Saturday, November 15, 2014

Sample of Haram E-Numbers List

The list of Halal E-Numbers is quite long. But fortunately, we don't need to carry around that huge list with us while buying grocery. We need to worry about Haram E-numbers only.

So, with that in mind, I came up with the idea of preparing a credit card sized listing of Haram E-Numbers only. You can consider laminating it after printing.

I always carry extra ones with me to distribute amongst the interested people.

Hope you find it useful!

Jazakallah Khairan.


Note: This list may require revision as new and/or updated info are made available by reliable authorities.

There are some dangers in following listing on packages or 'static' E-number list; occasionally we need to double-check E-number(s) of frequently purchased items because the ingredients may change over a course of time. Also, manufacturers are not legally obliged to list all ingredients on the packaging; so we could still be consuming haram? One US-based website offers dynamically updated E-list through mobile-phone subscription -- a better approach than my small static E-card that only lists haram and doubtful E-numbers.

Halal/haram matters (albeit in the arena of edible products to start with) play a very crucial role in the life of a Muslim whether s/he realises or not. I have shared some halal/haram information (mostly in regards to food products) that I had long been following, and had been sharing with people who showed interest to follow those guidelines although hardly anyone follows to the extent I would like them to. One's level of 'taqwa' plays a big part in this situation [not that I claim to have attained high level of taqwa for myself]. I have interesting experience of how people [including local imams and genuinely practising Muslims] had reacted variously to my handing out [my kind of dawah activity] of halal/haram literature and credit-card sized laminated E-number lists! The rule of thumb I follow [in line with Prophetic injunction] in my life is to avoid all things doubtful ('masbooh') even if it means sacrificing some delicious, mouth-watering food.

Due to our non-vigilant assimilation with the Western culture [and a multitude of other reasons], we have started to say things that are contrary to the teachings of Islam. For example, for a Muslim, it is not correct to say things [depending on the context] like 'I shall live my life the way I want, who are you to poke your nose in my life/matters?' All Muslims have obligations to impart the duty [one kind of dawah] of "Amr bil ma'roof wa annahi aneel munkar' [Enjoining to do good deeds and prohibit/prevent bad deeds' to the best of one's ability].

I may be following halal/haram guidelines but how about the host who invites me? How careful is s/he in checking ingredients while shopping? From where are they purchasing meat? I could be served haram food [even if it is a vegetarian dish, delicious sweets or salad with condiments and/or sprinklings that contain haram ingredients] without his and my knowledge. What to do in those scenario? The oft-quoted relevant hadeeth needs to be interpreted carefully rather than simply stating that we do not need to worry about the food served by the host while Prophet (PBUH) ate in the house of 'People of the Book' or that 'Islam is easy' or that 'Allah does not want our life to become difficult/burdensome'. This again boils down to the level of taqwa s/he maintains. We are extremely cautious when it comes to spending a large sum of money [check with financial advisors/lawyers/friends et al], but easily pass on whimsical/unqualified opinions when it comes to religious matters -- without realising that on the Day of Judgement I might be held responsible for the unwillful sins committed by my listeners/followers.

Consuming [eating & drinking] halal food, wearing halal clothing and earning halal livelihood are pre-conditions to acceptance of our dua [i.e. five pillars of Islam by extention]. Ponder upon this hadeeth -- "Prophet (PBUH) informed us of the disheveled man who travels long distances, and extends his hands toward the sky (in dua) and asks, 'O my Lord, O my Lord' and his food is haram, and his drink is haram and his clothing is haram and his sustenance is haram; how will his supplication be granted?" [Muslim]

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