THE RELEVANCE OF ISTITĀBAT AL-‘ARAB TO ANIMAL-BASED FOOD SOURCES IN MALAYSIA

The principle of Istitābat al-‘Arab, traditionally used in Islamic jurisprudence to determine the permissibility of matters where explicit Qur’anic or ḥadīth-based evidence is lacking, remains underexplored in Malaysia’s contemporary halal regulatory framework, particularly in addressing the complexities of modern animal-based food production. However, the principle of Istitābat al-‘Arab, though historically developed for determining the legality of ambiguous practices in the absence of explicit textual evidence, has not been thoroughly explored in the context of Malaysia’s growing complexities in animal-based food production. This paper aims to explore the relevance of the principle of Istitābat Al-‘Arab to contemporary issues of animal-based food sources in Malaysia by examining how this classical Islamic legal mechanism, used to assess permissibility in the absence of explicit textual evidence, can be applied to modern uncertainties surrounding halal status. This study employed a qualitative review analysis methodology to investigate the relevance of the principle of Istitābat al-‘Arab in contemporary issues related to animal-based food sources in Malaysia. The review analysis reveals several Relevance of the Principle of Istitābat Al-‘Arab to Contemporary Issues of Animal-Based Food Sources in Malaysia, including: (a) Reaffirmation of Istitābat al-‘Arab as a Supplementary Legal Principle, (b) Divergent Scholarly Interpretations in Contemporary Contexts, (c) Limited Integration within Malaysia’s Halal Governance System; and (d) Contemporary Relevance for Emerging Food Technologies. In conclusion, the principle of Istitābat al-‘Arab holds significant potential to enrich Malaysia’s halal regulatory framework by addressing ambiguities in animal-based food sources where explicit textual guidance is absent. Future research should explore how Istitābat al-‘Arab can be operationalized across emerging food sectors, and how collaboration between Islamic jurists, scientists, and policy actors can ensure both religious authenticity and practical compliance in Malaysia’s evolving halal ecosystem.