Taking Vitamin Pills Coated in Gelatin

Question: I have been recommended Vitamin-D pills by a doctor after experiencing pain in my muscle. These pills are coated with gelatin. However, I’m still unsure if I can consume them. Many pills seem to be coated with gelatin and I am unsure of what to do. Can I consume them? I follow the hanafi madhab.

Answer:

Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh

I pray you are well.

Gelatin

There is a difference of opinion amongst contemporary scholars on gelatin, regarding the permissibility of its consumption. You can follow either, but it would be safer to avoid it.

There are many non-gelatin-based alternatives to vitamin D you refer to. See if you can find them. Another option for capsules is to purchase empty veggie-caps and to transfer the actual medicine into them before consumption. That is an easy and safe alternative.

May Allah grant you wellbeing in your din, dunya, and Akhira.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.