QUESTION:
As Salaamu Alaikum,
Is using skin care products with haram ingredients allowed? The products is used on body and then washed off and does not enter. I have a body scrub contain CI 14 700 and apparently that is Red 4, some sources say that CI 14 700 is made up of petroleum and not the same as the normal Red 4.
Please let me know if I can use the body scrub, may Allah bless you and jazakallah
ANSWER:
Wa Alaikum As Salaam
Using skin care products which contain unlawful ingredients is allowed according to many scholars, as long as the unlawful ingredient is not from pig, and the skin care product is washed off the body before the performance of Salah.
This allowance is given since it is confined only to external use, and many or almost all these ingredients which are used in skin care products go through a process of transformation from one state to another, where something which was originally unclean changes to a state of becoming clean.
Therefore, it will be permissible for you to use the body scrub which you have inquired about, since it is washed off the body, but to be precautious, it will be better to use such products that are free from unlawful ingredients.
(Kitab An Nawazil Vol. 16 Pg. 151; Vol. 15 Pg. 472 Darul Ishaat Karachi 2016)
And Allah Knows best,
Mufti Waseem Khan
18/12/2023