Food and Drink

The sharee ruling regarding rennet

3 days ago By user2

Q: I came across two fatwas on Muftionline regarding calf rennet and would like some clarification. 

Before that, I wish to mention that in Fatawa Darul Uloom Zakariyya (vol. 6, p. 614), it is stated that most Hanafi scholars have adopted the view of permissibility in this matter. Allamah Shami, Allamah Tahtawi, Imam Abu Bakr al-Jassas, Sahib al-Hidayah, Sahib al-Fatawa al-Walwaljiyyah, and Sahib al-Khulasa have all supported or inclined to Imam Abu Hanifa’s opinion. The other opinion of Sahibayn was not given preference, which indicates tarjih for Imam Abu Hanifa’s view. 

Among the senior and contemporary scholars, Hazrat Thanwi, Mufti Nizamuddin, Mufti Mahmood Hasan Gangohi, and Mufti Taqi Usmani have also issued fatwas of permissibility or signed on such fatwas. 

Furthermore, it is mentioned that several Arab scholars such as Shaykh Ibn Baz, Shaykh Yusuf Barqani, Shaykh Abdul Razzaq Talibi, Shaykh Abu Bakr al-Jazairi, Shaykh Ahmad Muhammad Assal, and Shaykh Abdul Hamid Tahmaz have also supported the permissibility view. 

It is also mentioned that Hazrat Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam ate cheese prepared by non-Muslims and did not inquire whether it was made from an animal slaughtered according to Shariah or carrion, or whether the rennet was liquid or solid. This shows general permissibility. 

Now, regarding the two fatwas on Muftionline: 

In one fatwa, it is mentioned: “There is a difference of opinion in this regard. It is safest not to consume such cheese.” 

In another fatwa, it is stated: “Calf rennet derived from non-Halaal slaughtered calves is impermissible.” 

Kindly explain why the first fatwa mentions a difference of opinion, while the second gives a clear ruling of impermissibility. 

Also, please explain the ruling of rennet based on its source: 

1. Rennet taken from animals not slaughtered according to Shariah, 
2. Rennet taken from Halaal-slaughtered animals, and 
3. Rennet derived from plants or microbials. 

Also, if the view of the Sahibayn is taken, what would be the ruling of rennet taken from a Halaal animal that was not slaughtered according to Shariah, especially considering modern extraction methods where the rennet becomes mixed with the stomach tissue?

Accepting the information of a kaafir in matters of halaal and haraam

2 months ago By user2

Q: I have been in touch with nutrabay company in terms of their product being halaal or not, especially the rennet used in whey protein, is it deprived from halaal source. 

I received a reply via authentic email id of their site: 

"Thank you for sharing your detailed query regarding whey protein and the source of rennet. We truly appreciate your awareness and careful consideration. 

We would like to inform you that the raw materials used in our whey protein, including the rennet involved in the process, are halal certified. You can confidently choose either whey protein isolate or concentrate, as both meet the required standards." 

My question is, can I consume their products assuming it is halaal by their email confirmation alone? As they did approve my detailed query and affirmed that their products are halaal!

The consequences of eating haraam meat

7 months ago By user2

Q: I live in India, in a non-Muslim area. I have a lot of issues with vegetarian diet; bloating, excessive passing of gases, tinnitus increasing, stomach discomfort, skin issues etc. 

I have always eaten mostly meat-based diet, and it (Alhamdulillah) suits my health. I’ve been eating a mix of halal and non-halal meats (beef, mutton, chicken only, never pork). Unfortunately fish here is really toxic. My situation is such that I can have home cooked halal food once or maybe sometimes twice a day, but many a times I have to order food, and eat outside with people etc. 

I was feeling guilty for eating non-halal meats so I tried to stop eating non-halal meats. It’s been a couple of weeks since I lowered my meat intake to just the halal meat I am able to have cooked at home, and eating vegetarian at other times, and my health issues have become worse; lot of tinnitus, stomach issues, skin problems, lot of gas etc. 

I’m trying to leave the area I live in, once (Insha’Allah) I get an employment in an area where more halal options are there. But till then, can I go back to eating a mix of halal and non-halal meats (no pork) due to health issues? 

Partaking of food prepared by Hindus at the time of Diwali

7 months ago By user2

Q: Does Mufti saab approve of the below: 

1. ON OFFERING DIWALI GREETINGS 

Question: On the occasion of Diwali, is saying "Happy Diwali" to a Hindu haraam? 

Ruling: Yes, this is haram. The reasoning is that offering such a greeting constitutes an acknowledgement and an expression of happiness that the individual is upon beliefs of shirk. 

2. ON PARTAKING IN FOOD PROVIDED AT A WORKPLACE FOR DIWALI 

Question: At my workplace, Hindus leave food on a common table to share their joy for Diwali. Is it permissible to go to the table and take this food? 

Ruling: The act of going to take the food is haraam. This voluntary action is interpreted as an endorsement of, and happiness for, the shirk associated with the festival, analogous to offering Diwali greetings. 

However, the consumption of the food itself is a separate matter and is not inherently haraam, provided two conditions are met: 

· The food was not sacrificed to a false deity. 
· The ingredients of the food are not inherently impermissible (e.g., containing alcohol or pork). 

If either of these conditions is violated (the food was sacrificed or contains haraam ingredients), then both the act of taking it and its consumption become haraam. 

3. ON ACCEPTING FOOD DIRECTLY OFFERED BY A HINDU FOR DIWALI 

Question: If a Hindu brings food to me directly out of happiness for Diwali and I accept it, would this be haraam? 

Ruling: The permissibility in this scenario depends on your intention and the nature of the food. There are three potential situations: 

· Scenario A: Your intention is not in reverence to Diwali, but simply to accept an offer of food. In this case, the act of accepting and eating the food is not haraam, provided the food itself is permissible (not sacrificed to a false deity and containing no haraam ingredients). You are not held responsible for the giver's intention. 

· Scenario B: Your intention is not to revere Diwali, but the food itself is haraam (either because it was sacrificed to a false deity or contains haraam ingredients). In this case, both accepting and consuming the food is haraam. 

· Scenario C: Your intention is to revere or participate in the Diwali celebration by accepting the food. In this case, the act of acceptance is haraam, regardless of whether the food itself is technically halal.

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