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Brillo Steel Wool Pads seem to contain beef tallow, so are they halal to use?

QUESTION

Brillo Steel Wool Pads seem to contain beef tallow, so are they halal to use?

ANSWER

الجواب حامداً و مصلياً

Upon referring to the product website, it is stated that the soap used in the said product is derived from natural beef tallow: http://www.brillo.com/faqs.asp

With regards to the ruling of using such a soap, there is a juristic difference of opinion on the issue. According to some scholars such as Imam Abu Yusuf, this type of soap is not permissible to use, due to being derived from an impermissible source.

However, according to the view of other jurists such as Imam Abu Hanifah, there is scope for using this type of soap, as the natural beef tallow has chemically transformed into soap, which is regarded as a new and different substance. This is similar to the ruling of vinegar which has been derived from wine and yet it is still regarded as halal, due the occurrence of a chemical transformation, generally termed as Istihala in the language of the Shariah. 

In conclusion, one may act upon the view of those scholars which allows the usage of such soap, due to the substance and chemical transformation of the natural beef tallow into soap, especially where it is difficult to find a suitable alternative. However, where feasible, it is preferable that one should try to avoid its usage out of precaution.

References

لما في الفتاوى الشامية 316/1
قوله: (ويطهر زيت) قد ذكر هذه المسألة العلامة قاسم في فتاواه، وكذا ما سيأتي متنا وشرحها من مسائل التطهير بانقلاب العين، وذكر الادلة على ذلك بما لا مزيد عليه، وحقق ودقق كما هو دأبه رحمه الله تعالى، فليراجع.
ثم هذه المسألة قد فرعوها على قول محمد بالطهارة بانقلاب العين الذي عليه الفتوى، واختاره أكثر المشايخ خلافا لابي يوسف كما في شرح المنية والفتح وغيرهما.
وعبارة المجتبى: جعل الدهن النجس في صابون يفتى بطهارته لانه تغير، والتغير يطهر عند محمد، ويفتى به للبلوى ا ه.
وظاهره أن دهن الميتة كذلك لتعبيره بالنجس دون المتنجس، إلا أن يقال: هو خاص بالنجس لان العادة في الصابون وضع الزيت دون بقية الادهان.
تأمل.
ثم رأيت في شرح المنية ما يؤيد الاول حيث قال: وعليه يتفرع ما لو وقع إنسان أو كلب في قدر الصابون فصار صابونا يكون طاهرا لتبدل الحقيقة ا ه.

And Allah knows Best

Answered by FCB Fatwa Department