Kopi luwak, or “civet coffee”, is an unusual variety of coffee that is produced using partially digested and defecated beans of the Asian palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus). After being excreted on forest floors by these animals, they are collected, cleaned up, roasted and ground like any other type of coffee before tasting rich, smooth and sweet; unfortunately only limited production each year makes this beverage affordable.

What determines whether or not kopi luwak is halal? That depends on what view is held by Muslim clerics or ulama who issue fatwas (edicts or rulings) regarding it. While most ruling ulama accept kopi luwak consumption as permissible based on bean washing and roasting procedures alone, some do not share this view and consider anything that has come into contact with human waste as always impure despite any effort being put forth to clean it thoroughly before consumption. However, other Muslims do not share this view and believe anything that has come in contact with such contamination is always impure despite how thoroughly or how it was cleaned after exposure – no matter how thoroughly.

Islamic dietary rules emphasize cleanliness and avoidance of contamination. Some Muslims regard beans collected by civets from trees that produce them as unsuitable for consumption; others believe if any impurities can be washed off into water so as to leave no traces of their origin behind, they can be safely consumed.

Many of the world’s premier kopi luwak producers take great care to wash, roast and screen their beans multiple times for any physical contaminants before screening for quality. Furthermore, they ensure that civets are treated humanely; usually providing them with cages, water to drink from and food as part of their care package.

Luwak coffee’s main advantage lies in its natural provenance: Civets don’t force themselves to eat the coffee beans; they only eat those that are fully matured and perfect. Civets harvest ripe coffee berries from trees and leave the unripe ones for other animals to devour, providing themselves with enough food other than coffee for nutrition. This allows the civets to have a balanced diet without solely depending on coffee as their source of nourishment. With all this considered, most ulama recognize that Luwak coffee is halal; however it is still important to consult a reliable Ulama before drinking this special blend.