According to greendaily.com, Sheik Mohamed al-Najimi of the Saudi Islamic Jurisprudence Academy explained that he believes that biofuels derived from ethyl alcohol are prohibited by Islamic law. The prophet Mohammed prohibited all dealings with alcohol which, according to his point of view, includes "buying, selling, transporting, drinking, serving and manufacturing."
Ethanol is derived from ethyl alcohol and therefore, biofuel "is basically made up of alcohol," he told the Saudi newspaper Shams.
In addition, the Sheik said that his opinion is not (yet) a fatwa, meaning a legal pronouncement in Islam but the problem will certainly be discussed by Islamic leaders.
Therefore, if biofuels derived from ethanol is considered "a sin" by Muslim leaders and is turned into law, countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Libya and Sudan could become the most polluting for the environment in a future where biofuels become widespread.
And as if wasn't already enough, the Sheik insists that the ban on biofuels (if there is going to be such a thing after all) should extend to Muslim youth studying abroad who ride in vehicles using ethanol.
Biofuel has become extremely popular in the West because it has a relatively low price and is seen as an environmentally-friendly source of energy. Millions of organic-fuel cars have been manufactured in Europe, the United States, Brazil, China, and India in the past years.
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