Is Kosher Gelatin Halal?

Gelatin is used in many various food products which we consume today. Mostly all the candies have gelatin which means our kids start having gelatin from a young age. The gelatin used especially for Jews is called Kosher gelatin. It’s important for Muslims to know if Kosher Gletain is halal or haram.

Kosher gelatin means the animal used to manufacture gelatin was slaughtered according to Jewish laws. Muslims consider slaughtering by Jews halal and permissible which makes Kosher gelatin halal.

What Is Kosher Gelatin?

Gelatin is usually made from animal parts. The animal parts are processed and gelatin is derived from them. Gelatin is used in medicines, yogurt, and many candies even in marshmallows.

Kosher gelatin means that the gelatin is suitable for Jews. Kosher gelatin needs the slaughtering of animals according to Jewish laws. Eating pork is also not allowed in the Jewish religion.

The slaughtering method of animals is the same as Muslims and even they can’t drink the blood of the animal so they drain it out completely. It’s almost a carbon copy of the Muslim slaughtering ritual.

Muslims consider Kosher as halal as all these factors make the animal halal or permissible for Muslims as well.

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Is Kosher Gelatin Halal?

There are many factors that make anything halal for Muslims. We will be focusing on all.

Firstly anything Muslims consume should be declared permitted or halal in the Quran or Hadith. Gelatin is derived from animal bones and other animal parts. The animal here needs to be halal of course the gelatin needs a halal verdict. According to the Jews, they also eat all the animals which are halal according to Muslims.

Secondly, the slaughtering of the animal should be performed by a Muslim or a Jew (which are considered as ehl-e-kitab or the followers of the Book of God mentioned in the Quran). The animals used to derive Kosher Gelatin are slaughtered by Jews.

Lastly, there shouldn’t be any haram ingredient involved. Jews aren’t allowed pork or alcohol just like Muslims. We know that Kosher gelatin won’t have any pork or alcohol in it.

These all factors validate that Kosher gelatin is halal.

Fatwa On Kosher Gelatin

The question about kosher gelatin is answered by Shaykh Faraz A. Khan:

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

I pray this finds you in the best of health and states.

The answer is, it depends on the source of the gelatin. If it is from slaughtered kosher meat, it would be halal since the meat is halal. If it is from fish or vegetarian sources, it is of course halal.

If however it is from pig or an unslaughtered animal, ‘kosher gelatin’ would not be halal. This would have to be ascertained by the appropriate source (whether the company or the Rabbi that approves, etc).

And Allah knows best.

wassalam

Faraz

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani

[source]

Another Muslim scholar from Hanafi fiqh said:

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

I pray this finds you in the best of health and states.

The answer is, it depends on the source of the gelatin. If it is from slaughtered kosher meat, it would be halal since the meat is halal. If it is from fish or vegetarian sources, it is of course halal.

If however it is from pig or an unslaughtered animal, ‘kosher gelatin’ would not be halal. This would have to be ascertained by the appropriate source (whether the company or the Rabbi that approves, etc).

And Allah knows best.

wassalam

Faraz

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani

[source]

It’s safe to say that Kosher gelatin is allowed and halal for Muslims.

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Alternate To Kosher Gelatin

Kosher gelatin is halal for Muslims but still, if you want to refrain from it you need to find an alternate source of gelatin.

Gelatin derived from fish will be totally halal for Muslims. Islam guides Muslims that seafood including fish is halal irrespective of the slaughtering ritual. Find fish gelatin and it will always be halal. We have a List Of Halal Seafood for you.

Gelatin from plants is also an option. Though not widely found you will need to search it around a bit. If you get your hands on it vegan gelatin is always halal for Muslims.

FAQ

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Final Thoughts

All the gelatins are halal if all the ingredients are halal and halal animals used to derive the gelatin. Kosher gelatin uses fish or vegetables in most cases. Even if an animal is used it is slaughtered. 

Kosher gelatin does not contain pork or alcohol or anything declared by Islam. Food laws are almost the same for Jews and Muslims.

I found that Kosher gelatin is halal for Muslims.

And Allah Knows Best.