Kopi luwak, commonly referred to as civet coffee, has gained widespread attention among consumers. This exotic beverage is composed of beans that have passed through an Asian palm civet’s digestive tract before being collected, washed and roasted – said to enhance flavor and smoothness. But does Kopi Luwak comply with Islamic dietary laws?

Muslim scholars remain divided on this issue. Some contend that beans excreted by civets contain physical filth and should therefore remain impure even after extensive washing and roasting; others maintain that Islamic law deals more with contamination rather than material itself, meaning so long as beans do not become contaminated with fecal matter, they can be considered pure.

Indonesian coffee bean collectors, wash, and roasters gather, wash, and roast beans harvested in Bali, Java and Sumatra regions for collection, washing and roasting – often for over $200 per pound online! Their smooth bitterless taste attracts buyers looking for unique coffee from this small-batch production that only exists if one knows where to look for it.

According to the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), kopi luwak is considered halal as long as its beans have been properly washed and roasted before being filtered to remove any residual fecal matter and sold for consumption.

Other scholars disagree, noting that fecal matter is considered impure and cannot be washed away with water. Therefore, they maintain that the MUI’s ruling violates Islamic law and should be overturned.

Individual Muslims must decide for themselves whether kopi luwak is forbidden under Shari’ah law; until then, it’s wise to avoid products containing prohibited ingredients and consult their Marja’ for advice on this issue.