Home » Hanafi Fiqh » Askimam.org » I have question regarding food/biscuits/capsules (medicine) available in market. If we see ingredients, few food ingredients will have Emulsifier which is generated from animal.  1) Is it allowed to consume such type of food which has ingredients as emulsifier (here if emulsifier is prepared from animal skin or fat). I checked with one Moulana here. He told that if form (shakal -in Urdu) of any animal fat is changed, we can consume it. Please clarify me.  2) Most of the capsules are created by animal gelatin. Can we consume capsules? Or we should ask doctors to give tablets/syrup instead of capsule?

I have question regarding food/biscuits/capsules (medicine) available in market. If we see ingredients, few food ingredients will have Emulsifier which is generated from animal.  1) Is it allowed to consume such type of food which has ingredients as emulsifier (here if emulsifier is prepared from animal skin or fat). I checked with one Moulana here. He told that if form (shakal -in Urdu) of any animal fat is changed, we can consume it. Please clarify me.  2) Most of the capsules are created by animal gelatin. Can we consume capsules? Or we should ask doctors to give tablets/syrup instead of capsule?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Askimam.org

I have question regarding food/biscuits/capsules (medicine) available in market. If we see ingredients, few food ingredients will have Emulsifier which is generated from animal.

 1) Is it allowed to consume such type of food which has ingredients as emulsifier (here if emulsifier is prepared from animal skin or fat). I checked with one Moulana here. He told that if form (shakal -in Urdu) of any animal fat is changed, we can consume it. Please clarify me.

 2) Most of the capsules are created by animal gelatin. Can we consume capsules? Or we should ask doctors to give tablets/syrup instead of capsule?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

  1. It is essential that you clarify the source of the emulsifier. If the emulsifier contains ingredients derived from a halal animal that is slaughtered according to the laws of Shariah, then such emulsifiers are permissible to consume. In order to ascertain this, you should contact your local Ulema halal certifying body or contact the manufacturer of the product and enquire from them.
  2.  Capsules made from animal gelatine that are not slaughtered according to Shariah laws of zabah are impure and not permissible. You should seek alternate medication with the advice of your doctor. If there is no adequate alternative and you are constrained to use gelatine capsules for medical and health related reasons, you will then be excused. [1]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Saleem Khan

Student Darul Iftaa
Bradford, UK

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.


[1]

 قال في النهاية وفي التهذيب يجوز للعليل شرب البول والدم والميتة للتداوي إذا أخبره طبيب مسلم أن فيه شفاءه ولم يجد من المباح ما يقوم مقامه وإن قال الطبيب يتعجل شفاؤك به فيه وجهان

 وهل يجوز شرب العليل من الخمر للتداوي فيه وجهان كذا ذكره الإمام التمرتاشي وكذا في الذخيرة

 وما قيل إن الاستشفاء بالحرام حرام غير مجرى على إطلاقه وأن الاستشفاء بالحرام إنما لا يجوز إذا لم يعلم أن فيه شفاء أما إذا علم وليس له دواء غيره يجوز

[رد المحتار ج ٥ ص ٢٢٨ ايج ايم سعيد]

This answer was collected from Askimam.org, which is operated under the supervision of Mufti Ebrahim Desai from South Africa.

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