Gelatin or DNA derived from pigs could be deemed halal if it has gone through a process of transformation, based on the Islamic concept of istihalah, according to Prof Madya Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin.
The former Perlis mufti was commenting on the views of renowned Islamic scholar Dr Yusuf Al-Qardhawi, who is of the opinion that gelatin, even those derived from pigs, was halal.
“I say this issue is not such a big deal because amongst Muslim scholars themselves there is no consensus on this particular topic. They have different views on it,” Dr Mohd Asri told Astro AWANI, who seemingly agreed with Yusuf.
Dr Mohd Asri stressed that every Muslim has the right to read, listen, evaluate and decide for himself which view he or she wants to follow based on those presented arguments.
“Islam is a very open minded religion which always recognises facts and truths.
“Then, Muslims also have to think about how to answer their deeds before God in the Hereafter, not only to respond to emotional reaction,” he added.
Elaborating on Dr Yusuf’s argument, Dr Mohd explained how something that is considered unclean can be in fact halal if one uses the concept of ‘istihalah’.
Istihalah is the transformation of the natural characteristics of a forbidden substance into another substance with a different name, properties or characteristics.
“When something unclean has gone through a process and has lost its original characteristics it would not be judged through its original nature because it has truly changed,” he said, adding that the substance should be judged through its new characteristics.
"Simply explained; the changing in nature of a substance having gone through this particular process is referred to as istihalah,” he said.
Dr Mohd Asri, who explained about this on his Facebook page, gave the example of fertilizers used for planting banana trees.
"Bananas are halal. It does mean that a banana is unclean because the fertilizer was unclean, "he wrote.
He also cited examples of wine alcohol that has turned into vinegar; or the carcass of an animal that had been dissolved into salt or soil.
Dr Asri said that the same argument is used by the European Fatwa Council, Al-Qaradawi, and al-Zuhaili Wahbah. Their views on pig DNA was found widely cited for the manufacturing of food and goods worldwide now.
Recently, Malaysians were shocked after the Health Ministry revealed that two Cadbury chocolate products were found to contain pig DNA.
However, later tests by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) has confirmed that there were no traces of pig DNA found in chocolate products and thus deemed halal.
Teoh El Sen
Sat Jun 07 2014
DR ASRI: When something has lost its original characteristics, it would not be judged through its original nature. -File Photo
Kes saman Ahmad Zahid terhadap Muhyiddin selesai secara baik
Kes saman yang difailkan Timbalan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi terhadap bekas Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, selesai secara baik di Mahkamah Tinggi hari ini.
AWANI Borneo [26/04/2024] - Permintaan terkahir Joanna | Cakna kepentingan pertahanan | Jangan takut ugutan
Laporan berita padat dan ringkas dari Borneo bersama Nickyson Nyambar;
#AWANIBorneo 26 April 2024
Suami mendiang Joanna dedah hasrat isteri untuk Gawai ini
Sarawak berpotensi jadi pemain industri pertahanan negara
Jangan berdiam, Armizan minta pemilik syarikat minyak lapor jika terima ugutan
#AWANInews
#AWANIBorneo 26 April 2024
Suami mendiang Joanna dedah hasrat isteri untuk Gawai ini
Sarawak berpotensi jadi pemain industri pertahanan negara
Jangan berdiam, Armizan minta pemilik syarikat minyak lapor jika terima ugutan
#AWANInews
Gelombang haba bawa derita baharu, risiko penyakit ke Gaza
Peningkatan suhu melampau luar jangka di seluruh Gaza menambah derita yang dihadapi warga Palestin setiap hari di semenanjung itu.
Tarikh akhir pengemukaan Borang E dan CP8D dilanjutkan hingga 31 Mei
Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN) hari ini memaklumkan tarikh akhir pengemukaan Borang E dan C.P.8D dilanjutkan hingga 31 Mei ini.
Freedom Flotilla to Gaza: AS terus beri tekanan kepada Turki
AS yang merupakan rakan sekutu Israel dilaporkan terus memberi tekanan yang hebat kepada Turki untuk tidak memberi kebenaran pelayaran misi Break The Siege Freedom Flotilla to Gaza.
