1. Look for what is forbidden in plain words
Some words are enough on their own. In Tayib's encyclopedia, these entries are 'haram' in all four schools:
- Porkforbidden by the Qur’an4 schools · Haram
- Pork gelatinpork derivative4 schools · Haram
- Bloodforbidden by the Qur’an4 schools · Haram
- Alcoholic drinkadded intoxicating drink4 schools · Haram
قُل لَّآ أَجِدُ فِى مَآ أُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ مُحَرَّمًا عَلَىٰ طَاعِمٍ يَطْعَمُهُۥٓ إِلَّآ أَن يَكُونَ مَيْتَةً أَوْ دَمًا مَّسْفُوحًا أَوْ لَحْمَ خِنزِيرٍ فَإِنَّهُۥ رِجْسٌ أَوْ فِسْقًا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ ٱللَّهِ بِهِۦ ۚ فَمَنِ ٱضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
“Say, "I do not find within that which was revealed to me [anything] forbidden to one who would eat it unless it be a dead animal or blood spilled out or the flesh of swine - for indeed, it is impure - or it be [that slaughtered in] disobedience, dedicated to other than Allāh. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], then indeed, your Lord is Forgiving and Merciful."”
2. Isolate the ingredients whose origin decides
The trickiest case isn't a prohibition, it's silence. Gelatin with no species, E471 that may be plant or animal, rennet with no origin, a flavouring whose carrier isn't stated: the label doesn't allow a conclusion. Tayib marks them 'doubtful' and says which fact is missing.
- Gelatinanimal origin unspecified4 schools · Doubtful
- Mono- and diglycerides (E471)possible animal origin4 schools · Doubtful
- Glycerine (E422)possible animal origin4 schools · Doubtful
- Carmine (E120)colouring derived from an insectHanafi · HaramMaliki · DoubtfulShafi‘i · HaramHanbali · Haram
- Rennetcoagulant, origin needs clarificationHanafi · HalalMaliki · DoubtfulShafi‘i · DoubtfulHanbali · Doubtful
- Alcohol flavouringmay contain alcohol4 schools · Doubtful
- Meathalal slaughter not proven4 schools · Doubtful
3. Read the wording that settles doubt
A detail attached to the ingredient changes the reading: 'fish gelatin', 'mono- and diglycerides of vegetable origin', 'microbial rennet'. The app's additives guide explains exactly what such wording — and vegetarian or vegan claims — can and cannot settle:
Additives and emulsifiers
The same E number can refer to a plant, animal or synthetic product: the code alone does not indicate origin. This is why many additives are classified as ‘doubtful’ when the label gives no further information.
A plant origin explicitly attached to the additive may resolve the question of its origin. Tayib also uses certain vegetarian or vegan declarations in the product record for ingredients to which they are relevant. These are declared details: they prove neither the absence of alcohol nor compliance with all religious conditions, and do not permit an explicitly forbidden ingredient.
Carmine
Carmine (E120) is a red colouring extracted from cochineal, an insect. The Maliki permission regarding insects includes conditions whose application to the industrial production of carmine must be checked. Some contemporary institutions permit carmine under their conditions, while others reject it; Tayib presents these opinions separately. Rules concerning insects also include exceptions, notably locusts.
ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ ٱلرَّسُولَ ٱلنَّبِىَّ ٱلْأُمِّىَّ ٱلَّذِى يَجِدُونَهُۥ مَكْتُوبًا عِندَهُمْ فِى ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ وَٱلْإِنجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُم بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَىٰهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْخَبَـٰٓئِثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَٱلْأَغْلَـٰلَ ٱلَّتِى كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ ٱلنُّورَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ مَعَهُۥٓ ۙ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ
“Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written [i.e., described] in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right and prohibits them from what is wrong and makes lawful for them what is good and forbids them from what is evil and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them. So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him - it is those who will be the successful.”
- Mono- and diglycerides (E471)possible animal origin4 schools · Doubtful
- Esters of mono- and diglycerides (E472)possible animal origin4 schools · Doubtful
- Glycerine (E422)possible animal origin4 schools · Doubtful
- Carmine (E120)colouring derived from an insectHanafi · HaramMaliki · DoubtfulShafi‘i · HaramHanbali · Haram
- L-cysteine / cystine (E920, E921)feathers, hair or fermentation4 schools · Doubtful
- Inosinate / guanylate (E626–E635)sometimes extracted from meat or fish4 schools · Doubtful
4. Look at certification, but don't stop there
A halal body's logo is important information, but it doesn't say everything: each body has its own requirements. Tayib reports the certifier when it appears on the product page and describes what is known about it; it does not authenticate the certificate. Our article on certification goes into this.
And when doubt remains?
The texts give a compass rather than a single answer:
“Narrated An-Nu'man bin Bashir: I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, 'Both legal and illegal things are evident but in between them there are doubtful (suspicious) things and most of the people have no knowledge about them. So whoever saves himself from these suspicious things saves his religion and his honor. And whoever indulges in these suspicious things is like a shepherd who grazes (his animals) near the Hima (private pasture) of someone else and at any moment he is liable to get in it. (O people!) Beware! Every king has a Hima and the Hima of Allah on the earth is His illegal (forbidden) things. Beware! There is a piece of flesh in the body if it becomes good (reformed) the whole body becomes good but if it gets spoilt the whole body gets spoilt and that is the heart.”