Mu` meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah`s Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear brother Burhan, Assalamo Alaikam

May Allah subhan-o-huh wa taala have His Blessings on you for the excellent work you are doing for spreading His Message and of our beloved prophet , SAW.

Recently my daughter came back from Canada and among other things brought for us a packet of sweets, which were made in Finland. The ingredients as printed on the packet of sweets also included gelatin which I understand is derived from animal bones which in probability will also include those of khinzeer. My understanding is that in the Quran Allah Taalah has declared lahm-e-l khinzeer i.e pig's meat only as haram and not its bones and therefore there was no harm in consuming these sweets. Please advise me in the light of ahadees and  sunnah of the Holy Prophet SAW if my understanding is correct .

Secondly some of us have already consumed some sweets when this realisation came. If it is sinful how can we compensate for it. May Allah subhan-o-huh wa taala reward you for this service.

Yours in Islam

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Is fat of Pig permissible

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His  forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anaam verse 145: Say: "I find not in the Message received by me by inspiration any (meat) forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be dead meat, or blood poured forth, or the flesh of swine; for it is an abomination. Or what is impious (meat) on which a name has been invoked other than Allah's." But (even so) if a person is forced by necessity without willful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits; thy Lord is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

Although the Glorious Quran mentions specifically the flesh of swine as forbidden, all the scholars of all schools of thought in Islam are unanimous that all the parts of the body of the swine, be they bones, or flesh, or fat, or internal organs, etc. are all forbidden as food for the believers.

If one has unintentionally consumed any food that contained swine or transgressed any boundary of Allah Subhanah, he must immediately turn to Allah Subhanah and seek His Forgiveness; for if one seeks sincere Taubah and Repentance, Allah Subhanah will forgive all sins. Allah Subhanah is indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 39 Surah Zumur verses 53-54:(O Prophet) say: “O My servants who have wronged their own souls….Do not despair of Allah’s Mercy! Surely, Allah forgives all sins. He indeed is the All Forgiving, All Merciful. Return to your Lord and submit to Him before the scourge overtakes you; for then you may get no help from anywhere.”

We have written an article on how to seek Taubah and Repentance from the Merciful Lord, and are attaching the same for your reference. (Answer No 1115)

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan