473. Vinegar

By Asma Bint Shameem

That’s because all kinds of vinegar are halal. 

According to the principles of the Sharee’ah, once wine has been transformed into vinegar it becomes permissible for us to use. 

That’s because the wine is chemically transformed through a process called “Istihaalah” in such a way that it changes its essential properties. 

And it no longer intoxicates. 

Since it is not intoxicating anymore, it becomes halaal.

This applies to all types of vinegar whether made from wine, apple cider, etc.

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam used to eat vinegar and he even liked it. 

Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullah radhi Allaahu anhu  said that the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam asked his family for condiments and they said: 

“We do not have anything but vinegar.” 

He Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam called for it and he started eating it, saying: 

“What a good contdiment vinegar is, what a good condiment vinegar is.”(Muslim)

Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said about vinegar:

“The correct view is that it is permissible, because it turned into vinegar in a permissible way, so it is permissible. 

Based on that, the vinegar that is imported from non-Muslim countries is permissible for the Muslims, even if it was turned into vinegar by human action, because it was turned into vinegar by human action on the part of one who believes that it is permissible.”

[ash-Sharh al-Mumti‘ 10/182]

And he said:

“vinegar that comes from the Jews and Christians is halaal and pure, because they did that on the basis of their belief that it is permissible.”

[ash-Sharh al-Mumti‘ 1/433]

And Allaah knows best.