Question
Is plastic impure as it contains animal by-products?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
Plastic is not considered impure regardless of the possible presence of animal by-products; this is due to the following reasons:
1) Incidental Presence of Animal By-Products
The presence of animal by-products in the plastic – if any – is incidental. That which is present incidentally is overlooked as opposed to that which is intended. [Ibn Nujaym, al-Ashbah wa al-Nazair]
2) The Chemical Transformation of the Animal By-Products
Due to the fact that any animal by-products go through a chemical transformation in order to be incorporated into the plastic – the animal by-products are no longer impure. This is due to a process called istihala or chemical transformation in which an impure object is no longer considered impure due to its core characteristics or its essence being transformed. [Tahtawi/Shurunbulali, Hashiyat Maraqi al-Falah]
Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani