Eating Pork
Question :

Why cannot we eat pork?

Answer :

We cannot eat pork because of the express prohibition of it in the Holy Quran: “Forbidden unto you (for food) are carrion and blood and swine flesh…” (The Holy Quran 5:3).

Ethyl
Question :

There is an alcohol called Ethyl (also known as Ethanol) which is supposed to be in many normal drinks, by a percentage of around 0.05%. A beverage company has openly stated it on their website. The amount seems so small, and I am sure in essence it changes and doesn’t remain in its original form. I would like your view if those drinks with ethyl are permissible or not?

Answer :

Every liquid that can cause intoxication naturally is najis, and is prohibited to consume. If alcohol is added to a drink, even in such a minute amount, it is prohibited to consume.

Rennet
Question :

Some of the cheese products manufactured in non-Muslim countries contain rennet extracted from the calf or other animals. We do not know whether the rennet was taken from the animal that was slaughtered according to Islamic laws; nor do we know whether it has transformed into something else. So, is it permissible to eat such cheese?

Answer :

It is allowed to use the rennet that is extracted from the animal that was not slaughtered according to Islamic laws, since it is tahir and exempted from the prohibition of using parts of the animal corpse.

Tasting Food
Question :

I am working in a kitchen as a cook. I was wondering if it was permissible for me to taste food that is not permissible to consume.

Answer :

You can taste the food that is prohibited to consume provided that you do not swallow it, and you should make your mouth tahir too if the food was najis.

No Time to Cook Food
Question :

I live in a place where I do not have time to cook food due to work and extreme fatigue after work hours; seafood restaurants are very far away from my office and home, and they are very expensive; halal restaurants are not easily available. In such circumstances, if I eat the meat of the People of the Book, even though I have heard that it is not permissible; would it be considered a sin?

Answer :

The mentioned circumstances provide no justification to consume prohibited food, and it is a sin to do so.

Ethanol in Everything
Question :

Ethanol is found in almost everything we eat, from bread to fruits. Is it permissible to consume these things that contain Ethanol?

Answer :

It is permissible to consume bread and fruits and similar food items even if ethanol exists in them in a very small percentage, since it does not cause intoxication.

Attending a Wedding
Question :

If we attend a wedding reception held by Christian friend, and they serve separate halal food, is it permissible for us to dine there and consume what they claim to be halal food, while we also know that the food was cooked by Christians who may not know the Islamic dietary laws?

Answer :

If the food does not contain meat then one can consume it if he does not know that it is najis.
If the food contains meat then it must be established that it is slaughtered in accordance to the Sharia, in addition to not knowing that the food is najis.
One can establish the lawfulness of the meat by knowing so himself, or by being informed by a Muslim who one expects to say the truth, or if the provider of the food claims that he obtained it from a Muslim as being slaughtered in accordance to the Sharia. The provider of the food can be non-Muslim who one does not expect to lie.

Frozen Fish
Question :

What is the prohibition on eating fish [with scales] that is sold as frozen even though one is unaware that it is caught dead or alive?

Answer :

If it is not known that the fish was caught alive, then it is prohibited to consume. Such knowledge could be obtained by learning about the method of fishing, as they generally catch fish alive from the water.

Wife's Milk
Question :

Is it permissible for the husband to drink his wife's milk?

Answer :

Yes, it is permissible.

Crab, Lobster and prawn
Question :

Is it permissible to eat crab, lobster or prawn?

Answer :

Amongst seafood, it is unlawful to consume anything but fish that have scales as well as shrimps and prawns. Other types of fish and shellfish are not lawful.

Pork Gelatin
Question :

Is pork gelatin lawful to consume?

Answer :

It is not permissible to consume pork or anything that is extracted from the pig.

Karbala Soil
Question :

Is it lawful to eat the earth of Karbala, and is there any particular supplication associated with eating it, and is it necessary to recite it?

Answer :

It is permissible to eat a little of the earth of Karbala for the sake of being cured from illness. It is a little more than 1 kilometer in radius around the holy grave of the Imam (peace be upon him). There is a supplication reported from the Ahlulbait (peace be upon them) to be recited when eating the earth of Karbala, but it is not obligatory to do so.

Pizza
Question :

I live in the West and there is always confusion as to whether it is permissible or prohibited to eat pizzas made by non-Muslims and baked in their oven. Can we eat it or not?

Answer :

If it does not contain meat, then it is permissible to eat, provided that it is not known to have come into contact with anything Najis.
If it contains meat, then it is not permissible to consume it in non-Muslim countries unless there is sufficient evidence that the meat is from an animal that was slaughtered in accordance to Islam.

Vegetarianism
Question :

I just reverted to the Shi'a Islam. I would like to know the Islamic position of vegetarianism?

Answer :

You can refuse to eat meat even if it is not recommended in some religious texts.

Fish in a Restaurant
Question :

While having a meal in restaurants, If the waiter or the manager tells us that the fish has scales, can we believe him and eat the fish?

Answer :

It is permissible to rely on whoever possesses the fish, if they have not been accused of lying, or there is no other reason to believe in their dishonesty.

Vanilla Extract
Question :

Vanilla Extract includes Ethyl Alcohol within it, to extract the flavor from the Vanilla pods. Is it permissible to consume Vanilla Extract with Ethyl Alcohol as Ayatollah Saeed al Hakeem ruled that we are not allowed to drink or consume anything when Ethanol is mixed?

Answer :

If the substance naturally contains a very small percentage of alcohol in such a way that if consumed it does not cause intoxication, then it is permissible to consume.

Doubtful Meat
Question :

One found out from a reliable source that a brand of meat claiming to be halal is in fact not. He told his mother. She asked another source who claimed otherwise. She is asking him to buy the meat for her. Is it permissible for him to buy such a meat for her?

Answer :

If the meat is taken from a Muslim or Muslims’ market, then one is permitted to sell it and buy it and do so on behalf of others. It is not permissible to buy or sell it if he came to know or two Adil witnesses testify that the said meat is not slaughtered in accordance to the Sharia. Doubting of some people is not sufficient to consider it as non-Halal meat as long as it is possible to be slaughtered in accordance to the Sharia and it is taken from a Muslim or bought from Muslims’ market.

Colored Fish
Question :

Is it permissible to eat colored fish?

Answer :

If the fish has scales then it is permissible to consume it.

Ostrich
Question :

Is ostrich permissible to consume?

Answer :

Yes, it is permissible.

Protein Shakes
Question :

I use a protein powder and on the back of the product it says under the sub-title: “Biological Value: Biological value relates to how much of the protein consumed is actually absorbed, retained and used by your body. Beef: 80. Chicken: 79.”
I do not really understand whether they mean that it is the equivalent of this amount of beef and chicken or whether it contains beef and chicken. It also says that it is suitable for vegetarians. Would it be permissible to consume this?

Answer :

If it is doubted whether a prohibition applies to something or not, then it is permissible to consume it. If it is confirmed later that it contained meat products that are prohibited to consume, then it will be considered as najis, and anything it touches will be considered najis as well like any utensils or the mouth or the hands of the person that handled it.
However, if it says ‘Suitable for vegetarians”, then this will indicate that there is no meat product in the product