Fatwa ID: 03115

Answered by:  Maulana Nabil Khan​

Question:

Would it be permissible to use cream that has camel urine in it for medical reasons?

Answer:

In The Name Of Allah, The Most-Merciful, The Most Kind

The question contains two major topics within it that need to be clarified before the answer can be given.

1)   Is camel urine considered impure or not? If it is impure then it will be considered impermissible to consume in a normal circumstance.

According to the Hanafi scholars there is a large difference of opinion in this regard, Imam Muhammad (r.a) has opinioned that the urine of halal animals is purely based on the hadith of “Uraniyeen” when the Prophet (s.a.w) told a group of people that were sick to go to the outskirts and drink the milk and urine of the camels there. This hadith has been narrated in Sahih Al-Bukhari #5685.

On the other hand, Imam Abu Hanifah and other senior Hanafi jurists have ruled that the urine of such animals are impure and considered them as light impurity due to the different narrations in its regard, however, it is still impure. This is the official opinion in the Hanafi fiqh and is based on two primary points. Firstly, the ruling of an animal's urine is not based on the meat rather based on the blood and the blood of camels are impure. Second, in response to the hadith above the scholars say that there was permissibility given to this group of people due to a need and this hadith does not indicate that the urine of a camel is generally pure. It is a well-known rule that needs permit that which is not permitted in other moments.

2)   Since camel urine is considered impure in accordance to the official Hanafi stance in a general case it will not be permissible to consume or apply to the body. However, when there is a medical need and there is no halal substitute for it that would suffice then it is permissible to use impure or haram substances as a medical remedy.

Therefore if there is no substitute for this ointment and it is necessary then it will be permissible to use.

Since camel urine is a point of disagreement according to the different narrations and understanding of those hadith it would not be as severe to use in accordance to the rules of istihsaan i.e leaving the primary stance based on authentic precedence found in hadith that has a strong medical benefit such as in this case.

In conclusion, there is no harm in using this cream inshaAllah.

Reference:

Al-Hidayah Volume 1 Pg 134.

Sharh Ma’ani Al-Athaar volume 1 pg 107.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Nabil Khan

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham