Question
Is it permissible to take medication in capsule form? I have been told that capsules are haraam therefore we have to open them and then take the medication.
Jazakallah
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Capsules are generally made of gelatine or plant derivatives.[1] If the gelatine is sourced from Harām animals, the gelatine-based capsules will be Harām. Furthermore, it is difficult to tell the difference between gelatine based and plant based capsules. Hence, all medication in capsule form should be avoided.
As far as opening the capsule and consuming its content is concerned, we are not in a position to advise on this as it is a pharmaceutical and medical matter which can only be elucidated by its respective personnel.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Nabeel Valli.
Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah
Lusaka, Zambia
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[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsule_(pharmacy)