QUESTION:
I wanted to find out what are bovine enzymes and are the Halaal?
ANSWER:
Enzymes are proteins that help speed up metabolism, or the chemical reactions in our bodies. They build some substances and break others down. All living things have enzymes, and our bodies naturally produce enzymes.
These enzymes are essential for respiration, digesting food, muscle and nerve function, and more. Each cell in the human body contains thousands of enzymes. The enzyme amylase, which is present in saliva, converts starch into sugar, helping to initiate digestion. In medicine, the enzyme thrombin is used to promote wound healing. Without these enzymes digestion will be almost impossible.
Plant derived enzymes include amylase, invertase, papain, bromelain, ficin, lipoxygenase, etc. These enzymes have played an important part in food production including syrups, bakery products, dairy products, etc. Since these are derived from plants, they are permissible to use.
Enzymes are found in animals. The five animal derived enzymes other than rennet which are lipase, catalase, pepsin, pancreatin, trypsin and not used extensively at the present time. They can be replaced by microbial enzymes in most applications. If derived from animals it is necessary that the animal is slaughtered in accordance to Shariah, otherwise it will regarded as impermissible.
The guts and pancreas of the fish have digestive enzymes, and the liver of the fish also contains enzymes, which can be extracted for application in food industries. These enzymes are including protease, trypsin, lipase, and amylase. The enzymes derived from fish is Halaal suitable.
Enzymes derived from swine is Haraam. Bovine enzyme is derived from cows. If the animal is slaughtered in accordance to Shariah, then the enzymes will be Halaal suitable. However, if the animal is not slaughtered in accordance to Shariah, then it will not be permissible to consume.
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Maulana Abdul Kader Fazlani
Date: – 28 Jumadal Ula 1445 / 12 December 2023
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb
