Medication with methyl alcohol, can it be consumed?

I’ve got some pills and they have methyl included. Can I use them?

Wa alaikum salaam,

Methyl, according to MSN Encarta, is “wood alcohol, methanol”. It is not derived from dates or grapes. Imam Abu Hanifa & Imam Abu Yusuf (Allah have mercy on them both) are of the view that it will be permissible to consume such alcohol for medication purposes or to gain energy (and not for pleasure and enjoyment) as long as it does not intoxicate.

Imam Abu Hanifa and Imam Abu Yusuf’s position may be adopted regarding these pills, especially given the already existing permissibility (under certain conditions) in the Hanafi School to consume medication containing ‘haram or filthy substances.

Also see below.

And Allah knows best.

Yusuf Mullan