Fatwa ID: 07725
Answered by: Maulana Muhammad Altaf Hossen
Question:
Assalāmu alaikum wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuhu, are enzymes found in cheddar/cheeses considered halal as long as they are not derived from pork?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Introduction of chedder cheese:wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,
During the manufacture of cheddar, the curds and whey are separated using rennet, an enzyme complex normally produced from the stomachs of newborn calves, while in vegetarian or kosher cheeses, bacterial, yeast or mould-derived chymosin is used.[17][18]
“Cheddaring” refers to an additional step in the production of cheddar cheese where, after heating, the curd is kneaded with salt, cut into cubes to drain the whey, and then stacked and turned.[17] Strong, extra-mature cheddar, sometimes called vintage, needs to be matured for 15 months or more. The cheese is kept at a constant temperature, often requiring special facilities. As with other hard cheese varieties produced worldwide, caves provide an ideal environment for maturing cheese; still, today, some cheddar is matured in the caves at Wookey Hole and Cheddar Gorge. Additionally, some versions of cheddar are smoked. (1)
In Islamic jurisprudence, the permissibility of enzymes in cheese primarily depends on their source. If enzymes are derived from halal or permissible animals (e.g., cows or sheep) that have been slaughtered according to Islamic guidelines, or from microbial or plant sources, they are generally considered halal. However, if enzymes are derived from impermissible sources, such as pigs, they would render the cheese haram (forbidden).
Many contemporary scholars and Islamic jurists have discussed this issue, especially given the wide use of microbial and synthetic enzymes in the modern cheese industry. Generally, microbial and plant-based enzymes are acceptable in Islam because they are not derived from animals.
Your Lord knows best who strays from His path, and He knows best the guided ones.
١١٨ فَكُلُوا مِمَّا ذُكِرَ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ بِآيَاتِهِ مُؤْمِنِينَ
118 So eat of that over which the Name of God was pronounced, if you indeed believe in His revelations.
١١٩ وَمَا لَكُمْ أَلَّا تَأْكُلُوا مِمَّا ذُكِرَ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَقَدْ فَصَّلَ لَكُمْ مَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِلَّا مَا اضْطُرِرْتُمْ إِلَيْهِ ۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا لَيُضِلُّونَ بِأَهْوَائِهِمْ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُعْتَدِينَ
119 And why should you not eat of that over which the Name of God is pronounced when He has detailed for you what is prohibited for you unless you are compelled by necessity? Many lead astray with their opinions, through lack of knowledge. Your Lord knows best the transgressors.
١٢٠ وَذَرُوا ظَاهِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَبَاطِنَهُ ۚ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْسِبُونَ الْإِثْمَ سَيُجْزَوْنَ بِمَا كَانُوا يَقْتَرِفُونَ
120 So abandon sin, outward and inward. Those who commit sins will be repaid for what they used to perpetrate.
١٢١ وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا مِمَّا لَمْ يُذْكَرِ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنَّهُ لَفِسْقٌ ۗ وَإِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ لَيُوحُونَ إِلَىٰ أَوْلِيَائِهِمْ لِيُجَادِلُوكُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ أَطَعْتُمُوهُمْ إِنَّكُمْ لَمُشْرِكُونَ
121 And do not eat from that over which the Name of God was not pronounced, for it is an abomination. The devils inspire their followers to argue with you; but if you obey them, you would be polytheists. (2)
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Maulana Muhammad Altaf Hossen SK.CA
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
(1) Wikipedia
(2)(Sura An’ am ,118;120;121
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