Collagen in medicines

Collagen in medicines

This resource explains the use of collagen in medicines and outlines the Islamic rulings on its permissibility.

Table Of Contents

What is collagen and how is it used in medicines?
🕌 Islamic ruling on collagen
💭Did you know?
⚠️ Important information for patients
FAQs
Disclaimer
References and further resources

What is collagen and how is it used in medicines?

Collagen is a key protein found in animals and is a vital component of connective tissues which helps to strengthen structures such as bones, muscles and skin.¹
Collagen can be sourced from the skin, bones and cartilage from animals such as cows, pigs and chickens. It can also be sourced from the scales and skin of fish.²
Collagen can be used in drug delivery systems such as tablets for protein delivery and gel formulations for sustained drug delivery. Collagen is also marketed in the form of dietary supplements for joints, hair, skin and nails.³

🕌 Islamic ruling on collagen

Source
Bovine (cow) collagen from dead Islamically slaughtered cows	✅permissible for consumption (Hanafi,Maliki, Shafiʿi, and Hanbali)
Bovine (cow) collagen from bone in dead un-Islamically slaughtered cows	✅permissible for consumption according to the Hanafi school of thought ❌Haram to consume according the Maliki, Shafiʿi, Hanbali schools of thought
Bovine (cow) collagen from other than bone and hide (ie tallow/cartilage/tendon) in dead un-Islamically slaughtered cows	❌Haram to consume according to all four schools of thought (Hanafi,Maliki, Shafiʿi, Hanbali)
Bovine (cow) tanned or chemically treated skin/hide**	❌Haram to consume (Hanafi,Maliki, Shafiʿi and Hanbali)
Porcine (pig)	❌Haram to consume (Hanafi,Maliki, Shafiʿi, and Hanbali)
Fish	✅Halal, permissible for consumption (Hanafi,Maliki, Shafiʿi and Hanbali)
Chicken- Islamically slaughtered	✅Halal, permissible for consumption (Hanafi,Maliki, Shafiʿi and Hanbali)
Chicken -non Islamically slaughtered	❌ Haram to consume according to (Hanafi* Maliki, Shafiʿi, Hanbali) *Hanafi: non-Islamically slaughtered chicken is haram to consume except from the bone.

The permissibility of collagen is dependent upon which animal the collagen is sourced from.

✅All four schools of thought (Hanafi,Maliki, Shafiʿi and Hanbali) agree the following are permissible for consumption:

fish collagen,
collagen from chicken that has been Islamically slaughtered and
collagen from bovine (cow) that has been Islamically slaughtered.

❌All four schools of thought agree the following are haram for consumption:

Bovine (cow) collagen from other than bone and hide (ie tallow/cartilage/tendon) in dead un-Islamically slaughtered cows,
Bovine (cow) tanned** or chemically treated skin/hide and
collagen from porcine (pig).

The differences of opinion occur with Bovine (cow) collagen from bone in dead un-Islamically slaughtered cows, where all schools of thought consider it haram except Hanafi which considers it halal.

Regarding collagen from non-Islamically slaughtered chicken, there is agreement from all four schools of thought that it is haram to consume with the exception of bone according to Hanafi. ²

For a more detailed explanation regarding the reasons behind these rulings, click the button below.

Collagen: additional Islamic information

**Tanning process – the process that treats the collagen in animal skin and hides with a chemical agent to make leather.⁴

If you are unsure about taking or using medicines containing ingredients and/or excipients from haram sources, seek guidance from a practising Muslim HCP such as a pharmacist or doctor. Alternatively, consult your local Imam or a trusted Islamic scholar, ideally one who has knowledge and expertise in the fiqh (Islamic rulings) of medicine.

💭Did you know?

Even if a medicine contains an ingredient/excipient from a haram source, it may still be permitted in certain cases. Here are three Islamic maxims (principles):

Medical necessity (daruah): Under this principle, if there is a medical necessity, such as an emergency situation, or where there is a strong chance the individual’s health will deteriorate, and if no viable halal alternative is available, then it is permitted to take a medicine containing collagen derived from haram sources, until a viable halal alternative becomes available.
An impermissible medicine becomes permissible if five conditions are fully met (click here to learn what the five conditions are).
Hardship begets facility (al-mashaqqa tajlib at-taysir): Under this principle, if applying religious practice becomes too burdensome or creates hardship, then leniency can be applied to ease it (Click here to read more). If you have tried your best to seek an alternative halal medicine and it becomes too difficult for you, this principle allows you to take/use the medicine you have been prescribed/supplied.

⚠️ 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.

FAQs

How can I check if a medicine contains collagen and find out its source?

(See our resource on ‘How to check if a medicine contains haram ingredients/ excipients’ (link) for help with the below).

-If you are a patient, look for “collagen” in the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) which can be found in the medicine packaging. Ask your pharmacist for help if needed– they are medicine experts.

-If you are a healthcare professional, you can use the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) which is available on the electronic medicines compendium (emc) website.

Finding out the source:
Excipient sources are not usually public, so you may want to contact the pharmaceutical company to confirm the source of collagen.
-You can use our email template and the company’s contact details provided in the PIL or SmPC to make an inquiry.

The collagen in my medicine is derived from a haram source, what should I do?

HalalMed’s resource on ‘What to do if a medicine contains haram ingredients/ excipients’ link can help guide you on the steps you may wish to take if you find out your medicine contains collagen that is derived from a haram source. It includes when it may still be acceptable to use medicines containing ingredients and /or excipients from haram sources, expanding on the points mentioned in the ‘Did you know?’ section above.

As a healthcare professional, how can I support a Muslim patient regarding this?

For HCPs and anyone involved in delivering care, it is important to support Muslim patients through open, person-centred discussions about their personal values and beliefs relating to their care.It is also important to help patients make informed decisions around their treatment and medicines that are both clinically appropriate and align with their Islamic values and beliefs.

HCPs may find our resource on ‘Supporting Muslim patients in consultations – a guide for healthcare professionals‘ helpful in facilitating these discussions with understanding and sensitivity.

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.

References and further resources

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (2021, January 6). Collagen. The Nutrition Source. Retrieved August 18, 2025, from https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/collagen/ ↩︎
Rashid, R. (n.d.). Islamic rulings on the ḥalāl and ḥarām in medicine and food: Principles and applications. Al Balāgh Academy Publication Papers. ↩︎
Lee, C. H., Singla, A., & Lee, Y. (2001). Biomedical applications of collagen. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 221(1–2), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0378-5173(01)00691-3 ↩︎
Benedict Nnachi Alum (2024). Tannins and Leather: Chemistry, Tanning Processes, and Environmental Impacts. NEWPORT INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC AND EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCES, 5(3):33-37. https://doi.org/10.59298/NIJSES/2024/10.5.333337 ↩︎