I have a query regarding a dye found in most cosmetics with a red/ purple/pink/orange base colour or colour.

Answer

There is no conundrum for issuing a fatwa on the dye carmine. The reason for all the labyrinthal arguments and endeavours to split hairs for a fatwa on such a simple issue is because Muslims, especially the Ulama of this era, have lost the path. They fail to understand that it is their duty to strengthen the Muslim's bond with Allah Ta'ala and to constantly remind him of the Aakhirah.

Muslim Insaan is not a beast nor is he supposed to conduct himself like an unbeliever whose objective is nothing but this dunya. In every fatwa a Mufti issues, along with the Fiqhi technicalities, he has to incumbently take into account the ethos and spirit of the Deen. A Mufti is not a secular lawyer. He is supposed to be a guide unto the Aakhirah.

To even contemplate the horrendous brutality to which these tiny Makhlooqaat (creatures) of Allah Ta'ala are subjected to is spine-chilling. Boiling live creatures and baking them alive in ovens are absolutely Haraam. It is Haraam (not Makrooh) to kill insects so horrifically for the sake of a non-essential item such as dye.

Apart from the insect being taahir Pure), in terms of the principles of Fiqh and the force of Islamic ethos, it is HARAAM to use, buy and sell Carmine.

A Mufti should shun the loophole provided by Fiqhi technicality, and proclaim carmine Haraam on the basis of the brutality perpetrated in order to acquire the dye. What fatwa will a Mufti issue if human bones and flesh are reduced to ashes and the ashes used in foodstuff as well as in other items? What will be the Mufti's fatwa? Or what should be his fatwa? Assuming that products yield excellent results if baby bones and baby fat are used, therefore babies are kidnapped, killed, and their parts used in the products after the bones and fat undergo the process of Tabdeel-e-Maahiyat, rendering the resultant substance taahir. Shall we have to scratch our heads and juggle with the fact that the new substances derived from human bones and flesh are taahir, hence the products are halaal? No Mufti, at least today, will venture to say that the products are halaal regardless of the tahaarat of the substances acquired from human bones and flesh after transformation..

However, since insects are not regarded to be worthy of mercy and kindness despite it being Waajib to be merciful to them, the Muftis of this era issue drivel and haraam fatwas. Their fatwas are just as Haraam as carmine or worse than carmine. It is haraam to kill animals and insects with water and fire. The cruelty to which millions of these insects are subjected to for obtaining the dye is horrendous and incompatible with Imaan. Muslims should not utilize this dye of brutality.