Ruling on medicines that are derived from dead meat

Dear Brothers & Sisters,
As-Salaamu-Alaikum 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 am a pharmacist and I know from my experience and studies that some pharmaceutical companies and manufacturers derive some of their medicines from animals that are not slaughtered in the Islamic manner. Is it permissible to use these medicines?
(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.)
Check below answers in case you are looking for other related questions:

Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

It is not permissible to use dead meat for purposes of medication, because it was narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah has not put the cure for my ummah in something that He has forbidden to them.” 

Ibn al-Qayyim said: Treating disease with haraam things is offensive from the point of view both of common sense and sharee’ah. With regard to the sharee’ah, this is because of the hadeeth quoted above. With regard to common sense, it is because Allaah has forbidden it because of its abhorrent nature. He would not forbid anything good to this ummah as a punishment, as he forbade things to the Children of Israel when He said (interpretation of the meaning):

“For the wrongdoing of the Jews, We made unlawful for them certain good foods which had been lawful for them” [al-Nisaa’ 4:160]

Rather, Allaah has forbidden what He has forbidden for this ummah because it is bad, and He has forbidden it as a protection for them. So it is not right to use it for healing disease and sickness. Even if it has some effect in removing the sickness, it will be followed by an even greater poison in the heart, because of the strength of the evil contained in it. Using it as medicine leads to replacing the disease in the body with disease in the heart (i.e., spiritual disease)

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.

Related Answers:

Recommended answers for you: