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Question
Is it permissible to use medicine that contains as one of its ingredients alcohol? Is it permissible to use if it is being applied to the skin only?
Answer
Praise be to Allah.
If the medicine containing alcohol is essentially an intoxicant, such that drinking a large amount
of it would make one drunk, then it is haraam to take it or to give it, because the Prophet
SAWS (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whatever makes one drunk in large
amounts, a little of it is haraam" (Reported by the four muhadditheen and others; see also Saheeh al-Jaami’,
no. 5530). If it is not an intoxicant, then it is permitted to give it and to apply it to the skin, etc.
And Allaah knows best.
Source: IslamQA (Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid)