Naturally brewed soy sauce, shoyu or tamari sold as the product

Naturally brewed soy sauce, shoyu and tamari contain alcohol that forms while they ferment (Kikkoman states over 2% alcohol by volume), even when the label lists only water, soybeans, wheat and salt. Darul Fatwa counts alcohol as najis, but it has not ruled on alcohol that forms inside a food as it ferments, so soy sauce sold as the product is Doubtful · high. Halal-certified soy sauce, made so that no alcohol forms, is Halal.

Food	Cosmetics & personal care	Medicine
Doubtful · high	Doubtful · high	Doubtful · high

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 · Purification from the Najas-Filth

Among what is considered najas-filthy are urine, feces, blood, puss, vomit, alcohol, and the maytah , including its bones and hair.

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 · Drinks…

The important thing is that no Najas (filth) ingredient such as alcohol is used in the production of these soft drinks.

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 · تحريم الخمر

وأمّا القَولُ بنجاسَةِ الخمر فهو مذهب أكثر الأئمة منهم الأربعة مالك والشافعي وأحمد وأبو حنيفة فإذا أصابت ثوبًا أو بدنًا يجبُ تطهيره عند القيام للصلاة،

Translation “As for the position that khamr is najis, it is the view of most of the Imams, among them the four: Malik, al-Shafi'i, Ahmad and Abu Hanifah. So if it gets on a garment or on the body, it must be purified when standing for prayer,”

Source page · archived copy · retrieved Sep 22, 2026

All sources →

Other sources: kikkomanusa.com/homecooks/faqs-page · pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jafc.0c04274

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