Familiarity with the Islamic Ruling on Eating Donbelan!

What is the religious ruling on eating Donbalan?

The issue begins when, for certain illnesses, knowledgeable family members suggest eating the Donbalan (testicles) of sheep or cows! At that point, you start looking for the answer to the question: Is eating Donbalan religiously permissible? Many unaware people have fallen into sin due to such baseless recommendations.

Donbalan refers to the testicles of domestic quadrupeds such as cows, sheep, and goats. It is a white, fatty gland that has specific religious rulings. Therefore, in this article, we will familiarize you with the religious ruling on Donbalan.

In Shia jurisprudence, eating Donbalan is forbidden (haram), but from the Sunni perspective, eating Donbalan is allowed (mubah). Note that Donbalan itself is considered ritually pure, but eating it is prohibited. Also, buying and selling Donbalan for consumption is forbidden, and its sale in some butcher shops does not imply that it is halal.

Fifteen things from halal animals are haram to eat:
1- Blood
2- Excrement
3- Male genitalia (nary)
4- Female genitalia (farj)
5- Uterus (bacheh-dan)
6- Glands called "dashool"
7- Testicles called "Donbalan"
8- Something in the brain shaped like a chickpea
9- Forbidden brain tissue located between the vertebrae
10- Tendons located on both sides of the vertebrae
11- Gall bladder (zohreh-dan)
12- Spleen (separz)
13- Bladder (bol-dan)
14- Eye sockets
15- Something between the hoofs called "Zat al-Ashaj’"

Effect of eating Donbalan on prayer

Although eating Donbalan is forbidden, consuming it alone does not affect the validity or acceptance of prayer. If someone eats Donbalan, whether out of ignorance or knowingly, it does not invalidate their prayer.

Religious rulings from prominent scholars:

• Imam Khomeini: Fifteen parts of halal animals, including sheep, are forbidden, and Donbalan is one of them.

• Ayatollah Khamenei: Eating Donbalan is forbidden even as medicine unless a qualified doctor prescribes it and there is no alternative treatment. Although Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said: God has not placed healing in what is forbidden.

• Ayatollah Hadavi Tehrani: Eating sheep testicles is forbidden.

• Ayatollah Sistani: Some parts of halal animals are forbidden, namely the fourteen parts mentioned above including Donbalan.

• Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi: Eating Donbalan (testicles) is forbidden and it is necessary to avoid giving it even to children.

Why is eating Donbalan forbidden?

God is wise and does nothing pointless or useless. Therefore, Shia believe all religious rulings are based on benefits and harms. Regarding this question, based on some Quranic verses and narrations, two reasons for the prohibition are mentioned:

In the Quran, Surah Al-A’raf (7:157) says:
"He makes lawful for them the good things and forbids them the impure (khabā’ith)."

Here, "khabā’ith" refers to things that are truly foul and impure, not just disliked due to personal taste. In narrations from the Infallible Imams (a.s.), Donbalan is classified as one of the impure things (khabā’ith).

There are also narrations from the Imams stating that Donbalan is among the impure (khabā’ith).