Over the past two years, plant-based food consumption has grown by 49% across the EU, reaching a total sales volume of €3.6 billion.
Why are “non-alcoholic beverages (wine, beer, spirits)” considered non-halal?
2025-05-15
MUIS FatwaThe Committee noted:
1） Even if the product contains low alcohol content(Lower than0.5%)and/or zero alcohol content and/Or the alcohol has been removed and the product is made using a process similar to that of alcohol, so even if the small amount of alcohol in the product would not cause a person to become intoxicated, it is a no-no.
2） These products are marketed in a manner similar to alcoholic beverages. Halal law prohibits such practices or practices that could lead to haraam activities, even if they are permissible in their natural state. This is consistent with the principles of halal.
Therefore, products that meet the first or second criteria or both are considered non-Muslim for consumption.HALALfood.
1 kahmr – An intoxicating drink containing ethanol & other components such as methanol, acetaldehyde and ethyl acetate which is produced by fermentation of carbohydrates or drinks containing ethanol and/or methanol as ingredient.
2 Sadd al-dhara’i‘means, literally, "blocking the means", i.e. to undesirable ends, in other words, forbidding what is likely to lead to the haram. The basis of this principle is contained in the Quran where Allah says: "Do not swear at those who call on other gods than Allah, so that they will then swear at Allah in enmity, without any knowledge. …." (Q.6:108). Allah has thus made it haram to swear at the gods of others, to avoid them cursing back at Allah. Another example usually highlighted by our past scholars like Imam An-Nawawi, is the issue of accepting and giving gifts for officials. Even though the act of giving a gift itself in essence is virtuous, hence permissible, scholars clearly discouraged those holding on to official posts to accept gifts from the public, as it could be perceived as a bribe. Please refer to: Al-Asyqar, Sulayman 'Abdullah, al-Wadih fi Usul al-Fiqh, (Amman: Dar al-Salam, 2001) 159.