Ash-Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-Uthaymeen rahimahullah, was asked the following question:

وجدنا بعض المنشورات تقول: إن بعض الصابون يصنع من شحم الخنزير، فما رأيكم؟

Question:

We came across some leaflets that state that verily some soap products are made from pig fat. So what is your view (on this)?

أرى أن الأصل الحل، في كل ما خلق الله لنا في الأرض، لقول الله -تعالى-:﴿ هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ لَكُمْ مَا فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعاً ﴾[البقرة:29] فإذا ادعى أحد أن هذا حرام لنجاسته، أو غيرها فعليه الدليل، وأما أن نصدق بكل الأوهام، وكل ما يُقال؛ فهذا لا أصل له. فإذا قال: إن هذه الصابونة من شحم خنزير قلنا له: هات الإثبات، فإذا ثبت أن معظمها شحم خنزير أو دهن خنزير؛ وجب علينا تجنبها.

Answer:

My opinion is that the original ruling is permissibility in everything that Allah has created for us on the earth due to the verse:

“He it is Who created for you all that is on earth”

[2:29]

Therefore, if anyone claims that this is haraam upon the basis it is impure or other than that, then it is upon him to bring his proof. As for if we believe in all these assumptions and believe in everything that is said, then this has no foundation (i.e in the religion). If he were to say this soap is made from pig fat, then we would say to him “provide for us what proves this”. Therefore, if it becomes established that the majority of it (i.e the soap) is produced from pig fat or pig oil, then it becomes necessary to avoid it.

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Translated by

AbdulFattaah Bin Uthman
Abu Fajr

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And here is another verdict of the Shaykh rahimahullah concerning certain medical creams which contain pig extracts.

He, rahimahullah, mentioned it is permissible to use if there is a need for it and if it is established that it is beneficial and not harmful along with the condition that a person completely washes it off prior to praying.

So if a Muslim is sure, or almost sure, that pig’s meat, or its extracts are used in a particular food, medicine, toothpaste which will be eaten or drank and it was not something that evaporated and transformed to a different substance, then it is upon the person to avoid it.

Mentioned by

AbdulFattaah Bin Uthman
Abu Fajr