With a worldwide recession looming, the Halal sector is one of the few industries bucking the trend fueled by savvy consumers increasingly demanding purity of ingredients in their personal care products.

Not only is the Halal sector not affected by the recession, it has followed its own growth path, with the Institute for Personal Care Science of Australia valuing the global Halal Cosmetics market at a staggering $13 billion and growing. Muslims and non-Muslims alike are inspecting ingredients with a keen eye and making buying decisions based on purity of the products they use on their skin. Consumers across the spectrum read labels for ingredients and have become increasingly smart about what goes into their skin care, shampoo, toothpaste, hair dyes and cosmetics. By the same token, there is little difference in the Halal sector, where consumers want products which take both health and religious compliance into consideration and therefore are certified as Halal. The case for organic has been made. Today the growing demand for Halal products is following suit.

Definition of Halal
Essentially Halal is an Arabic term that means ‘permissible’ or ‘lawful’ under Islamic law. It is a term synonymous and increasingly used with another Arabic word, ‘Tayyib’, meaning wholesome, pure and clean. It is applied to many facets of a Muslim’s life such as food, drink, personal care and lifestyle. In Islam there are articles that are clearly prohibited or ‘Haram’ – the opposite of Halal. These include pork and all pork-related products, alcohol; carnivorous animals; birds of prey; and any food contaminated with any of these products, to name a few. Halal is core to the 1.6 billion Muslim consumers, both reassuring them and permitting them to use products and services in accordance to their lifestyle choices. And it is clearly a pivotal issue in the main preferences Muslims make in personal care products.

Halal and personal care

With regard to the growing Halal personal care industry, the Muslim consumer is not only buying Halal certified products for personal and religious reasons, but finds the Halal brand conscientious and ethical. It is important to remember that Muslim consumers are driven by the same need to look good and feel good about their bodies, so it is only natural that companies in the personal care industries should take the opportunities to offer products that meet their needs. We only have to look at the figures and surveys carried out to realise this booming sector.

Thirty years ago, Nestlé decided that they would begin catering for Muslims by offering Halal food. Today they are the world’s biggest Halal food manufacturer, with over $3 billion in annual sales just for their Halal operations. Who will be the next Nestlé, but for the personal care industry? Notably, the Halal cosmetics and personal care industry is seen to be the next big emerging sector for the Halal industry after food and Islamic finance. The global Halal cosmetics market is an estimated $13 bn of which the Middle East market size of personal care products is valued at $560 m. According to the largest international trade fair for beauty products, Beauty World Middle East, the market for beauty and grooming products in the region is growing by an estimated 12% annually, with Saudi Arabia leading the way. Boasting the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) largest economy, Saudi Arabia accounts for the bulk of the regional market, with total sales of $1.1 bn – $292.3 m in cosmetics and $821 m in fragrance – in 2011, according to market research company, Euromonitor. Euromonitor also found that the UAE spend on cosmetics and toiletries in the region exceeded that of France by 38% and the US by 6%. By 2014, the region’s personal care product sales sector could increase by 15.1% to reach annual sales of $1.88 bn, with sales of $578.5 m in cosmetics and $1.3 bn in fragrance. This apetite for Halal personal care products and cosmetics is also mirrored by an increased consumer awareness to match.

According to a survey conducted by KasehDia Consulting, a research and communications company, 57% of Muslim consumers surveyed in South-East Asian countries opted to choose Halal certified products if available. It is this consumer hunger that companies like European Halal Services Limited (EHS) – a Halal certification body specialising in cosmetics, personal care, pharmaceuticals and food ingredients – has taken the plunge with. If you want your products to be certified as Halal, you need a third party Muslim accreditation, through a Halal certification body. Nyra Mahmood, managing director for EHS said: “We have witnessed the opportunities for mainstream companies in a sector which has shown exponential growth over the last few years. “Our job is not only to connect the brand with the consumer, but to bring a better understanding of the Muslim demographic, which today makes up over 20% of the world’s population. In layman’s terms this is good economics.” Halal certification of personal care products is not the same as certifying Halal meat. It is not the simple issue of if a lipstick is ‘pork-free’ it is classed as Halal. The certification process focuses on actives and all other excipients in formulations, such as emulsifiers, preservatives, colourings and foaming agents. The Halal certification also looks at process plants, packaging, handling and manufacturing issues.

Specific ingredients
With an increasing global demand for Halal personal care products, and the complexity of ingredients used in these products, it would be naive for a company to assume that if it’s simply ‘pig free’ then it’s Halal. The complex nature of what ingredients are considered Halal is a matter of continuous evolution, especially with new scientific innovations and novel applications. Organisations like the International Halal Integrity (IHI) Alliance, a non-profit NGO, is working tirelessly to harmonise global Halal standards, through debate, scientific findings and examining the uses of different components. One of the main ingredients that come under the auspice of ‘Haram’ or forbidden in Halal certified personal care is alcohol. Even large brand names are scrutinising the use of alcohol in skin care, due to negative consumer perceptions. However, the skills of a trained chemist working in the Halal certification arena can discern which ingredients containing alcohol in the name, are truly ‘Haram’ and can provide details on the complexity of the field. For instance, benzyl alcohol is Halal because it is naturally produced in many plants and is commonly found in fruits and teas. Essential oils including jasmine and hyacinth also contain benzyl alcohol. In personal care formulations it is used as a bacteria killing agent, producing no intoxication and hence is classed as Halal, despite containing the word ‘alcohol’ in its name. Other alcohols like stearyl, cetearyl, myristyl, behenyl and cetyl alcohols are emulsifiers found in many personal care products, tend to be white, waxy solids, incapable of causing any intoxication, and despite the name ‘alcohol’ are permissible and Halal. Glyceryl stearate is another common emulsifier made by reacting glycerine with stearic acid – again both can be of animal or vegetable origin. However with most of these types of alcohols, there is no way of knowing where they originate – from plant or animal – unless you do a traceability check or laboratory analysis.

Traceability is core. It is vital to work back through the supply chain to check the provenance of any given product to be able to certify it as Halal. It is prudent to mention the confusion over the term ‘alcohol’ – widely used in personal care products, though it is viewed differently by scientists and the general public. Our everyday beers, wines or spirits contain alcohol. To the layman, alcohol is just that, alcohol, but to a scientist it is ‘ethanol’, and ‘alcohol’ encompasses a whole range of different properties, especially in the personal care sector. Simple alcohols, like ethanol, have a general chemical formula of CnH2n+1OH, where n equals any number from 1 upwards. If n=1, the compound is CH3OH – methanol or methyl alcohol. In the case of ‘layman’s alcohol’ (ethanol), n=2 and the formula is C2H5OH. This group of chemicals, also known as ‘aliphatic alcohols’ tend to cause intoxication when ingested. Hence as a general rule under Islamic rulings for Halal certifications, aliphatic alcohols are prohibited and therefore classed as Haram. But this is a very contentious issue, and Muslim scholars and Halal certification bodies have varying rulings on the level of ethanol that is ‘allowable’.

Certification process
Companies wanting to be Halal certified must go through the certification process, which encompasses a number of steps. In essence EHS has a straightforward guide on product approval for Halal certification. To simplify things for companies a basic five step procedure starting with ‘Application’, ‘Assessment’ has been established – determining whether a company meets the ‘Halal Criteria’, which simply put as an example is, if a lipstick has pork-related ingredients or aliphatic alcohols, it does not meet our ‘Halal Criteria’. A zero tolerance policy on alcohol allows clients to obtain universal acceptability of their product across consumer markets. Thirdly, an audit is conducted which includes an inspection and evaluation of manufacturing sites, company processes and procedures. This leads onto ‘Recommendations’– any nonconformance issues will be highlighted in the report, and when these have been remedied, the company in question receives the Halal Certification. Also, an independent UK government laboratory is working with EHS to develop a methodology for testing the final product for traces of aliphatic alcohols and porcine proteins. Ultimately, the objective is two-fold; to help companies connect to this ever growing market through high-quality Halal certified products and give ample choice and value this new, robust savvy consumer base.

Conclusion
Research by advertising and marketing giant, Ogilvy & Mather, has shown that the ‘new’ Muslim consumer is a “critically important segment for marketers.” With the Halal industry worth over $2 trillion and growing by $500 bn annually, Ogilvy Noor – the Islamic Branding arm of Ogilvy & Mather – in partnership with market researcher, TNS, found that Muslim youth accounts for 11% of the world’s population and this demographic is fast becoming “technology-savvy, innovation-loving, globally-travelled and well-educated.” In Europe alone the spending power of the Muslim population is close to $100 bn and in terms of Halal certified personal care, Muslims want to see brands addressing modern beauty with faith and ethics. The fact that Halal certification also engages in scientific advancement, providing modernity to the Halal process, gives consumers added confidence in brands. The future of this industry looks more and more viable, with companies and business-related organisations looking to a sector which promises big returns and has a consumer base demanding better products and services.

Dr Mah Hussain-Gambles MBE is a pioneer in the Halal certification and standard-setting sector. Having developed the West’s first Halal organic skin care range, Saaf Pure Skincare, she also authored the ‘Modern Compendium of Halal Cosmetics’ for Malaysia’s Halal Development Corporation (HDC) – a government-affiliated body, developing the Halal industry in Malaysia.

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The company is now undergoing a considerable expansion that will result in a wider range of products, reaching new and previously untapped markets.

Having recognized the huge potential of the pure skincare brand, a group of experience entrepreneurial investors has now committed the funds required to take Saaf to the next level.

A small but experienced team has thus been crafted comprised of individuals with expertise in specialist sectors such as sales & marketing, intellectual property, finance, and global channels distribution. This team will now work alongside Dr Mah to complement her in-depth homeopathic and pharmacological knowledge and ability to formulate natural botanicals.

This astute combination of skills will aim to fully exploit consumer interest in Saaf as a premium, niche skincare brand. The Saaf investment programme and subsequent expansion is being led by Peter Whitehurst and Colin Wright. Peter is drawing upon his experience and contact network developed through his role as Director of Innovation and Technology at British healthcare manufacturer, SSL International. As a serial entrepreneur, Colin is already Chair and Investor in a number of small companies.

Joining Peter and Colin is Carla Smith as Head of Sales & Marketing. Carla is experienced in leading brand development within the healthcare sector, having previously handled SSL International’s product range within its export markets.

Dr Mah remains at the forefront of the company’s future product development in her capacity as Technical Director.

For enquiries please contact Carla Smith – carla@saafinternational.com

www.saafskincare.com

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Heggy Kearens was totally determined when she posted a status update on her Facebook wall questioning the motivations of some of her more pious friends.

They had recently joined a multi-level marketing scheme to sell a popular Swedish cosmetics brand distributed here. According to Heggy, two issues bothered her: First, there is the fact that the brand has no halal label on its products; second, she believes the whole concept of multi-level marketing is still a  “grey zone” in terms of Islam because it allows one to profit from the labor of others.

So, the 25-year-old graduate student steamed ahead with her Facebook campaign. She wrote on her status message: “I am questioning the halal status of [the brand]. I know many of my friends are selling these products but according to twitter account @halalcorner, these products are not halal. My dear friends, please be careful, for the halal status, we can check them through halalmui.org.”

After that, she was barraged with comments from her friends, some of whom supported her concerns, while others disagreed. Some of the blowback came in the form of what she called “unpleasant” e-mails. She said she also got a few kicks on her twitter account.

“I intentionally posted that status because I know for a fact that many of my friends who were extremely devoted to Islam during college are now selling these products, which is an irony, because those products have no halal label.” It’s just too easy to swing away from being pious just for economic reasons, she said.

“We are talking about people who used to refuse to eat in a restaurant without a halal certificate,” Heggy said, adding that as a Muslim herself, she cares about using halal products, although she does not take the issue to extremes.

Is it Halal?

The halal label, of course, is used worldwide, but mostly in Muslim countries to ensure that the food and drink — and even cosmetics —that consumers are buying was made in accordance with Islamic law. In Indonesia, the label is meant to show that the product has been certified by the Indonesia Ulema Council’s (MUI) food and drug monitoring body to contain no traces of pork or alcohol.

The designation is also supposed to certify that animals used for food are slaughtered in accordance with Islamic law — with the animal dying immediately, the blood being drained away and the process dedicated to Allah. In the case of cosmetics, they should use plant extracts and minerals instead of alcohol and animal products, a particular concern since many cosmetics use rendered animal fats and swine placenta.

For some Indonesian Muslims, the voluntary halal label is the determining factor in their decision about whether to eat at a certain restaurant or buy particular products.  For some international companies working in Indonesia, having the label is also crucial for selling their products because almost 90 percent of the population is Muslim, making it the world’s most populous Muslim country.

One of them, is Bilma Yulita, a mother of two daughters who lives in Jakarta. Bilma is a devout Muslim who believes that the halal label is an absolute necessity she must take into consideration before deciding to use a product, whether it be food or cosmetics.

“The halal label is my first sensor in choosing any product, and I teach my children to do the same,” she said, adding that her oldest daughter — who is now 8 years old — seems to have absorbed the lesson early because she is aware of the label and also refuses to consume products without the halal label.

“When she was in kindergarten, someone offered her food without the halal label, and she told me, ‘Mama I don’t want this.’ I was touched,” Bilma said.

For exactly the same reason, a year ago, Bilma stopped buying the Oriflame products that she had been using since 2008. “I heard that it had no halal label and so I stopped buying it,” she said. “I honestly think that MUI should label everything, so that Muslims can be free from doubt over what they use.

Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs introduced the halal certificate in 1994 and it has granted thousands of certificates since then for various types of food, beverages, and cosmetics. But MUI officials estimate that less than 15 percent of all products sold in the country have the halal label. The head of MUI’s Halal Assurance Division, Muslich, said food and beverage companies are more eager to get certification than cosmetic or drug firms,  less than 10 percent of which seek out halal status.

Why Bother?

While some embrace the label as a matter of devotion to Islam, others consider the whole concept an extra chore and  choose to ignore it. “I don’t care about the halal label and I don’t understand why some people would make a fuss about it and make their life more difficult,” said Andina Mustika Ayu, a graduate student at the University of Indonesia, shrugging her shoulders.

“I have tried halal cosmetics, but they are just not that good,” she added. Although a Muslim, Andina thinks the label is more political and business oriented, and as such, the MUI should stick to just labeling things that are forbidden.

Amidhan, the head of MUI, said despite growing public awareness of the label, the agency needs a legal umbrella to require all companies to put it on their products.

“The halal bill is still in the parliament. Some support it, but many oppose it,” he said. If the bill is passed, then all products produced and circulated in Indonesia would need halal certification before being allowed in the market — a step which would be unusual for a secular country.

Currently, MUI uses the Assessment Institute for Food, Drugs and Cosmetics and the body’s Fatwa Commission to certify products halal. The process lasts around two months and requires the inspection of a company’s ingredients, production, storage, display, packaging and transportation.

Selling Point

The cost? Companies pay between Rp 500,000 and Rp 4.5 million for a two-year certification — a modest sum that many companies will likely continue to see value in as a way to show respect for Muslims.

“I think companies should consider this an extra selling point instead of a burden,” said Amidhan. “We advise companies to put the halal certification fee in their promotional budgets.”
The importance of halal labels is not likely to go away anytime soon. The emergence of fake halal labels brought a flurry of complaints to the MUI body, which says it will install an sms hotline so consumers can check if a product is really halal.

“Now, if a company is faking its halal certification, the punishment is Rp 2 billion, or up to 5 years in jail,” Amidhan said.

But the option to follow halal guidelines, of course, goes back to the individual. In this case, Heggy Kearens agreed. “I care about it, but it’s a personal choice,” she said.

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Islamic Development Department (Jakim) Halal Hub officer Nur Aniqah Amin said many pharmaceutical and health products not approved by the government with questionable halal status were in the market.

“There are heaps of imported pharmaceutical products in the market, including cosmetics, which are not halal so Jakim through its Halal Pharmaceutical Concept, has outlined various aspects which need to be adhered to by manufacturing companies.

“This covers management, raw material, packaging and storage to avoid mixing with non-halal elements,” she said at a seminar on pharmaceutical and health products at the National Mosque, here.

Meanwhile, Syed Fadli Sailudin, senior principal assistant director of the Kuala Lumpur Health Department Pharmacy Division, said almost 3,000 tonnes of gelatine were produced worldwide each year but not all of it was derived from pork.

“To prevent consumers from being cheated, the ministry has made it compulsory for local and foreign companies to list the ingredients of their products before they can sell them in Malaysia,” he added.

– BERNAMA

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Pure Halal Beauty, a store dedicated solely to Halal Certified and Vegan Registered beauty products, opened its doors last Christmas in Birmingham’s Pavilions Shopping Centre. Now less than a year after opening the business is booming.

Rose’s dedication to providing the best Halal Certified beauty products has led her to create her own range “The PHB Collection.” Her collection has nearly 80 unique cosmetic and skincare products and is hand-made in the UK using the finest, all natural ingredients and eco-friendly packaging.

Rose says the response to her new range has been overwhelming, “People have been really positive. I have had support and encouragement from around the country (through our website) from people who are so happy to have found us. Muslims, vegans and vegetarians love our products because they don’t conflict with their personal and religious beliefs. Our products also appeal to the conscious consumer who’s looking for chemical-free beauty products. People who want to use natural, ethical and beneficial beauty products are always so pleased with our phenomenal range as well as our extremely affordable prices!”

As well as launching her PHB Collection, Rose has teamed up with City College Birmingham to offer apprenticeships to young students. “This time last year I was a student myself so I understand how difficult it is for young people trying to find work. I’m really pleased to be able to offer students the opportunity to gain vital work experience with Pure Halal Beauty.”

While many people would baulk at the idea of setting up a business in the current climate Rose welcomes the challenge, “Some people think I’m crazy(!) but I have great belief in the products I’m selling and the prospects for expansion are looking very promising.”

“Pure Halal Beauty – Where Beauty and Belief Co-exist”

The new PHB ranges are available to customers worldwide at www.purehalalbeauty.com and in-store at Level 2, The Pavilions Shopping Centre, Birmingham, UK.

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Bandar Seri Begawan – An expert in Halal cosmetics Science and technology from Japan has said that Brunei has the potential to develop its own Halal cosmetics industry.

Mr Tenji Takahashi, Deputy General Manager for Research and Development at Reinhalt Corporation, Japan said Brunei is an ideal place for such an endeavour in Halal cosmetics as the nation makes it a national project to certify and thus guarantee that certain products are indeed Halal. It is accepted not only by Bruneians but also Muslims from other countries, he added.

Mr Takahashi stated this while presenting his working paper entitled “Halal Cosmetics: An Expert’s View and Recommendations for the Brunei’s Initiatives” in a seminar held at the Radisson Hotel in the capital. The half-day seminar was organised by the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources through the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood.

He said Brunei’s location is superior with the presence of a large Muslim market all over the world and is in an advantageous position to implement the Halal guidelines prepared and approved by the domestic law.

The deputy general manager added that the Brunei Halal Brand, along with high technology and quality from Japan, could be used to produce innovative and science-based cosmetics preferred by Muslims. As for the procurement of the variety of Halal-certified ingredients, Mr Takahashi proposed to make a non-disclosure agreement, create a system of licensing and reduce the financial burden for the supplier.

He also highlighted the principles of Halal cosmetics in Brunei, namely the production of Halal cosmetics for all Muslims without prioritising productivity or profit. Manufacturers must also show the highest product performance in terms of providing information on Halal-certified ingredients, and on the manufacturing and transportation processes, so as to ensure that the product is not detrimental to Muslims.

The seminar was aimed at increasing knowledge and awareness on advancements in Halal science and technology in the cosmetics industry and at applying these advancements to the development of the Halal cosmetics industry in the Sultanate. It was also hoped that it would promote awareness on the latest developments in the manufacturing and handling of cosmetics and the sharing of information and experience in the field of Halal science and technology.

Present as guest of honour at the seminar was Hjh Normah Suria Hayati binti Pehin Jawatan Dalam Seri Maharaja Dato Seri Utama (Dr) Hj Awg Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources.

Mr Takahashi also discussed how modern science-based cosmetics could be deemed non-Halal for Muslims, as would be the case with cosmetics products that contain animal collagen (protein).

The Halal cosmetics business has to overcome many obstacles, he said. Information on product labels are not enough and, in some cases, usually the required information relevant to the “Halalness” of the product is not inscribed on the product label, even though it is eventually found not to contain any ethanol, pig placenta extract or animal collagen.

In most cases, the origins of raw materials are not indicated, Mr Takahashi added. Collagen could come from fish or plant extract, for instance, and ethanol could have been used to extract the ingredient of aloe. Ethanol might also have been used as the preservative of the extract.

Southeast Asian nations are promoting industrialisation in a way that it focuses on product manufacturing, thereby resulting in economic development in recent years, said Mr Takahashi.

In Asean, the purchasing capacity is also getting higher and many companies are interested in entering the booming Islamic market. However the issue is that they are not knowledgeable in the field, nor are they familiar with the Halal regulations, he added.

Also present at the seminar were Dyg Hjh Hasnah binti Ibrahim, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources and senior government officers from the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, Ministry of Religious Affairs, and other government agencies.

–Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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The latest in green cosmetics comes from the ancient Islamic tradition of halal.The word halal, is Arabic for permissible and is often used to describe meat slaughtered and prepared in line with Islamic law. Halal cosmetics are made without alcohol and pork ingredients both of which are banned in Islam but are often found in cosmetics. Halal beauty products, make up $500m of the $2trn global halal market and are made using plants and minerals that mirrors the trend for ethical beauty products.

Although halal products have been around for a few years, a recent report has shown that the market is set to grow. Amys Group based out of Morocco is one of the key players in the industry.Its range is made in the Atlas mountains and includes exfoliating scrubs and hammam oils. The group plans to expand in the Gulf Arab region, Malaysia, Britain, the United States, France and Japan in the next three years, and is targeting 20% annual profit growth over the next five years.

Last year UK-based Samina Akhter set up her Samina Pure Make-up range of halal cosmetics. It isthe first company in the UK to sell halal certified make-up.Halal Cosmetics Jordan is one of the leading skin care manufacturers using minerals from the Dead Sea.Almaas Halal Cosmetics is another company which is Australian based that supplied certified halal cosmetics.

Layla Mandi who is a Canadian make-up artist can be said to be the pioneer of halal makeup. She developed her OnePure range of products to give Muslim women the choice to having halal certified products.OnePure products are certified in Malaysia by an Islamic body that also certifies meats and other consumer goods for Muslims.She is currently looking for a partner to increase the brand’s profile in the Gulf. OnePure currently retails in Dubai as well as in Egypt, Canada and on Saudi Arabian Airlines.

The scope of growth for halal products are huge in spite of certifying difficulties. There are 139 certifying bodies and there is no global standard for halal products due to varying interpretation of the Quran. Additionally many scholars feel that regular cosmetics are permissible even if they contain questionable ingredients because they are not consumed. Others feel that the word ‘halal’ has become a marketing term rather than strictly religious.

Although these are obvious pitfalls in the uptake of halal cosmetics many multi-nationals have started to cache in to the potential market. Colgate-Palmolive already makes oral care products, such as toothpaste and mouthwash, with a halal stamp.Halal food and drinks account for $5.2 billion or 5 % of Nestle’s annual sales worldwide, suggesting that there is potential for growth and expansion into other sectors.

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The Director of LPPOM MUI, Ir. Lukmanul Hakim, M.Si., adding that in the recent progress and developments, there have been many countries recognizing and receiving Halal Fatwa by MUI. Among them are the countries in Middle East region, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which previously did not care about halal certification.

“Turkey, a secular State, which was originally strictly prohibited nuanced symbols of religion, including Islamic symbols, now has also recognized halal certification of MUI”, said Lukmanul Hakim.

Some time ago, the Director of LPPOM MUI and some leaders of MUI had been invited to Dubai, UAE, to make presentations and discuss various aspects of halal certification which have been conducting MUI so far.

In addition, the system of halal certification and halal assurance system which have been established by LPPOM MUI have also been well accepted and adopted by 48 international halal certification bodies, such as halal certification bodies in the ASEAN region, Australia, Europe and even America and Africa.

In this regard, as revealed by the Chairman of MUI, H. Amidhan, MUI has made a list of overseas halal certification bodies which have been recognized by MUI.

Combining Science and Islamic Shariah

Lukmanul Hakim described again, they give the appreciation after looking at the performance of MUI which can combine the two aspects of science and Islamic shariah at the same time simultaneously, so that it becomes a halal assurance system which is proven scientifically and strengthened by the shariah propositions in the realm of Islamic texts, the Fiqhiyyah studies.

For example, Lukmanul Hakim argued about alcohol, as the dominant content in beverages, the alcoholic drinks, which is prohibited explicitly by the Islamic texts of shariah propositions. At first, the ulamas forbid alcoholic beverages, which through a qiyash or analogous method, it is comparable with khamar which has been prohibited explicitly. And hence, all alcohol is forbidden.

Categorization of Alcohol

Then, LPPOM MUI conducts an intensive studies and research. In fact, the result shows that alcohol itself can be grouped into three main categories. Firstly, the alcohol contained in khamar, the beverage or alcoholic drink which is strictly forbidden in the texts. Secondly, the alcohol contained in many types of fruits and food, such as durian, or even rice; and thirdly, the alcohol which is made synthetically through an industrial processes and used to wash any tools and equipments, to be sterile and hygienic.

Through this categorization, the ulamas in the Fatwa Committee of MUI then determine that the alcohol in khamar, the beverage or alcoholic drink is distinctively forbidden, in accordance with the provisions of the shariah texts, while the alcohol contained in fruits such as durian, and foods such as rice, are not forbidden to be consumed. And the synthetic alcohol can be used to wash industrial tools and equipments. It is not categorized as khamar which is defiling filth or dirty. (Translated into English by Usman Effendi AS).

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