Question:
Is it ok to eat something halal that was fried in the same oil as the haram meat?
Answer:
The Lajnah mentioned that only if you are sure that the halal food was fried/cooked in oil used for haram does it become impermissible as follows:
The second and third questions of Fatwa no. 7768
Q 2: Sometimes I eat at the student cafeteria and of course, I avoid the Haram (prohibited) foods. I sometimes order fried potatoes or eggs. However, one time I saw the cook frying eggs mixed, most probably, with pork in the same pan. Is it then unlawful for me to eat such eggs and potatoes?
A: Only if you are sure the food was fried in fat or oil in which pork has been fried will it be impermissible for you to eat it.
Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’
And Allah knows Best
Answered by
Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
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Question:
Is it one’s duty to find out if it is cooked in haraam oil?
Answer:
The Lajnah also answered a question similar to this regarding vegetables, potatoes, and fish that are fried and [in which it is mentioned] that there is suspicion that they could be cooked in lard. They said that the origin is that theses foods are lawful until proven that they have been cooked in haram oil.
The third question of Fatwa no. 20811
Q 3: Mostly, foods such as potatoes, fish and the like are fried in vegetable oils. However, some Muslims here doubt that lard may be used for this purpose and it is difficult to verify this. What is Your Eminence’s advice in this regard?
A: The basic ruling is that all kinds of food are lawful unless there is evidence proving that they contain lard or one of its derivatives. Accordingly, foods which are verified not to have any are lawful and mere suspicion is not considered.
May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.
Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’
As for the oils used in fast foods, most use canola oil or corn-based oils. As MacDonalds says on their website:
What kind of oil do you cook with?
We use a canola blend cooking oil when preparing our fried menu items including — French Fries, Hash Browns, Chicken McNuggets, the Filet-O-Fish and crispy chicken sandwiches.
So from that end, we do not necessarily need to ask because they already clarified that they use these oils unless we have proof that they use pork-based oils or other haraam oils. This is because it is difficult to know as the questioner mentioned to the Lajnah.
And Allah knows best
Answered by
Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
