Assalamualaikum.
Was browsing through the news feed and happened to read the status of my colleague regarding permissible alcohol and mirin that are actually available in Japan. 'Actually'.
I am not even mad with what this friend of mine shared. We all have the chance to share our opinions or views about some things, (kinda afraid to use the right for freedom of speech here so..) and here's worth nothing cents from me.
It seems like I had peruse over the thesis that this person shared on his timeline a few months back. At that time, I was so desperate in finding a proof or some kind of explanation in helping me figure out whether I can gobble up this halal ramen which I obtained during a halal seminar in my place. The package of ramen itself stated that it is halal but haven't received a certified logo just yet. But out of habit, I kinda take a glance through the ingredients and I caught the 'alcohol' word somewhere in between. Devastated, I tried to find a way so I can have a taste of the famous ramen, any tiniest possibilities of anyone or any article saying that it is ok to consume that kind of alcohol contained in food(s).
After searching high and low for any satisfying proof, I can feel that my taste buds are saying yes, but my belief says no. Even after I found the said thesis. Before I forgot, let me explain what I get from the thesis. (What I think it says, not what it actually says)
The thesis explains that the world 'alcohol' itself consists of two meanings.
1) A beverage that can make you drunk;
2) Chemical terms
In #1, the amount of intake of alcohol is proportional to the state of your drunkenness, which means, the more you drink the more drunk you are; simple theory.
While in #2, the higher the amount you consume, the higher the possibilities of you being poisoned because of the ingredients inside of it, when accumulated will become poisonous; and I can see myself being redundant there but who cares haha
So, maybe the writer of the thesis (and also this friend of mine) wanted to invite people to think before you eat something, or take your own risk in deciding whether it is the alcohol or just another -OH bond in a solution. Or, they want to acknowledge us that there are two types of alcohol, and not all alcohol can make you sleazy, there are also permissible alcohol exists in this world.
Let me riddle you this, does a non caffeine coffee is still be considered as a coffee or does it become a tea?
From what I read, this is how I see it.
Alcohol or 'alcohol' or -OH bond, let us just run away from it. Because either way, it is still kinda dangerous to our health. #1 will effect you in a matter of 2 or 3 bottles, and #2 will effect you in 2,3 maybe 10 or 20 years but there is still a slight effect from it. And us muslims are prohibited from harming ourselves in any kinds of ways so it is better to avoid it. Or our ibadah will not be accepted for 40 days but that is for one drop of alcohol, what about a gulp? nauzubillah.
Moreover, if you don't feel good about it then that will become the more of a reason for you.
But what I really wanted to point out is this:
Be careful of what you share. Especially if it is about our belief.
Nowadays I see too many posts regarding Islam and things that we normally do as a muslim like reciting dua before and after eating and much more, and some says that is bid'ah, this is not sunnah, these are some made up things and such and such..
And now I don't know what to believe anymore, so I just stick to what I think are legit.
It is not wrong to seek knowledge, but make sure that you analyze it, understand it by heart, and ask for higher opinion from certified people, and after you are 500% sure about it, then only can your tell it to people. After that if people ask you questions, you can answer it like dodging a bullet in matrix, but if you can't, then tell them the truth that 'I don't know any further than that'.
And also, after sharing some article etc, please describe in detail what you think about it and don't just post it there and tell us to figure it out ourselves because that is too damn of you dude, too damn. Cliffhanger scumbag. Because like the case mentioned above, there are two kinds of people who will read it and take it to their own understandings;
1) People who still strongly believe that alcohol is not permissible
2) People who think that they might be allowed to consume alcohol according to certain circumstances
So be careful, because this is kinda like water ripple effect. The more it spreads, the less information it will receive and when it reached the outer end, the people there will conclude that alcohol in Japan can actually be consumed. Who knows?
Again, be careful. And choose either you want to be Confucius, who leads people to think about a thought, or just to be plain confusing.
