Home
Discover Islam
Quran Recitations
Lectures
Fatwa
Articles
Fiqh
E-Books
Women
Boys & Girls 
Enter Question
View By Subject
Fatwa Of The Week
Selected Fatwa
Fatwa CenterRuling on Eating Asafoetida
Question
I would like to know whether hing Or asafoetida( a flavoured spice used by indians) and castor oil are halal Or haram
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
We are not aware of the essence of this plant/grass. If your question is regarding the ruling on eating it, then in principle all kinds of food are lawful except what is impure, intoxicating, or harmful (to be eaten).
On that, Al-Bohooti from the Hanbali School of jurisprudence said in Kash-shaaf Al-Qinaaʿ: “The principle about them (i.e. different kinds of food) is permissibility. This is evidenced by the Saying of Allah, the Almighty, (which means) {'It is He who created for you all of that which is on the earth …} [Quran: 2:29], and His Saying (which means) {'O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good …} [Quran: 2:168] Therefore, it is permissible to eat any pure food that causes no harm." [End of quote]
Hence, if this grass is not harmful or intoxicating, it is permissible to eat it in light of the principle (the original ruling).
Allah knows best.
Search Fatwa
Fatwa Subject
