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Alcohol & Purity

Q:

Not sure how to interpret this ruling. Can this be taught to the general public or is it only for those who are more knowledgeable? . Thank you. Salaams

All kinds of alcohol (whether extracted from wood or other sources) is pure, not najis. So, the medicines, the perfumes, and the food containing alcohol are pure and can be used. It is also permissible to eat such food if the amount of alcohol is very minute, e.g., 2%. No matter who was the previous user, the everyday commodities and utensils can be used without the need for purifying them as long as you do not know that they had become najis previously. http://www.sistani.org/english/book/46/2029/

A:

Salaam Alaykum.

The ruling mentioned is for the general public. it is true that alcohol in itself is not najis, but its consumption is haraam.
The presence of alcohol in foods and medication if it is minute such that it  gets mixed up with other ingredients, does no harm to a person and does not intoxicate.

Unless you see with your own eyes that something is coming into contact with a najis item and has sufficient wetness to transfer the najasat, that thing is pure for you.

Hope the above helps.

Fiddha