I recently wanted to buy some cakes and looked at the ingredients and saw that it had Lecithin and Emulsifier in it. SOmetimes it says Emulsifier: Soya Lecithin but sometimes it just says lecithin. I was wondering if something just says Lecithin and Emulsifier (and we have no way of knowing whether it came from halal animals or plants) but then it says Suitable for Vegetarians on the front of the box, is it okay for me to consume this product? Just simple because, it is not always possible to contact manufacturers and I figured that if something says Vegetarian, then surely the lecithin or emulsifier was not derived from animal sources.
I was wondering if someone could explain to me about spirit vinegar? I have read it to be halal but just to confirm please.
Thank you.
Asalaamu Alaikum,
Spirit and Wine Vinegar
Q: I would be grateful if you could tell me whether spirit vinegar and wine vinegar are halal. I remember reading somewhere that because of the chemical process involved in distiling the vinegar it was not considered alcohol. Is this true?
A: It is true. Spirit and wine vinegar, both are halal.
and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best
Mufti Ebrahim Desai, www.ask-imam.com FATWA DEPT. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Is spirit vinegar halal to consume? Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Q) Is spirit vinegar halal to consume?
A) Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah, Vinegar is permitted even if its origin is spirits or wine, and even if it did not transform by itself but required an external agent. [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
And Allah alone gives success. Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani
The Encyclopaedia Britannica states:
Vinegar
sour liquid that is made by the fermentation of any of numerous dilute alcoholic liquids into a liquid containing acetic acid. Vinegar may be produced from a variety of materials: apples or grapes (wine or cider vinegar); malted barley or oats (malt vinegar); and industrial alcohol (distilled white vinegar). There are also vinegars made from beer, sugars, rice, and other substances. As a commercial product, however, vinegar was probably first made from wine (French vin, “wine”; aigre, “sour”).
Vinegar can be made from any liquid that is capable of being converted into alcohol in a two-step process. The fruit juice or other liquid contains sugar, which is converted into alcohol and carbon dioxide gas by the actions of yeast enzymes. The alcohol thus formed combines with atmospheric oxygen by the action of Acetobacter bacteria, forming acetic acid and water. Organic acids and esters derived from the fruit or other source material are also present and are responsible for the flavour and aroma variations of vinegar. Table vinegar contains approximately 4 percent acetic acid. -------------------------------------------------------------------
Is spirit vinegar Halaal or Haraam?
Vinegar is produced by two successive microbial processes. The first being an alcoholic fermentation (which is Haraam) and the second an oxidation of alcohol by aceto bacter, when it's molecular structure is changed and it ceases to be an intoxicant. Other varieties of vinegar are produced from beetroot, tarragon and alcoholic spirits. In vinegar the intoxicating factor is destroyed by the microbial process of oxidation hence it becomes permissible. Islam permits any variety of vinegar to be used as a condiment or preservative. (Muslim Food Guide - Page A26/27)
Allah SWT Knows Best --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Q7: What is Spirit Vinegar, does it contain alcohol?
A: Spirit Vinegar is made from molasses. This is made into spirit by distillation and the substrate or residue is removed. This spirit is called such because it is an alcoholic preparation with no characterising components. The spirit is then fermented completely to acetic acid. The product does not contain alcohol.
The Council ruled that if alcohol naturally becomes vinegar then it is Halal and pure(Tahir), by virtue of the consensus of scholars. However, scholars differed regardingif it became vinegar as a result of deliberate processing and treatment, such as adding salt, bread or a particular chemical. Some said that it is pure and may be used as it has completely transformed from the original state of being alcohol. Others said that it does not become pure and may not be used, because we are commanded to stay away from alcohol. Having considered both opinions, the European Council for Fatwa and concluded that the first opinion which states that vinegar made deliberately from alcohol is pure and may be used, is correct.
This is because acetification, i.e.making something into a vinegar, removes the element which makes alcohol principally haram, namely; intoxication, and thus becomes permissible, particularly that there are many benefits to be gained from vinegar such as medicine, food and others. It is important to note that any ruling is entirely bound by the reason and wisdom and in the case of vinegar, we realise that the element of intoxication has been completely eliminated.
This is affirmed by the hadith of the Prophet Mohammed (ppbuh): "What a good seasoning vinegar is"47, without specifying the kind or type of vinegar. We also note that the Prophet (ppbuh) did not order us to seek the origin of the vinegar nor to make any enquiries in that respect. As for the statements whichstate the prohibition of acetification, these are to demonstrate the firm position ofIslam in regards with alcohol itself, so that no one becomes complacent in this regard.
[Resolution 7/4]
47 Narrated by Muslim (No.2051), Al-Tirmizi (No.1840) and Ibn Maja (No.3316) from the hadith of Aisha. Muslim also narrated the hadith (No.2052) as did Abu Dawood (No.3821), Al-Tirmizi (No.1842), Al-Nasa’i (No.3796) and Ibn Maja (No.3317) from the hadith of Jaber ibn Abdullah.
The making of soy sauce is very similar to the making of vinegar. However no drinkable wine is produced in the process. At no stage is the soy sauce ever drinkable as a beverage. The final stage in soy sauce results in the alcohol becoming lactic acid, where it differs from vinegar as in vinegar the last stage is acetic acid.
Assalaamu alaykum,
Brother I wanted to clarify something regarding soy sauce. I have heard that the Kikkoman brand soy sauce contains alcohol. However I have found out that in Maldives which is a Muslim country they are selling Kikkoman brand soy sauce. It says it is naturally brewed like fine wine at the back. Everything in the shops here seem to be halal really (most have halal symbols even). So does this mean the soy sauce might be okay then? I know that they can produce it alcohol free as well. It was brewed in SIngapore which is why I thought it might be halal. My family is eating food containing this soy sauce although I haven't been able to bring myself to eat anything with this soysauce in it.
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