Consumption of ‘gold leaf’

QUESTION:

Is it permissible to consume ‘gold leaf’? It ranges from 12 to 24 carat and is generally made from pure gold, although some are imitation.

ANSWER:

Allah Ta’ala states in the Quraan Sharif:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ كُلُواْ مِمَّا فِي الأَرْضِ حَلاَلاً طَيِّباً

O people, eat of the lawful (that which has been declared lawful by Allah and that which is lawfully acquired) and pure (and wholesome) things of the earth

The Quraan Sharif commands us to eat food that is wholesome and beneficial. It is recorded in Tafseer Baghawi that ‘Tayyib’ refers to that which nourishes a person and increases. It is Makrooh to consume solid items such as sand and those things which are not consumed for nourishment, with the exception of medication.

Since ‘gold leaf’ is not a nourishment and serves no benefit to the human body, it should not be consumed. It is recorded on the internet that real gold of edible purity is safe to eat as it will just pass through the body, hence it is not a nourishment and serves absolutely no benefit whatsoever. Therefore, consuming ‘leaf gold’ will be considered as Makrooh.

وَالطَّيِّبُ مَا غَذَّى وَأَنْمَى، فَأَمَّا الْجَوَامِدُ كَالطِّينِ وَالتُّرَابِ وَمَا لَا يُغَذِّي فَمَكْرُوهٌ إِلَّا عَلَى وَجْهِ التَّدَاوِي (تفسير البغوي ص78 ج2)

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date:- 21 Muharram 1445 / 09 August 2023