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:

I HAVE A HABIT OF EATING MUD (MITTI), SOME SAYS IT IS NOT ALLOWED IN ISLAM TO EAT MUD SO, I TRIED TO AVOID BUT I CANNOT . NOW I ONLY EAT FULLER`S EARTH (MULTANI MITTI). SO PLEASE LET ME KNOW WETHER IT IS HARAM ? AND ADVIVE ME THE SOLUTION TO IT. 

(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:

Eating of mitti mud dust habit

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The eating of ‘mitti’ or earth is not a matter of ‘haraam’ or ‘halaal’…..its like asking whether the eating of iron, or metal, or glass, or wood, or paper, etc. is considered lawful or unlawful in Shariah! What needs to be determined is whether the eating or consuming of such non-consumable products like ‘mitti’ or earth, or wood, or paper, or glass, etc. is medically beneficial or harmful for one’s self…..and if it is medically or scientifically determined that the consumption of such elements is harmful for man, then indeed it would only be prudent for one to abstain from consuming it. And Allah Alone Knows Best.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan