This information resource can help you understand how gelatin (also known as gelatine) is used in medicines, the concerns around its use in medicines for the Muslim community, and whether its use in medicines is halāl (permissible) or harām (prohibited) in Islam. 

This resource is for the Muslim community (including patients, carers, parents and members of the public). All healthcare professionals (HCPs), their teams and anyone involved in delivering care and support (across all care settings) to Muslim individuals, may also find it useful. It can be used to support person-centred and informed decision-making around taking medicines that align with an individual’s Islamic values and beliefs. 

Gelatin

Gelatin is a protein from collagen. It is extracted through a process called partial hydrolysis. Sources include:¹

How gelatin is used in medicines

Gelatin has gelling, stabilizing and thickening properties and is mainly used in medicines to make the following:^1,2

Why this is important 

For the Muslim community

For the Muslim community, it is important to check if your medicine contains gelatin and clarify its source to help you determine if it is Islamically permissible to take. 80% of the gelatin used in Europe is of porcine (pig) origin³. Cross-contamination may also occur during the manufacturing process if gelatin is processed in facilities that handle harām sources (e.g. pork/alcohol). Therefore, it is important to check for halāl-certification to ensure halāl-compliant manufacturing. To find out if a medicine contains gelatin, the source of gelatine and for halāl-certification, see the section on ‘Checking medicine information’.

The permissibility of gelatin in Islamic law depends on the source and how it is processed. There is Islamic scholarly debate around the concept of transformation (istihāla) with regards to gelatin. The main question is whether the process of turning animal-derived collagen into gelatin sufficiently transforms it into a new and legally pure (ṭāhir) substance, making it halāl, even if it originates from a harām animal (e.g. pigs or cattle that is not Islamically slaughtered)⁴. Some Islamic scholars argue that transformation (istihāla) does not take place for gelatin sourced from porcine (pigs) or an animal that is not Islamically slaughtered. This is because the chemical change it undergoes during the manufacturing process is not sufficient for it to be classed as a completely new substance for it to be halāl ⁵. For further information on istihāla and permissibility of gelatin, see sections on ‘Is gelatin halāl or harām?‘, ‘Difference of opinions’ and ‘What is istihāla (transformation)?‘

For HCPs

For HCPs and anyone involved in delivering care and support, it is important to:

• Understand which ingredients and/or excipients in medicines may be a concern for practising Muslims and why – for further information, see our resources under ‘Ingredients and excipients in medicines‘
• Have open discussions with individuals about their personal values or beliefs that may relate to their care and support where possible – e.g. some individuals may wish to avoid certain ingredients/excipients in medicines due to religious beliefs, others may not be as practising or have the same beliefs, so it is important to ask
• Discuss ideas, concerns and expectations – e.g. during consultations, you may be asked to help individuals to understand whether certain ingredients/excipients are present in their medicine(s), its source, and whether it is likely to be considered permissible in Islam/suitable for a halāl diet
  • To find out how to check if a medicine contains harām ingredients and/or excipients, see section on ‘Checking medicine information’.
  • For further information on the conditions of when it is acceptable for a practising Muslim individual to take/use a medicine that contains harām ingredients and/or excipients, is derived from harām sources, or where there is cross-contamination with harām sources, see our resource on ‘What to do if a medicine contains harām ingredients and/or excipients’
• Respect and support individuals in making informed decisions about their treatment
• Understand you may be asked to explore alternative formulations that meet the individual’s religious requirements (where available), alternative companies that make the medicine without a particular excipient/ingredient (where possible) or alternative treatment options for the condition (where clinically appropriate)
  • HCPs may find the Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS) resource on ‘Searching for presence or absence of an excipient in medicines’ useful to help them find alternative halāl medicines that don’t contain certain ingredients or excipients. Further information can be found on the SPS website
  • There may be situations where you cannot prescribe/supply an alternative halāl medicine which you may need to explain to the individual – for further information, see sections on ‘Hardship begets facility’ and ‘Limitations on prescribing an alternative halāl medicine‘.

Checking medicine information

You can check if a medicine contains gelatin using the relevant product patient information leaflet (PIL) or summary of product characteristics (SPC) which is available on the electronic medicines compendium (emc) website. You may also find our resource on ‘How to find out if a medicine contains harām ingredients and/or excipients’ useful. If you are still unsure if a medicine contains gelatin, speak to your local pharmacist as they are the experts in medicines. 

You may need to contact the manufacturer to find out other information such as source and halāl-certification. Please note that information regarding cross-contamination or potential contact with harām sources (e.g pork/alcohol) is not always readily available from manufacturers. Information about transformation is also not available in the SPC or PIL and manufacturers of medicines may not be able to provide sufficient information needed for Islamic scholars to determine if istihāla (transformation) has occurred. Therefore, we would recommend you speak to your trusted Islamic scholar to see if they already have an opinion or criteria on the matter of istihāla.

It is important to remember that even if you find out a medicine contains possible harām ingredients and/or excipients, is derived from harām sources, or that there is cross-contamination with harām sources, this does not always mean it is prohibited to take. For further information, see our resource on ‘What to do if a medicine contains harām ingredients and/or excipients’. It includes the conditions of when it is acceptable to take a medicine in these circumstances. It can also be used to support person-centred discussions between individuals and HCPs, and help make informed decisions around taking medicines that are both clinically appropriate and align with an individual’s Islamic values and beliefs.

Is all gelatin halāl or harām?

The table below summarises which sources of gelatin are halāl and harām for each school of thought:⁶

Source	Ḥanafī	Mālikī	Shāfiʿī	Ḥanbalī
Fish	✅ Halāl	✅ Halāl	✅ Halāl	✅ Halāl
Plant	✅ Halāl	✅ Halāl	✅ Halāl	✅ Halāl
Cow (Islamically slaughtered) (including its skin, bones, connective tissue)	✅ Halāl	✅ Halāl	✅ Halāl	✅ Halāl
Cow (non- Islamically slaughtered) (including its skin, connective tissue)	❌Majority consider harām to consume*	❌Majority consider harām to consume*	❌Majority consider harām to consume*	❌Majority consider harām to consume*
Cow hide (non- Islamically slaughtered animal that has undergone the tanning process**)	❌Majority consider harām to consume* Note: Tanned cow hide/skin is considered legally pure (ṭāhir) and halāl to use generally (e.g. shoes and furniture) but not to consume.	❌Majority consider harām to consume*	❌Majority consider harām to consume* Note: Tanned cow hide/skin is considered legally pure (ṭāhir) and halāl to use generally (e.g. shoes and furniture) but not to consume.	❌Majority consider harām to consume*
Dry bone of any halāl animal e.g. cow or sheep (non- Islamically slaughtered)	✅ Halāl Some scholars say this would be permissible (because there is no blood in dry bone).	❌Harām Mālikī scholars consider bones legally impure (najis) unless taken from an Islamically slaughtered animal.	❌Harām	❌Harām Ḥanbalī scholars consider bones legally impure (najis) unless taken from an Islamically slaughtered animal.
Sheep (Islamically slaughtered)	✅ Halāl	✅ Halāl	✅ Halāl	✅ Halāl
Sheep (non- Islamically slaughtered)	❌Majority consider harām to consume*	❌Majority consider harām to consume*	❌Majority consider harām to consume*	❌Majority consider harām to consume*
Pig	❌Harām*	❌Harām*	❌Harām*	❌Harām*

Contemporary rulings & fatwas on gelatin

Here are some other fatwas on gelatin:⁴

Islamic authority	Porcine (pig) gelatin	Bovine (cow) gelatin (not Islamically slaughtered)	Bovine (cow) gelatin (Islamically slaughtered)
Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America (AMJA)	❌Harām	❌Harām	✅ Halāl
Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah (Egypt)	✅ Halāl  (based on transformation), varied opinion	✅ Halāl (based on transformation)	✅ Halāl
European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR)	✅ Halāl  (based on transformation), varied opinion	✅ Halāl (based on transformation)	✅ Halāl
Islamic Food & Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA)	❌Harām	❌Harām	✅ Halāl
Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI)	❌Harām	❌Harām	✅ Halāl
International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA)	❌Harām	❌Harām	✅ Halāl
The Islamic Fiqh Academy of India (Resolution 66.1)	✅ Halāl (based on transformation), varied opinion, but majority Ifta’s in Indo-Pak subcontinent consider it harām)	✅ Halāl	✅ Halāl
JAKIM (Malaysia)	❌Harām	❌Harām	✅ Halāl
Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) – Islamic Religious Council of Singapore	❌Harām	❌Harām	✅ Halāl
Muslim Judicial Council (South Africa)	❌Harām	❌Harām	✅ Halāl
Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Ifta’	❌Harām	❌Harām	✅ Halāl

Difference of opinions

There is a difference of opinion amongst Islamic scholars on whether gelatin sourced from animals, such as sheep and cows, that are not Islamically slaughtered is halāl: 

• If the source of gelatin is from hide and undergoes the tanning process – some Islamic scholars say this would be halāl to use generally (e.g. for making footwear and furniture) as it is considered legally pure (ṭāhir), but would be harām to consume.⁵
• If the source of gelatin is from dry bone – some Islamic scholars say this would be halāl to consume (because there is no blood in dry bone).⁵

There is a difference of opinion amongst Islamic scholars regarding whether animal gelatin undergoes transformation (istihāla). However, most of the contemporary Islamic scholars declare animal gelatin as impermissible (harām) because: 

• It is difficult to establish the source of gelatin – it is usually derived from pig or an animal that is not Islamically slaughtered (dhabīḥah)⁴
• The chemical change that takes place during the manufacturing processes of gelatin is considered insignificant – the collagen in porcine (pig) (i.e. the former substance) is almost chemically identical to gelatin (i.e. the latter substance). ^{5 8 9 10}

The Muslim community should follow their trusted Islamic scholars and use gelatin from halāl-certified sources to ensure their medicines align with Islamic guidelines. If you are still unsure if a medicine is permissible to take, speak to your local Imam or trusted Islamic scholar (ideally who has relevant knowledge and expertise in the Fiqh of medicines).

