Does the presence of bone char (of unknown origin) used in sugars within certain food products, render it mashbooh?
Bismillahi Ta’ala
Walaikum Assalam Warahmatullah
In principle, an animal either has
- those parts of body which Shari’ah consider life to enter like muscle, hide, tissue etc. or
- those parts of body which Shari’ah does not consider life to enter, like bone, hoofs, horns, hair, feather.
From above, that in which the life does not enter, does not require a dhabiha for it to become halal for utilization or consumption.
Bone Char is primarily derived from cattle (bovine), which is a Halal animal, but it can also be sourced from pig bones. In Canada and US, as per my information all bone char is sourced from cattle (i.e. bovine). Moreover, in sugar refining bone char is used only in cane sugar and not beet sugar.
In conclusion, bones char is suitable for utilization in sugars, even if the cattle was not slaughtered in shar’i manner. If and when any information contrary to above (in regards to source of bone char) comes to light, then ruling may change.
Wallahu A’lam
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Faisal al-Mahmudi