Consuming Swiftlet saliva has become a trend in several Asian countries, as it is believed to have significant health benefits for the human body. However, many are wondering about the law regarding consuming Swiftlet saliva, especially from a religious and health perspective. What is the actual status of Swiftlet saliva, whether it is considered sacred or unclean?
From a religious perspective, consuming Swiftlet saliva is not considered haram in Islam or other religions, as Swiftlet are considered halal for consumption. This is because Swiftlet are considered halal birds to eat according to Islamic teachings, and their saliva is considered an inseparable part of their body.
According to the Shafi’i scholars, all types of fluids that ooze and drip from the inside of an animal follow the status of the animal. If the animal is considered sacred, then the fluid is considered sacred. However, if the animal is considered unclean, then the fluid is considered unclean.
As quoted from the Encyclopedia of Kuwaiti Scholars’ Fatwas (Al-Mausu’ah Al-Fiqhiyah Al-Kuwaitiyah):
ﻭﻳﻘﻮﻝ ﺍﻟﺸﺎﻓﻌﻴﺔ ﺇﻥ ﻣﺎ ﺍﻧﻔﺼﻞ ﻋﻦ ﺑﺎﻃﻦ ﺍﻟﺤﻴﻮﺍﻥ ﻭﻟﻴﺲ ﻟﻪ ﺍﺟﺘﻤﺎﻉ ﻭﺍﺳﺘﺤﺎﻟﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺒﺎﻃﻦ ﻭﺇﻧﻤﺎ ﻳﺮﺷﺢ ﺭﺷﺤﺎ ﻛﺎﻟﻠﻌﺎﺏ ﻭﺍﻟﺪﻣﻊ ﻭﺍﻟﻌﺮﻕ ﻭﺍﻟﻤﺨﺎﻁ ﻓﻠﻪ ﺣﻜﻢ ﺍﻟﺤﻴﻮﺍﻥ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﺮﺷﺢ ﻣﻨﻪ ﺇﻥ ﻛﺎﻥ ﻧﺠﺴﺎ ﻓﻨﺠﺲ ﻭﺇﻻ ﻓﻄﺎﻫﺮ
Meaning: The scholars of the Shafi’i school of thought said that all fluids that come out of the inside of an animal, and are not considered part of the animal itself but rather excretions like saliva, sweat, and mucus, are subject to the same ruling as the animal. If the animal is considered impure, then the fluids are also considered impure. Conversely, if the animal is considered pure, then the fluids are also considered pure.
One of the evidence used to support this ruling is a hadith narrated by Imam Tirmidhi and Imam Ahmad, which states:
خطبنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بمنى وهو على راحلته ولعابها يسيل على كتف
Meaning: Prophet Muhammad once gave a sermon to us while in Mina. At that time, he was riding a camel. The camel’s saliva flowed onto my shoulder.
As the swiftlet is considered a sacred animal, the fluids that come out of its body, such as its saliva, sweat, and mucus, are considered sacred. This is different from dog saliva, as dogs are considered impure animals, so their saliva and all fluids that ooze from their body are considered impure.
Quoting another source, the Indonesian Council of Ulama’s Fatwa No. 02 of 2012 on Swiftlet Nests, which was issued on January 12, 2012, determined that:
- The nests of swiftlets, as referred to in the general provision, are considered pure and halal.
- If the swiftlet nests are mixed with or come into contact with impure substances (such as its feces), they must be purified according to Islamic law (tathhir syar’i) before consumption, as per the Fatwa of the Indonesian Ulama Council No. 2 of 2010.
- Breeding swiftlets is permissible according to Islamic law.
Although Swiftlet’s nest saliva is considered halal, if the way to obtain it involves unethical actions that harm the animals, it can be considered as actions that are not in line with Islamic values.
From a health perspective, consuming Swiftlet’s nest saliva is still debatable. Some studies have shown that Swiftlet’s nest saliva contains active compounds such as sialin and epidermal growth factor (EGF) that can help accelerate wound healing, boost the immune system, and maintain skin health. However, further research is still needed to prove more specific health benefits.
It should be noted that consuming Swiftlet’s nest saliva also carries risks. Swiftlets can carry dangerous bacteria and viruses that are harmful to human health, and if their saliva is not properly processed, it can cause diseases such as respiratory infections or digestive disorders. Additionally, if you have certain medical conditions or are taking medication, it is advisable to consult your doctor before consuming Swiftlet’s nest saliva. This is because consuming Swiftlet’s nest saliva or related products can affect your health condition and the interaction with the medication you are taking.
Therefore, if you want to consume Swiftlet’s nest saliva, make sure to buy it from a reliable source and ensure that the saliva has been properly processed to eliminate harmful bacteria and germs.