| Answer: The items that have been referred to in this report
are all widely used throughout the globe in Muslim countries. In other words
there is a very large Muslim clientele as far as these products are concerned.
Their manufacturers very well know that Muslims would not go near drinks and
edibles about which there is even the slightest possibility that they are
manufactured from ‘pig parts’.
So I think that before burdening the common Muslim with its
effects, the UAE government should send this research to the manufacturers of
these products and give a patient hearing to their response. If they are not
satisfied with their answer, they can even take the matter to the judicial
forums of the country in which the manufacturers are located. I assure you that
if the products really contain prohibited stuff, one such case would be enough
to settle this matter.
It is only after passing through this process that this
research can assume the significance of being considered seriously. It is only
then that Muslims should be asked to refrain from these items.
The UAE government should also keep in mind that without
undertaking this process they are causing chaos and spreading confusion among
the ranks of the Muslims. Secondly, if this research is by any means proven to
be incorrect, then they would be guilty of dis-information and bringing the name
of certain people into disrepute. This we all know is a great sin. Not only does
this entail the wrath of the Almighty but it may also lead them to pay millions
in damages.
Another thing
that must be kept in consideration is the fact that the prohibition of items
containing pig material pertains specifically to edibles and drinks. Things
which do not come under these categories like, soap, shampoos and perfumes are
not required to be abstained from even if they contain the prohibited material.
We know that the meat of a dead animal is prohibited. Once the Prophet (sws) saw
a dead goat rotting at a place. He expressed his wonder and remarked that eating
such an animal is definitely prohibited, but using it for some other purpose
like tanning its hide for use is perfectly allowed:
A goat was given in charity to Maymūnah’s maid. The goat
died. [It so happened that] the Prophet (sws) passed by. [Seeing the dead goat],
he said: ‘Would that you had taken its hide, tanned it
and then made use of it’. People said:
‘It is a dead animal. At this the Prophet declared:
Only eating it is forbidden’. (Muslim, Kitābu’l-Hayd)
The Prophet’ wife Sawdah reports:
One of our goats died. We tanned its hide. Then we used
it for storing nabīdh in it until it
became a [hard] drinking vessel. (Bukhārī, Kitābu’l-Imān)
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