Opinion: The Sharia’ah Rulings regarding Labelling a Haraam Product as Halaal

The Shari’ah Rulings regarding Labelling a Haraam Product as Halaal

Research Paper By: Mufti Sayyed ‘Arif Shah Al-Husaini, Member of the Shari’ah Research Department, SANHA Halal Associates Pakistan

The following is an excerpt from the Research Paper which you can download:

Labelling a Haraam Product as Halaal:

Is it permissible to label a Haraam product as Halaal, or to issue a Halaal certificate to products which have names containing something Haraam? Is it permissible, according to the Shari’ah, for the Muslim masses to use such products? For example, (may Allah d protect us) can you get Halaal pork, Halaal alcoholic beverages, Halaal dog, Halaal wine, Halaal beer, alcohol-free beer etc.?

The answer to these questions is rather detailed and there are three possible scenarios to this issue (Masalah), all of which need to be analysed in light of the Shari’ah:

First Scenario: Absolutely Haraam Products
  • To believe Halaal regarding absolutely Haraam things
  • Calling absolutely Haraam things Halaal, either jokingly or mockingly
  • Issuing a Halaal certificate for products which have names containing absolutely Haraam things
Second Scenario: considerable/Substantial Haraam Products
  • To believe Halaal regarding considerable/Substantial Haraam things
  • Calling considerable/Substantial Haraam things Halaal, either jokingly or mockingly
  • Issuing a Halaal certificate for products which have names containing considerable/Substantial Haraam things
Third Scenario: Using Names that Society in General Know to Refer to Haraam Things or which are Known to be Haraam Due to Common Usage
  • To believe Halaal regarding that which is commonly known to be Haraam
  • Calling that which is commonly known to be Haraam, Halaal, either jokingly or mockingly

Issuing a Halaal certificate for products which have names containing that which is commonly known to be Haraam.