Likewise, many other practices have spread among Muslims and others that are religiously forbidden. Does the widespread practice of something unlawful make it l

If we understand this principle, may Allāh preserve you, then the exaggerated concern raised in such questions becomes easier to address—such as the claim that if nutmeg is declared haram, then people’s livelihoods would become unlawful. That is simply incorrect! Only the one who sells nutmeg as his primary or sole source of income would have a prohibited income. If he has no other trade or work besides selling it, then yes—his earnings from it are unlawful. However, the mere presence of nutmeg in markets, used as part of spice mixtures, does not make all trade involving spices unlawful. Most commercial activity is based on permissible goods, and the presence of some forbidden items doesn’t render the entire trade unlawful. In such cases, the money becomes mixed (halal and haram combined), and a person may still use it, though piety(wara’) would dictate avoiding the unlawful portion. May Allāh bless you. Furthermore, people’s lives were sustained before nutmeg ever existed in their diets. Is it reasonable to suggest that prohibiting nutmeg would cause people harm, or lead to famine, or render life unbearable? Would the earth become narrow upon them despite its vastness? Would they be unable to find any lawful food or drink? Are there not countless types of lawful beverages? Are there not innumerable spices and seasonings besides nutmeg? Are there not vast varieties of delicious, lawful foods? So how can one claim that if nutmeg were prohibited, life would become constrained? Such a claim is completely unfounded. In fact, people’s happiness and well-being lie in avoiding what Allāh has prohibited or what the general evidence indicates to be haram. Nutmeg has been shown by scholars—and also affirmed by some medical professionals—to have intoxicating properties. This places it under the general ruling of the Prophet ﷺ, who said: “Every intoxicant is khamr, and every khamr is haram.” And: “Whatever intoxicates in large quantities, a small amount of it is also haram.” Trustworthy individuals have testified that those who consume nutmeg in large amounts, whether in drinks or other forms, may become intoxicated—sometimes even to a greater degree than someone who drinks alcohol, or at least to a comparable level. ------ As for the matter of the presence of what some call “alcohol” in certain foods: if this is something created naturally by Allāh, and people refer to it as alcohol, it is not the same as the alcohol used in the production of modern-day intoxicating liquors. The alcohol derived from fermented substances that leads to intoxication is the one that alters the mind and harms the body. On the other hand, what is referred to as alcoholic substances in contexts such as cleaning agents or pharmaceuticals may contain trace amounts of alcohol that quickly evaporate, cause no harm, and are not consumed as food or drink. In such cases, the matter is less serious, as the amount is extremely small, it dissipates completely, and it is used solely for purposes such as cleaning or achieving a desired pharmaceutical effect, like improved solubility or absorption. May Allāh bless you. ------ As for the claim that such substances impact the validity of prayer—no, they do not affect prayer. That is, if someone were to use a product containing a small amount of nutmeg, it would not place them in the same legal status as someone who drank alcohol. Alcohol intoxicates rapidly, while nutmeg only causes intoxication if consumed in large quantities. Thus, if someone consumes a small amount of nutmeg, they have committed a prohibited act, but they have not consumed wine, and their prayer remains valid.