When reading the ingredients of certain foods or condiments, one may come across the term grape must. For those concerned with Halal consumption, it is natural to ask: what exactly is grape must, how is it used in the food industry, and is it suitable for Muslims to consume? To answer, we must first explore […]
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When evaluating Japanese alcoholic products under Islamic law, it is necessary to distinguish between their chemical nature, their origins, and how they are classified in the Hanafi school of jurisprudence. The three traditional Japanese alcohols most commonly encountered are mirin, sake, and shōchū.
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Non Khamr Alcohol (whether from distillation or fermentation) does not follow the same ruling according to hanafiya. This means that in smaller quantities like solvents and emulsifiers etc, they will not render the other items najis, and will not affect the hillah of the item.
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What is Wheat Starch? Wheat starch is the purified carbohydrate fraction extracted from the wheat kernel. It consists mainly of amylose and amylopectin and is similar in function to corn starch, potato starch, or tapioca starch—just sourced from wheat. Industrial / Commercial Production Uses in foods include: Sharʿī / Halal Considerations Resolution (ilmHub’s Stance) Plain […]
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What is Wheat Sow Culture and What is it Made From? Wheat sow culture — sometimes simply called a sourdough starter — is a fermented mixture made from wheat and water. When left at warm temperatures, naturally occurring yeasts and lactic acid bacteria grow in this mixture. The microbes break down the starches and proteins […]
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What is Furfuryl Alcohol? Furfuryl alcohol (chemical formula: C5H6O2) is an organic compound derived from furfural. It is a colorless to pale yellow liquid with a mild, sweet, and slightly burnt odor. Over time or on exposure to air, it may darken to reddish-brown due to polymerization. Other Names for Furfuryl Alcohol Uses of Furfuryl […]
Read MoreCetearyl alcohol is a mixture of fatty alcohols, primarily cetyl and stearyl alcohol, and is widely used in the cosmetic and personal care industry. It is typically derived from natural or synthetic sources.
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General Ruling: All “fish” from the sea is permissible. There is no restriction in any type of fish. However, those creatures of the sea which do not fulfil the technical definition of fish, are not considered permissible. This is based on the hadeeth that mentions that Nabi ﷺ said, “Two carrions and two bloods are […]
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In Vanilla Extract, we will apply the above distinction and review whether any khamr alcohol is used during the macerating process for vanilla extract. The type of alcohol source changes the flavor profile of the final extract. While the industrial standard mentioned above is ethyl alcohol, this may not be the case for homemade or custom-curated vanilla extracts sold as novelties. Hence, it is important to review the source of alcohol on the labeling as much as possible.
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The differentiating factor between khamr and non-khamr ethanol from a Shar’iy Juristic perspective is that the former is both Najis and Haraam whereas the latter is not Najis however deemed Haraam in intoxicant applications.
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