is the standard alcohol requirement, premium vanilla extracts often contain a higher percentage of alcohol in order to extract more flavor from the beans. More alcohol is acceptable with the FDA; less than 35% is not.

 

Although the absolute majority of ‘vanilla extract’ does contain a significant amount of alcohol, there are a few numbered companies which do manufacture and market vanilla extract without alcohol.

 

Your Question: Is that haram to eat these products?

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 3679  Narrated by Aisha

I heard the Messenger of Allah (saws) say:  “Every intoxicant is haraam;  if a quantity of anything causes intoxication,  a handful of it is (also) haraam.”

 

If the vanilla extract has alcohol amongst its contents, then indeed it would not be lawful for a believer to consume that product.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan