Certain food products, including alcohol vinegars, are Haram due to their components. This is also the case for some gelling agents. Therefore, it is important to know the ingredients that compose them before consuming. In this article, let’s find out together whether the gelling agent pectin is Halal or Haram?

A gelling agent pectin: is it Halal or Haram?

Although it is a gelling agent or gelatin, pork gelatin is Haram in Islam. It is considered impure or non-halal for Muslims. Scholars have decreed that pork fat is illicit, which makes sense since pork is haram. According to the Permanent Committee of Scholars of the IFTA: “If the gelatin is prepared from an illicit substance such as pork or a part of the pork, like its skin, bones, or others, then it is illicit.”

This decision is supported by the word of Allah in the Qur’an:

“Forbidden to you are dead animals, blood, and the flesh of swine.”

Non-pork gelatin: Halal or not?

Non-pork gelatin is lawful but subject to conditions. A Muslim must adhere to Islamic prescriptions for the animal to be halal. According to Sheikh Utheymine:

“If the animal has died without human intervention or if the slaughterer has not slaughtered it in a legislated manner or if it is a person whose sacrifice is not permitted for us, then it is a dead animal. It is then illicit.” Thus, it is haram.

On the other hand, if a Majûsi or fire worshiper slaughters a cow, it is illegal, even if he mentions the name of Allah while letting the blood flow. Conversely, if a Muslim slaughters a cow in a non-legislated manner, it becomes illicit. Thus, it is considered a dead animal.

If there is no illicit substance in the constituents of the gelatin, it becomes lawful. Before consuming, it is necessary to check the source and the manufacturing process of the specific gelatin. There are still some companies that offer halal alternatives; in other words, they use permitted sources.