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Aisle guide
Medicine, capsules and excipients
A tablet can be plant-derived and still sit in a porcine gelatin capsule. Check the active, then the shell, then the excipients. Necessity rulings belong to your own scholar.
Two-minute pharmacy check
- Split the dose from the shell. HPMC and pullulan capsules avoid the gelatin question.
- Then the flow agents. Magnesium stearate and glycerin are source-dependent.
- This is not a fatwa on necessity. If a medicine has no alternative, that is a question for a scholar and a clinician.
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Source-dependent
Gelatin capsules (medicines and supplements)
Nearly every softgel and most hard capsules are gelatin, and the bottle rarely says which animal. This is the supplement version of the gelatin proble…
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Unverified
Hypromellose (HPMC)
Hypromellose (HPMC): A plant-derived cellulose polymer used in vegetarian capsules and coatings. Plant-derived; generally considered permissible.
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UnverifiedE1204
Pullulan
A capsule-shell polysaccharide from tapioca starch fermented by Aureobasidium pullulans. Secondary guides treat it as animal-free, which is why it is …
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Source-dependentE428
E428 Gelatin
Same substance as gelatin (catalogue code E441). Codex INS 428 is gelatin from animal collagen. The parent ruling is inherited, not re-issued: HalalMe…
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UnverifiedE1210
E1210 Carbomer
Capsule and liquid-supplement polymer. Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/440 authorises carbomer (E 1210) as a bulking agent and stabiliser in solid foo…
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Source-dependentE572
Magnesium stearate
If you take one supplement habit seriously, make it this one. Magnesium stearate is in most tablets and capsules, it can be plant or pork derived, and…
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Source-dependentE422
Glycerin (glycerol)
A sweet humectant that keeps foods moist. The molecule is identical whether it came from palm oil or pig fat — which is exactly why the source has to …
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HalalE171
E171 Titanium Dioxide
Halal
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Unverified
Titanium Dioxide
Titanium Dioxide: Halal. Mineral sunscreen active and whitening pigment. Used in foundations, sunscreens, and food.
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Source-dependent
Lactose
Depends on process. Lactose from milk by membrane filtration is halal; lactose recovered from whey is doubtful unless the coagulating enzymes were mic…
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Source-dependent
Lactose Monohydrate
Lactose Monohydrate: The crystalline hydrated form of lactose used as the most common direct-compression filler in tablets and dry-powder inhalers. De…
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Source-dependentE441
Gelatin
The single most important ingredient to check in processed food. Gelatin is a protein boiled from animal skin, bones and connective tissue — and in We…
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Source-dependent
Ibuprofen
A synthetic NSAID. The molecule is not animal. Tablets use coatings and magnesium stearate; capsules and liquid gels follow gelatin or HPMC; some susp…
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Source-dependent
Paracetamol
A synthetic analgesic. The molecule is not animal. Caplets, soluble tablets and liquid gels still pick up coatings, flavour, glycerol and gelatin. A ‘…
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Source-dependent
Omeprazole
A synthetic PPI. The molecule is not animal. Delayed-release capsules are often gelatin. Enteric coatings and titanium dioxide are the rest of the pac…
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Source-dependent
Cough syrup
A class. Dextromethorphan, guaifenesin, or plant expectorants in a glycerol/sorbitol/ethanol base. Some syrups are ethanol-heavy. The flavour and colo…
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Unverified
Metformin
Diabetes tablet active. The active is not the halal question. The tablet coat, stearate and any capsule shell are. Necessity is a scholar and clinicia…
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Unverified
Atorvastatin
Statin tablet active. Searchable so the name resolves. The coat and stearate are the ingredient checks. Not a ruling on taking the medicine. Muttoo ca…
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Unverified
Sertraline
SSRI tablet or capsule active. The hydrochloride salt is not a halal ruling. Capsule shell and tablet coat are the checks. Muttoo catalogue desk (grad…
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Unverified
Amoxicillin
Penicillin-class antibiotic. The active is searchable. Suspension flavour, capsule shell and any gelatin are separate. Not a ruling to skip a prescrib…
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Unverified
Diphenhydramine
Antihistamine and sleep-aid active. Brand syrups and capsules carry glycerin, flavour and sometimes gelatin. The active name alone does not settle the…
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Unverified
Pseudoephedrine
Decongestant active. Tablets and syrups hide lactose, stearate and flavour. Insufficient evidence on the active. The pack still needs an excipient rea…
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Unverified
Lactulose
Synthetic disaccharide laxative syrup. The sugar is made from lactose. Flavour and any alcohol in the solution are the remaining checks. No grade A/B …
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Unverified
Levothyroxine
Thyroid hormone tablet. The active is a synthetic amino-acid derivative. Lactose and stearate show up on some tablets. Insufficient evidence — searcha…
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Unverified
Warfarin
Anticoagulant tablet active. Searchable name only. Dye, lactose and stearate are the pack checks. Not a ruling on taking it. Muttoo catalogue desk (gr…
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Unverified
Isotretinoin
Vitamin A derivative in soft capsules. The soft capsule is often gelatin. The active and the shell are two checks. Insufficient evidence on the molecu…
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Unverified
Clotrimazole
Azole antifungal in cream and pessary. The cream base (lanolin, glycerin, stearate) is the usual question, not the azole name. Muttoo catalogue desk (…
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Unverified
Fluconazole
Azole antifungal capsule. The active is searchable. The capsule shell is the separate check. Muttoo catalogue desk (grade C): no grade A/B certifier o…
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Disputed
CBD (Cannabidiol)
Named Hanafi fatwas disagree on the frame, not on THC. Darul Ifta Birmingham and FatwaCentre permit CBD when it is not intoxicating and THC is absent.…
A procedure for reading a pack - not a product certification and not a fatwa. See the methodology · four questions for this aisle.