Zulal: How Zulal decides, home Beta How Zulal decides Open scanner

Brewed soy sauce, shoyu or tamari as a minor ingredient

This contains naturally brewed soy sauce, which has a little alcohol formed while it ferments. Here it is a minor ingredient in another food, and Darul Fatwa has not ruled on alcohol that forms inside a food as it ferments, so we mark it Doubtful · low.

FoodCosmetics & personal careMedicine
Doubtful · lowDoubtful · lowDoubtful · low

Concern

Alcohol

Intoxicants, alcohol added to food, alcohol that forms in fermented foods such as soy sauce, alcohol carriers, and alcohol that may have changed into another substance.

What clears it

  • A halal certificate from a certifier that meets our standard
  • A written reply from the brand, reviewed by Zulal (valid 12 months)

What our sources say

Darulfatwa – Islamic High Council of Australia · A Brief Explanation of The Summary of ^Abdullah Al-Harariyy (PDF)
Every drink that changes the mind, causing intoxication is a prohibited drink. Even if a person does not reach this state except after drinking a big amount of it, it is still prohibited for him to drink one sip of it.

Source page · archived copy · retrieved Sep 22, 2026

Darulfatwa – Islamic High Council of Australia · A Brief Explanation of The Summary of ^Abdullah Al-Harariyy (PDF)
This means: «If the drink does not intoxicate until one consumes a whole faraq of it, then drinking even a handful of it is prohibited.»; A faraq is a big container which is equal to sixteen (16) Baghdadiyy ritls (about 6 liters or 1.6 gallons)

Source page · archived copy · retrieved Sep 22, 2026

Darulfatwa – Islamic High Council of Australia · A Brief Explanation of The Summary of ^Abdullah Al-Harariyy (PDF)
Selling any substance that changes the mind causing intoxication and ecstasy is forbidden. The judgment applies whether it was made out of barley, grapes, dates, honey, or other materials.

Source page · archived copy · retrieved Sep 22, 2026

Darulfatwa – Islamic High Council of Australia · A Brief Explanation of The Summary of ^Abdullah Al-Harariyy (PDF)
It stands as a proof that selling ethyl alcohol, whether for drinking or otherwise, is forbidden.

Source page · archived copy · retrieved Sep 22, 2026

Darulfatwa – Islamic High Council of Australia · متن أبي شجاع في الفقه الشافعي
وإذا تخللت الخمرة بنفسها طهرت وإن خللت بطرح شيء فيها لم تطهر.
Translation If khamr turns into vinegar by itself, it becomes pure; if it is made into vinegar by putting something into it, it does not become pure.

Source page · archived copy · retrieved Sep 22, 2026

Darulfatwa – Islamic High Council of Australia · Drinks…
The items you have enquired about are not Haram in Islam. Those who wish to drink them, are allowed to do so, likewise for those who wish to avoid them.

Source page · archived copy · retrieved Sep 22, 2026

All sources →

Other sources: kikkomanusa.com/homecooks/faqs-page

Zulal Standard v0 (beta) · pending scholar review · Report a mistake