Selling Medicines with Gelatine Capsules

By Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Posted: 23 Rajab 1422, 11 October 2001


Q.) I am a pharmacist working in Canada and most of my income comes from selling medicine. However, most medicines, from everyday commonly used medicine like amoxicillin, all have gelatin capsule (over 90% of all medicines uses them). These gelatin capsules are made from animals like cow, sheep, pig etc. depending on the cost of it. Some people have told me that it is haram to make profit from non-halal sources (eg. pig etc.). So, if I sell these medicine with gelatine capsules, would I be selling something haram? Please advise me. Jazakallah Khair.

A.) In principle, it is permissible to use medicines with gelatine capsules if it is prescribed by a medical practitioner and there is no adequate alternative. Therefore, it is permissible to sell such capsules and the income from the sales of the capsules will be halal.

And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best