1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

5 Questions

I am a follower of Ayatollah Syed Ali Sistani, living in Japan. If packaged food has ingredients like emulsifier, shortening, gelatin, etc., and their source is not mentioned, is it halal or should I avoid it?
Zaid Alsalami

Bismihi ta'āla

Wherever you are, and whichever country you may be in, if its non-Muslim country, or even in some cases Muslim country, it is important to check and verify the ingredients of it is not made by Muslim manufacturer. 

1. If it does not have anything haram, and you have assurance that there is no shar'i issue with it, you can consider it halal.

2. Ihtiyat is always good. If you are uncomfortable about a certain product, being halal or haram, best to avoid. 

3. It is not you absolute duty to investigate, and pry into everything, but you cannot easily turn away from it as well. 

Try to stick with things you know are made in Muslim country. Try to find alternatives, and remember that with the difficulty you endure, you will be rewarded more.

And Allah knows best
Some medicines are only available as capsules. The outer shell has gelatin but the medicine powder inside does not. Both are dry during manufacture. Is it ok to open such capsules and use the medicine without the shell?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Yes it is permissible as far as you don't know that the medicine is Najis.

Wassalam.
Can I take acne medicine containing gelatin if there is no substitute available?
Rebecca Masterton

There are people I know with many conditions that have personally benefited from homeopathy: got rid of eczema, acne and migraines. Some modern medicines consist of artificial hormones, which can do long-term damage to the health. Homeopathy is looked at with some scepticism by traditional practitioners of modern Western medicine, but that doesn't explain the fact that it has worked with many people. There is also a professional Hakim that works in the United States, Ilyas Kashani. This is his website: https://hakimwellness.org/
Can I take acne medicine containing gelatin if there is no substitute available?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Vegetable gelatin is allowed to consume. Gelatin from Halal animal is also allowed.

Wassalam.