Checklist of ingredients and excipients

This checklist outlines the key ingredients and excipients used in medicines which may raise a concern for Muslims, as well as excipients that are permissible for Muslims. Please use this list alongside HalalMed’s other guides:

  • ‘How to check if a medicines contains ingredients and/or excipients from haram sources (link) and
  • ‘What to do if a medicine contains ingredients and/or excipients from haram sources (link) .

You can also use our ‘checker tool‘ to enter medicine ingredients, excipients and/or production cell lines and it will flag anything that may be of concern to a halal diet.

Ingredients and excipients that raises a concern, but the source is clear

The following ingredients and excipients raise a concern for Muslims.

If your medicine contains any, click on the names in the list to find out more about their permissibility, as the ruling can vary depending on the school of thought.

Because the sources are clear (e.g. animal, insect), there is nothing further to clarify from the pharmaceutical company and you can proceed directly to the ruling.

💡 Tip: You can use our ‘checker tool‘ to input any names of ingredients, excipients and/or production cell lines and our checker will flag anything of concern to a halal diet. This can help you avoid missing anything in your medicine that might raise a concern.

  • Pancreatin (animal derived-porcine)-we do not have a page for this
  • Chinese hamster ovary cells
  • Carmine. Alternative names of carmine you may find are:
    • E120
    • Natural red 4
    • Crimson lake
    • CI 75470
    • Cochineal extract
    • Cochineal
    • Carminic acid 

Ingredients and excipients that raise a concern and require further clarity to determine permissibility

The following are common ingredients and excipients that raise a concern for Muslims.

For these ingredients and excipients, information such as the source (e.g., animal or plant) helps determine permissibility.
As this kind of information is not usually stated, you may want to contact the pharmaceutical company using our email template to clarify and help determine the ruling.

Click on the ingredient or excipient name to find out more about their permissibility.

💡 Tip: You can use our ‘checker tool‘ to input any names of ingredients, excipients and/or production cell lines and our checker will flag anything of concern to a halal diet. This can help you avoid missing anything in your medicine that might raise a concern.

  • Collagen
  • Conjugated oestrogen
  • Ethanol (other names include: alcohol and ethyl alcohol. Other ethanol containing excipients to look out for are dehydrated alcohol and industrial ethylated spirits.)
  • Gelatin (other names include gelatine, gelatin EP etc)
  • Porcine Insulin*
  • Lactose and rennet (please note you will not find ‘rennet’ in your product information leaflet-see our page on lactose to understand more)
  • Magnesium stearate (this includes stearates e.g. sterate, calcium stearate etc.)
  • Polysorbate ( e.g. polysorbate 20, polysorbate 80 etc.)
  • Stearic acid (this includes stearates e.g. stearate, calcium stearate etc.)

* most insulin available are from halal sources, and on most occasions, you can identify the source by the name. However, there may be occasions where you may want to clarify the source. Read our guide on insulin for more details.

Excipients that are considered permissible

The following excipients are considered permissible for Muslims. You can click on the excipients to learn more.

Please note, this list does not contain every permissible excipient. What matters most is recognizing which ingredients or excipients may raise concerns (i.e. those that are in the above two categories).

If you are still concerned about any ingredients or excipients that do not appear on this list, you can use our free ebook to provide more clarity.

💡 Tip: You can use our ‘checker tool‘ to input any names of ingredients, excipients and/or production cell lines and our checker will flag anything of concern to a halal diet. This can help you avoid missing anything in your medicine that might raise a concern.

Click to see other common excipients:

(Click here to find our more about the excipients below)

  • hexylene glycol
  • hydroxypropylcellulose
  • hypromellose (HMPC)
  • indigo carmine
  • macrogol (polyethylene glycol)
  • pregelatinized starch
  • propylene glycol
Click to see other common alcohols such as:

(Click here to find our more about the excipients below)

  • benzyl alcohol
  • benzyl benzoate
  • butyl alcohol (butanol)
  • cetostearyl alcohol
  • ethyl hydroxybenzoate
  • industial methylated spirits
  • isopropyl alcohol
  • methyl parahydroxybenzoate (methylparaben)
  • parahydroxybenzoate (parabens)
  • phenyethyl alcohol
  • polyvinyl alcohol
  • propyl hydroxybenxoate (propylparaben)
  • propyl parahydroxybenzoate
  • sodium benzoate