What is istihāla (transformation)?

Halāl alternatives

If you are seeking halāl products, look for halāl-certified bovine, plant-based (e.g. pectin and agar agar) or fish sources of gelatin (where available and possible). Alternatively, you could look for formulations that are gelatin free (where available and possible).

References

1. Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Import of gelatine and collagen for human consumption – Import Information Note (IIN) BLGC/1
   https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gelatine-and-collagen-for-human-consumption-import-information-notes/import-of-gelatine-and-collagen-for-human-consumption-import-information-note-iin-blgc1  ↩︎
2. UK Health Security agency Vaccines and porcine gelatine
   https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vaccines-and-porcine-gelatine/vaccines-and-porcine-gelatine  ↩︎
3. Yasemin Demirhan, Pelin Ulca, Hamide Z. Senyuva, Detection of porcine DNA in gelatine and gelatine-containing processed food products—Halal/Kosher authentication, Meat Science, Volume 90, Issue 3, 2012, Pages 686-689, Accessed from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0309174011003512 ↩︎
4.  Guidelines for the Permissibility of Gelatin in Islamic Jurisprudence by Shaykh Dr Rafaqat Rashid ↩︎
5.  Al Balagh Academy Fiqh of Other Haram Ingredients and Excipients by Mufti Sarfaraz ↩︎
6.  Comprehensive List of 40 Animal-Derived Excipients in Medication by Shaykh Dr Rafaqat Rashid ↩︎
7.  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 ↩︎
8.  Encyclopaedia of food colour additives, Burdock (1997) vol. 1 pg.1165 ↩︎
9.  Encyclopaedia of Pharmaceutical technology, J. Swarbick (2007) pg. 1883 ↩︎
10.  Hides and Skin for the tanning industry, Leach (1995) pg. 65 ↩︎
11. Siddiqi, Nasrullah. (2020). Comparative Study of Istihalah Shariah and Chemical Changes. WHS 2020. 89-94. Accessed 27.1.2025 from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354339446_Comparative_Study_of_Istihalah_Shariah_And_Chemical_Changes ↩︎
12. Jamaludin, Mohammad & Ramli, Mohd Anuar & Hashim, D.M. & Ab Rahman, Suhaimi. (2012). Fiqh Istihalah: Integration of Science and Islamic Law. Revelation and Science. 2. 49-55. Accessed 27.1.2025 from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2014957/ ↩︎

Further reading

Note: Some organisations may have multiple websites or online representations. The links below are based on the most referenced official sites.

• Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America (AMJA) – an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization established to provide Islamic jurisprudential guidance to Muslims living in the west 
• Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah (Egypt) – Egypt’s official Islamic legal research centre, issuing fatwas and providing guidance on Islamic law 
• European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR) The 23rd Ordinary Session of The European Council for Fatwa and Research final statements – ECFR provides collective juristic opinions (fatwas) to address the needs of Muslims in Europe, facilitating their integration while preserving their Islamic identity
• Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA) Gelatin: Manufacturing, Uses, Health Affects, and Issues of Halal/Haram – IFANCA is a global leader in halal certification, providing services to industries and consumers to ensure compliance with halal standards
• Indonesian Ulema Council (Majelis Ulama Indonesia – MUI) – MUI is the top Islamic clerical body in Indonesia, responsible for issuing fatwas and providing guidance on Islamic matters to Indonesian Muslims
• International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) Transmutation and Dilution of Additives in Food and Medication – IIFA is a universal scholarly organization and a subsidiary organ of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
• The Islamic Fiqh Academy of India – deliberates on contemporary issues to provide juristic decisions relevant to the Indian Muslim community
• Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) – the Malaysian government agency responsible for Islamic affairs, including halal certification and the issuance of fatwas
• Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) – Islamic Religious Council of Singapore – MUIS oversees the administration of Muslim affairs in Singapore, including halal certification, mosque management, and issuing fatwas
• Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) (South Africa) – MJC serves the Muslim community in South Africa by providing religious guidance, halal certification, and dispute resolution 
• Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta (Saudi Arabia) – official Saudi body responsible for issuing fatwas and conducting Islamic research under the supervision of the Council of Senior Scholars.