Is Wine Vinegar Halal?

Wine vinegar is a type of vinegar made from the fermentation of wine. During this process, the ethanol (alcohol) in the wine is converted into acetic acid by acetic acid bacteria, giving the vinegar its characteristic sharp, tangy flavour. This process is known as acetification. The quality and flavour of wine vinegar are influenced by the type of wine used—whether red, white, or rosé—and its aging process. Red wine vinegar, for example, tends to have a more robust flavour, while white wine vinegar is typically lighter and more delicate. Both types are commonly used in cooking, especially in dressings, marinades, and sauces.

Imam al-Qudūrī (d.428 AH) states that the transformation of wine into vinegar is valid according to all of our Imams, and that when the wine becomes vinegar, it becomes pure.ⁱ Imam Ibn al-Humām (d.861 AH) states that the Imams are unanimous on the Istiḥālah of alcohol into vinegar through acetification. Imam al-Sarakhsī (d. 483 AH) affirms that acetification of alcohol and its transformation into vinegar is deemed acceptable and valid according to the Imams of the Madhhab.ⁱⁱ.

Imam al-Qudūrī (d.428 AH) articulates an Aṣl (principle), that one cannot use or benefit from actual Najāsah, like blood and wine.ⁱⁱⁱ Hence, Ibn Māzah al-Bukhārī (d.616 AH) states that it is not permissible to use and benefit from something which is Najis al-ʿayn, such as a swine and all its parts.^iv

The three Imams of the Madhhab are in unanimous agreement that wine becomes purified when it transforms into vinegar. This is based on a Naṣ, as cited by Imam al-Qudūrī (d.428 AH).^v The transformation of wine into vinegar is known as Istiḥālah, during which the impurity is removed (Izālah). As a result, the wine, which was once impure, is rendered pure through this process, making the vinegar permissible for consumption.