Ingredients and excipients that raises a concern, but the source is clear

The following ingredients and excipients raise a concern for Muslims. If your medicine contains any, click on the names in the list to find out more about their permissibility, as the ruling can vary depending on the school of thought.
Because the sources are clear (e.g. animal, insect), there is nothing further to clarify from the pharmaceutical company and you can proceed directly to the ruling. 💡 Tip: You can use our ‘checker tool’ to input any names of ingredients, excipients and/or production cell lines and our checker will flag anything of concern to a halal diet. This can help you avoid missing anything in your medicine that might raise a concern.
  • -Pancreatin (animal derived-porcine)-we do not have a page for this
  • –Chinese hamster ovary cells
  • –Carmine. Alternative names of carmine you may find are:
    • E120
    • Natural red 4
    • Crimson lake
    • CI 75470
    • Cochineal extract
    • Cochineal
    • Carminic acid 

Ingredients and excipients that raise a concern and require further clarity to determine permissibility

The following are common ingredients and excipients that raise a concern for Muslims.

For these ingredients and excipients, information such as the source (e.g., animal or plant) helps determine permissibility.
As this kind of information is not usually stated, you may want to contact the pharmaceutical company using our email template to clarify and help determine the ruling.

Click on the ingredient or excipient name to find out more about their permissibility.

💡 Tip: You can use our ‘checker tool‘ to input any names of ingredients, excipients and/or production cell lines and our checker will flag anything of concern to a halal diet. This can help you avoid missing anything in your medicine that might raise a concern.

  • Collagen
  • Conjugated oestrogen
  • Ethanol (other names include: alcohol and ethyl alcohol. Other ethanol containing excipients to look out for are dehydrated alcohol and industrial ethylated spirits.)
  • Gelatin (other names include gelatine, gelatin EP etc)
  • Porcine Insulin*
  • Lactose and rennet (please note you will not find ‘rennet’ in your product information leaflet-see our page on lactose to understand more).
  • Magnesium stearate (this includes stearates e.g. sterate, calcium stearate etc.)
  • Polysorbate ( e.g. polysorbate 20, polysorbate 80 etc.)
  • Stearic acid (this includes stearates e.g. stearate, calcium stearate etc.)

* most insulin available are from halal sources, and on most occasions, you can identify the source by the name. However, there may be occasions where you may want to clarify the source. Read our guide on insulin for more details.

Excipients that are considered permissible

The following excipients are considered permissible for Muslims, you can click on the excipients below to learn more. Please note, this list does not contain every permissible ingredient. What matters most is recognizing which ingredients or excipients may raise concerns (i.e. those that are in the above two categories).

If you are still concerned about any ingredients or excipients that do not appear on this list, you can use our free ebook to provide more clarity.

💡 Tip: You can use our ‘checker tool‘ to input any names of ingredients, excipients and/or production cell lines and our checker will flag anything of concern to a halal diet. This can help you avoid missing anything in your medicine that might raise a concern.

Other common excipients:

(Click here to find our more about the excipients below)

  • hexylene glycol
  • hydroxypropylcellulose
  • hypromellose (HMPC)
  • indigo carmine
  • macrogol (polyethylene glycol)
  • pregelatinized starch
  • propylene glycol
Other common alcohols such as:

(Click here to find our more about the excipients below)

  • benzyl alcohol
  • benzyl benzoate
  • butyl alcohol (butanol)
  • cetostearyl alcohol
  • ethyl hydroxybenzoate
  • industial methylated spirits
  • isopropyl alcohol
  • methyl parahydroxybenzoate (methylparaben)
  • parahydroxybenzoate (parabens)
  • phenyethyl alcohol
  • polyvinyl alcohol
  • propyl hydroxybenxoate (propylparaben)
  • propyl parahydroxybenzoate
  • sodium benzoate

⚠️ Important information for patients

  • Always take or use your medicine(s) exactly as directed or prescribed by your healthcare professional (HCP), such as your doctor or pharmacist
  • Do not stop, delay, change or alter the way you take or use your medicine(s) without first discussing it with the HCP who prescribed or supplied it to you
  • Always consult your HCP if you have any questions or before making any decisions about your treatment
  • For Islamic guidance, seek advice from your local Imam or a trusted Islamic scholar – ideally someone with relevant knowledge and expertise in the fiqh (Islamic rulings) of medicines
  • Use the information gathered to make an informed decision together with your HCP and, if needed, your local Imam or trusted Islamic scholar

Disclaimer

  • This resource is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute clinical, medical, or professional healthcare advice and should not replace individual clinical judgement or qualified religious guidance
  • Always consult your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional regarding your own medical conditions or for advice on treatment options
  • Healthcare professionals remain fully responsible and accountable for decisions made within their own scope of practice.
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