Covering Head While Eating

Q: My sister asked why women have to cover their head when they sit to eat but men do not. Can you please clarify this?

A. Covering the head when eating is an etiquette for both males and females.

Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Moirs Essence and Denatured Alcohol

Q: Is Moirs vanilla essence Halal? It contains denatured ethanol and E122.

A. Denatured alcohol does not contain intoxicating characteristics, so it’s Halaal. E122 is a synthetic dye and is also Halaal. Therefore, Moirs essence is Halaal for consumption.

And Allah knows best.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Veganism

Q: Is veganism allowed in Islam?

A. A vegan is a person who does not eat animals or animal products. Islam has allowed the eating of meat. A narration states that meat is the most superior of foods. (Tuhfatul Ahwadhi V10 P261). Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) loved meat.

If a person becomes a vegan due to e.g. health reasons i.e. consumption of meat is not advisable for him, or a person simply cannot eat meat but does not believe that it is wrong to eat meat, it will be permissible.

If the person becomes a vegan for the wrong reasons, e.g. he believes that it is morally wrong to eat meat, slaughtering is cruelty to animals, etc. then it will not be allowed.

Allah Ta'aala knows best.

Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Ethanol in Robertsons Essence

Q: Is ethanol alchohol (used in Robertson's vanilla essence) halaal?
This is the definition:
Ethanol-
Alcohol is a colorless liquid, produced by the fermentation of sugar or starch, that is the intoxicating agent in fermented drinks and is used as a solvent. Also called ethanol and ethyl alcohol.

A. Ethanol also known as ethyl alcohol is the main ingredient used in wine-making. This is found in Robertson’s essence and is not Halaal for consumption; hence you should not use this essence. There are other substitutes on the market.

And Allah knows best.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Utensils and Halaal

Q: I am married to a new Muslim. Her parents are non Muslims, and we are invited over for dinner often. They know we only eat halal food so her dad prepares halaal food but sometimes he also cooks haraam food for them. Sometimes he uses his utensils and eats from the halal dish. I know that dish is no longer halaal, but my in-laws cannot understand how it can become haraam. Could you give me some Islamic answers to try and make them understand?

A. It will be difficult for them to fully understand the concept of Halaal and Haraam. Although if the utensil which contained Haraam is washed according to the Islamic method, i.e. thrice with fresh water each time, it will thereafter be permissible to use, but it is best not to use it. The better option is to take your own food with you when going to visit them and share it with them. This is a safer option.

Allah Ta'aala knows best.

Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Grape Juice

Q: Is grape juice haraam for consumption, E.g. Pure Joy grape juice etc? Will this be considered as wine seeing that the grapes have been pressed for the juice?

A: This is juice and Halaal to drink. Wine is made after fermentation of the juice and other procedures. It is permissible to drink grape juice.

Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Status of Rainbow Chickens

Q: I saw on Sanha’s website that you (Mufti Siraj Desai) were a guest speaker once at their AGM. I would like to know if it is possible for you to inform me on the status of their Rainbow chicken certification. Are these allegations, that the chicken is not halaal just rumors, or is it possible that there could be some truth to the allegations?

A: The Rainbow chickens that Sanha certifies are Halaal. They have a team of Ulama who do inspection of the plant where these chickens are slaughtered. However, it is always better to eat freshly slaughtered chickens from people who you are certain will slaughter according to Shari'ah.

And Allah knows best

Mufti Siraj Desai

Harms of Alcohol

Q: My friend is addicted to alcohol. How many days does alcohol remains in the blood according to Islam? I have heard thet if you drink beer or alcohol your prayer or any good deeds are not accepted but you will not get any reward for that. Is this true?

A. A Hadeeth in Tirmidhi narrated by Sayyidina Abdullah ibni Umar (Radhiyallaahu Anhu) states that if a person drinks alcohol, his Salaah will not be accepted for forty days. (Tirmidhi V4 P290). It can be gauged from this Hadeeth that the effect (spiritual harm) of alcohol remains in the body for forty days.

Salaah is the most important form of Ibaadat. If the Salaah is not accepted, then all other Ibaadat is also affected. The meaning of 'not accepted' in the Hadeeth means that there is no reward for the Salaah for a forty day period. The person still has to compulsorily perform his Salaah, etc. daily, but he will not receive reward for it. He should not leave out Salaah, etc. Omitting the Salaah will be sinful upon him.
Allah Ta'aala knows best.

Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Halaal Multi Vitamins

Q: My mother is elderly, and in need of multi vitamins etc, but it is very difficult to find something which is halaal. What can I do?

A. There are Halaal multi vitamins on the market. Speak to a Muslim medical practitioner who will advise you better and can prescribe according to your mother's condition. Secondly if your mother is very weak and frail and needs these multi-vitamins desperately, then she is allowed to take even the Haraam vitamins, but there certainly are Halaal available. After speaking to a pharmacist, he confirmed that there are 'vegetarian suitable' multi vitamins available. The ingredients are not from animals and the capsule does not contain gelatine. May Allah Ta'aala grant her Shifaa, Aameen.

Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Types of Gelatine

Q: Is Gelatine Halaal?

A: Gelatine manufactured from animals that were not slaughtered according to Shari'ah or from pig is Haraam. The gelatine manufactured in non-Muslim countries is derived from either pig, which is called PORCINE GELATINE or from the hides and hooves of Haraam cattle, which is termed BOVINE GELATIN. Both types are Haraam. Fish gelatine is Halaal but this is rarely used and it will be clearly stated on the packaging. The bovine and porcine gelatine are Haraam.

Gelatine manufactured in Muslim countries, such as Pakistan or Malaysia, will be Halaal because such gelatine is derived from cattle that were slaughtered according to Shari'ah.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Machine-slaughtered Chicken

Q: We live in America and halal chicken availabe is machine cut. The machine cuts the chicken and the person says the TASMIYAH but the machine goes faster then the human so he can not say on each. Is this chicken is halal?

A: Machine-slaughtered chicken is not Halaal. Firstly, as you quite rightly stated, the operator of the machine cannot recite Tasmiyah on every bird. Secondly, the Shari'ah requires that the slaughtering be done directly with the hand, not with a hand-operated machine.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Shark Meat

Q: I am Hanafi. Can i eat shark meat? I have heard that 60% of fish fingers is made out of shark meat.

A: Shark is a fish, hence 100 percent halaal.

And Allah knows best
Mufti Siraj Desai

Creatures that can be Eaten Without Slaughtering

Q: What are the two things can be eaten without slaughtering?

A: One is fish and the other is a locust. That is halaal without slaughtering

Mufti Siraj Desai

Non-Muslim Owned Takeaways

Q: I would like to know if the pizza served from the halaal menu at Debonairs Pizza in Gelvandale, Port Elizabeth is Halaal? Will this apply to any non Muslim owned franchise store that holds a halaal certificate?

A: We do not have any knowledge of the Halaal status of this particular Debonairs nor do we certify any non-Muslim owned takeaway/restaurant. It will be best to abstain.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Crayfish

Q: Is it permisible to eat crayfish?

A: In the Hanafi math-hab only fish among seafood is halaal. Crayfish is not a fish hence it will not be permissible for consumption.

And Allah knows best

Mufti Siraj Desai

Moirs Caramel Creme Dessert

Q: I would like to know if Moirs caramal creme dessert is halaal?

A: We have no knowledge of the halaal status of this product. Please refer your query to the South African National Halaal Authority. Their Helpline (for South Africa) is 0861 786 111.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Eating at Non-Muslim Takeaway Franchises

Q: I find many Muslims eating at places like Nando's Greenacres and Kentucky Gelvandale (in Port Elizabeth, South Africa). I approached a friend who in turn told me that both have Halaal Certificates. How are certificates issued to these outlets?

A: We strongly encourage muslims to purchase their chickens from a Muslim-owned outlet. We encourage you and like minded Muslims to question those who issue these certificates.

Moulana Nazeem Moosagie
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Halaal Status of Anca Chickens

Q: I heard Anca chickens is now Haraam. Is this true?

A: Regarding Anca chickens in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, the Aalim who is an inspector of the plant assured us that everything is under control and all Anca chickens are Halaal. We will accept this unless someone brings proof to the contrary.

Moulana Nazeem Moosagie

Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Ramadaan Fasting Tablet

Q: Is the Ramadan Fasting Tablet halal?

http://www.halal.com/modules/index.php/products/productlist

A: According to the Halal.com Magazine site you've cited, the product contains no chemicals or animal by-products. Therefore it should be Halal-suitable.

The product purports to be certified Halal by the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA) but we could not locate it on IFANCA's website. However, the South African National Halaal Authority (SANHA) has a working relationship with IFANCA.

Therefore, it would be advisable to contact SANHA (if you are in South Africa) to verify the ingredients or IFANCA if you are in America or another part of the world.

Muhammad Badsha
Checked by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Fish and Other Seafood

Q: Can you explain why only fish is Halaal among sea food?

A: A Hadeeth specifies two things that can be eaten without slaughtering. One of them is fish. This Hadeeth specifically mentions the word 'As Samak' which means fish. The Hanafi jurists, citing this Hadeeth, say that only that is Halaal for consumption from the sea which falls under the category of As Samak. This discussion is lengthy and technical and can be found in the Arabic books of Fiqh. The above is the gist of the discussion. (Raddul Muhtaar V26 P193, Kashful Khifaa V1 P59, Al Mabsoot of Imam Sarakhsi V11 P398)

Moulana Yusuf Laher

Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai