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FATWA
RENNET USED IN CHEESE
Rennet is an enzyme which is extracted from animals and plants. If the animals are lawful for consumption (according to Islam) like the calf or goat and they (the animals) were slaughtered according to the manner prescribed in Islamic slaughtering, then the rennet extracted from these animals would be lawful. As such the cheese made from this rennet would be lawful and Halaal for Muslims to consume.
If they (i.e. calf and goat) were not slaughtered according to the Islamic law then the cheese made from the rennet which is extracted from these animals would also be allowable for consumption. However it is desirable to abstain.
Similarly cheese made from the rennet which is extracted from plants would also be lawful for consumption. However if the cheese were made from rennet, which is obtained from a liquid extracted from pigs, then such cheese would be unlawful for consumption.
Due to the fact that the real source of the rennet used in most cheese is not usually known, it becomes essential upon Muslims to abstain from such cheese. In such a case they are encouraged to eat rennet free cheese.
Allaah knows best.
Mufti Waseem Khan
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