Rumah terbuka himpunkan penduduk pelbagai kaum Kinabatangan
Sekitar 3,000 pengunjung daripada pelbagai kaum dan agama menghadiri rumah terbuka aidilfitri daerah Kinabatangan.
#AWANIBorneo
#AWANIBorneo
Enam inisiatif kekalkan momentum pertumbuhan Labuan IBFC 2024
Ketua Pengarah Lembaga Perkhidmatan Kewangan Labuan (Labuan FSA) Nik Mohamed Din Nik Musa berkata inisiatif ini penting dalam merangka hala tuju Labuan IBFC ketika Pelan Hala Tuju Strategik Lima tahunnya (2022-2026) memasuki tahun ketiga.
#AWANIBorneo
#AWANIBorneo
Sindiket ancam bakar stesen minyak harus dilaporkan - Armizan
Pemilik stesen minyak yang diancam sindiket penyeludupan diesel bersubsidi disaran membuat laporan secara rasmi kepada Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Kos Sara Hidup (KPDN), kata Menterinya Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
#AWANIBorneo
#AWANIBorneo
'Kementerian Kewangan tiada rekod surat kelulusan Najib bagi 1MDB ambil alih Tanjong Energy, Genting Sanyen' - Saksi
Dalam siasatan SPRM, Kementerian Kewangan mengesahkan tidak mempunyai rekod ke atas kedua-dua surat tersebut.
Anak MB Perlis, empat yang lain dilepas dengan jaminan SPRM
Anak lelaki Menteri Besar Perlis yang direman Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) sejak Rabu, dilepaskan dengan jaminan SPRM, hari ini.
'Babi makan babi' antara punca penyebaran ASF di Sarawak
Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom menggesa amalan pemberian makanan menggunakan sisa dapur dihentikan kerana produk makanan yang tercemar (termasuk daging babi) jadi punca jangkitan ASF.
DVS hapus 16,000 babi dijangkiti Demam Babi Afrika di Melaka
Virus ASF mula dikesan di Paya Mengkuang pada akhir bulan lepas.
MCMC gesa Seniman tampil buat laporan berhubung filem 'Babi'
MCMC berkata proses penelitian terhadap kandungan boleh dibuat berdasarkan kepada peruntukan-peruntukan di bawah Akta AKM 1998.
Terbongkar! Virus ini punca lebih 1,000 babi mati secara misteri di Bali
Pihak berkuasa Bali mengesahkan pulau tersebut terjejas akibat demam babi Afrika (ASF) susulan kematian kira-kira 1,000 ekor haiwan tersebut, sejak beberapa bulan lalu.
Polis tahan lelaki lempar bungkusan berisi daging babi ke perkarangan masjid
Polis menahan seorang lelaki bagi membantu siasatan berhubung kejadian melempar bungkusan dipercayai mengandungi daging babi ke dalam perkarangan Masjid Telaga Air, di sini awal hari ini.
Tiada laporan ternak babi secara haram di N. Sembilan - Pengarah Veterinar
Jabatan Perkhidmatan Veterinar Negeri Sembilan tidak ada menerima laporan mengenai kegiatan penternakan babi secara haram di Negeri Sembilan.
Hanya blogger jamah Cadbury, pegawai JAKIM enggan
Pengguna harus mempercayai sepenuhnya keputusan status halal yang dikeluarkan JAKIM selaku pihak yang bertanggungjawab mengeluarkannya.
Pengguna Islam makan coklat Cadbury esok
Lebih kurang 100 pengguna Islam termasuk blogger akan makan coklat Cadbury pada petang Ahad untuk mempertahankan bahawa produk jenama itu sah halal.
Apa yang anda perlu tahu tentang pensijilan halal Jakim?
Apa yang anda perlu tahu tentang pensijilan halal Jakim menurut sumber dari www.halal.gov.my
Bila ustaz hendak makan coklat Cadbury?
Apakah caranya untuk mengembalikan keyakinan umat Islam kepada logo halal yang dikeluarkan oleh Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia?