Is it permissible to use 70% ethyl alcohol as a disinfectant before washing hands with water and soap?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The impurity of alcohol, which is (wine/intoxicant), is a matter of differing opinions. The questioner considers it impure, while some scholars, like Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen, deem it pure. A layperson may follow the opinion of someone they trust.
If alcohol is pure, then there is no issue in using it as a disinfectant. However, if it is impure, then there is a difference of opinion and elaboration regarding its use as a disinfectant.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/178303
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 178303
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy