Stearic acid in medicines
This resource on stearic acid is for the Muslim community (including patients, carers, parents and members of the public). Healthcare professionals may also find this resource useful when supporting people with gathering and understanding information about their medicine(s).
It highlights the issues of stearic acid use in medicines that you should be aware of. There is also a table to help you understand if stearic acid is halāl or harām, according to each of the four Sunni schools of thought.
What is stearic acid?
Stearic acid is a saturated fat.1
Stearic acid can be sourced from plants and animals: 1, 2
How stearic acid is used in medicines
Stearic acid is an excipient used to make medicinal tablets, capsules and powders.2
Stearic acid is used as:
- A lubricant in capsules and tablets – to prevent the ingredients inside the capsule from sticking to each other and to the machine used to make them
- A binder in tablets
- An emulsifier and solubilizer in topical creams and ointments
- A release agent – to delay the breakdown and absorption of medicines until it reaches the correct area of the bowel.2
How the use of stearic acid in medicines affects the Muslim community
The Muslim community needs to be aware that if stearic acid is used in medicines, then it may be derived from animal sources, such as cows that were not Islamically slaughtered, or from other harām sources such as pigs. Most of the stearic acid used today in medicines are from plant sources and are unlikely to be from animal sources. However, it is best to check.
Cross contamination may also occur during the manufacturing process if stearic acid is processed in facilities that handle pork-derived materials. Therefore, it is important to check for halāl-certification to ensure halāl-compliant manufacturing. However, it is also important to note that information regarding cross-contamination with harām sources (e.g. pork and alcohol) is not always readily available from manufacturers.
It is important for the Muslim community to:
- Check if your medicine contains stearic acid and clarify the source
- Check for halāl-certification.
To find out this information, see section on How do I find out if a medicine contains stearic acid?. You may need to directly contact the manufacturer of your medicine to find out the source of stearic acid and for halāl-certification (manufacturers may have limited information). You can also speak to your local pharmacist for advice and support.
Is all stearic acid halāl or harām?
The table below summarises the ruling of stearic acid according to the four Sunni schools3:
| Source | Ḥanafī | Mālikī | Shāfiʿī | Ḥanbalī |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ✅ Halāl | ✅ Halāl | ✅ Halāl | ✅ Halāl |
| Bovine (cow) | ✅ Halāl – if derived from a cow that was Islamically slaughtered. ❌Harām – if derived from a cow that was not Islamically slaughtered. | ✅ Halāl – if derived from a cow that was Islamically slaughtered. ❌Harām – if derived from a cow that was not Islamically slaughtered. | ✅ Halāl – if derived from a cow that was Islamically slaughtered. ❌Harām – if derived from a cow that was not Islamically slaughtered. | ✅ Halāl – if derived from a cow that was Islamically slaughtered. ❌Harām – if derived from a cow that was not Islamically slaughtered. |
| Porcine (pig) | ❌Harām | ❌Harām | ❌Harām | ❌Harām |
In summary, according to the four schools of thought, stearic acid derived from porcine is harām. Stearic acid derived from plant sources is halāl . Stearic acid derived from bovine is halāl only if the cow was Islamically slaughtered, otherwise it is harām.
Halāl alternatives and substitutes
If you are seeking halāl products, look for halāl-certified bovine or plant-based sources of stearic acid (where available and possible).
How do I find out if a medicine contains stearic acid?
You can check if a medicine contains stearic acid using the relevant product patient information leaflet (PIL) or summary of product characteristics (SPC) available on the electronic medicines compendium (emc) website. However, you may need to contact the manufacturer to find out the source of stearic acid and for halāl -certification. You may also find our resource on ‘How to find out if a medicine contains harām ingredients or excipients’ useful. If you are still unsure if your medicine contains stearic acid, speak to your local healthcare professional such as your local pharmacist.
It is important to remember that even if a medicine contains a harām ingredient or excipient, it does not always mean it is prohibited to take. If you find out a medicine contains harām ingredients or excipients from harām sources, then see our guide on ‘What to do if a medicine contains harām ingredients or excipients’. The guide includes the conditions of when it is acceptable to take a medicine that contains harām ingredients or excipients from harām sources. It may also help you make informed decisions on the next steps in discussions with your healthcare professional. If you are still not sure if it is permissible to take your medicine, then speak to your local Imam or trusted Islamic scholar (ideally who has relevant knowledge and expertise in the Fiqh of medicines).
Summary
- Stearic acid derived from porcine is harām
- Stearic acid derived from plant sources is halāl – most of the stearic acid used today in medicines are of plant source
- Stearic acid derived from bovine is halāl only if the cow was Islamically slaughtered , otherwise it is harām
- You can check if the medicine you are taking contains stearic acid using the PIL or SPC. If you are unsure, then speak to your local pharmacist
- You can check cross contamination with the manufacturers and if halāl-certification is available for the medicine, to ensure halāl-compliant manufacturing (manufacturers may have limited information)
- If you are unsure if your medicine is permissible to take, then speak to your local Imam or trusted Islamic scholar (ideally who has relevant knowledge and expertise in the Fiqh of medicines)
- If you are seeking halāl products, look for plant-based stearic acid or halāl-certified bovine sources (where available and possible).
References and further reading
- Drugs.com (2018). Stearic Acid. [online] Drugs.com. Available at: https://www.drugs.com/inactive/stearic-acid-77.html. ↩︎
- Pharma Excipients. (2024). Introduction to Stearic Acid as a pharmaceutical Excipient. [online] Available at: https://www.pharmaexcipients.com/stearic-acid-excipient/. ↩︎
- Islamic Perspective on Stearic Acid by Shaykh Dr Rafaqat Rashid ↩︎