Overview
Besan, also known as chickpea flour, gram flour, or garbanzo bean flour, is a fine powder made by grinding dried chickpeas (Cicer arietinum), specifically the Bengal gram variety. It is a staple in South Asian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean cuisines, commonly used in savory snacks (e.g., pakoras, bhajis), flatbreads (e.g., cheela), sweets (e.g., besan laddoo), and as a thickener or binder in sauces and batters.
Source
Plant-based — derived exclusively from chickpeas (a legume), with no animal or synthetic components in its basic form.
Islamic Ruling - Scholarly Perspectives
Madhahib Perspectives
Hanafi School: Plant-based legume flours—including chickpea flour—are inherently halal unless contaminated with haram substances during processing or mixed with non-halal additives. Since besan is a pure, unprocessed legume product, it is permissible.
Maliki School: The Maliki madhhab permits all plant-derived foods unless explicitly prohibited in the Qur’an or Sunnah. As chickpeas are not among the explicitly forbidden items and besan contains no intoxicants or impurities, it is halal.
Shafi'i School: According to Imam Shafi’i, all plants and legumes are halal by default unless proven otherwise. Besan, being a ground form of chickpeas (a permissible legume), is halal.
Hanbali School: Ibn Qudamah (in al-Mughni) states that legumes—including chickpeas—are halal unless processed with alcohol, pork-derived enzymes, or other haram agents. Pure besan meets this standard.
Important Considerations
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Cross-contamination concerns during processing: Besan may be processed in facilities that also handle wheat, soy, or animal-derived ingredients (e.g., dairy, gelatin), potentially leading to cross-contact. While trace contamination does not automatically render it haram (per most scholars), those seeking strict halal compliance should prefer certified products or those labeled “dedicated line” or “processed in a halal-compliant facility.”
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Certification importance: Although besan itself is halal, commercial brands may include anti-caking agents (e.g., calcium silicate) or be milled with equipment cleaned with alcohol-based sanitizers. Halal certification ensures no haram additives or processing aids are used. Several halal-certified besan products are available (e.g., from One Stop Halal, Halal 4 ALL, DesiMe).
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Translation notes for Arabic/Malay users searching "besan in arabic": In Arabic, besan is commonly referred to as طحين الحمص (taḥīn al-ḥuṃuṣ) or دقيق الحمص (diqīq al-ḥuṃuṣ), though دقيق الشعير is not correct (that’s barley flour). In Malay/Indonesian, it is known as tepung kacang chickpea, tepung bengal, or tepung garbanzo. Avoid confusion with tepung terigu (wheat flour) or tepung beras (rice flour).
References
- A Comprehensive Guide to Halal and Haram Ingredients
- List of Halal/Haram/ Mushbooh Food Ingredients - WorldOfIslam - Halal & Haram Food
- What is Halal / Haram? - WorldOfIslam - Halal & Haram Food
- Deer Gram Flour - Besan – One Stop Halal
- Products – Tagged "Flour Type_Gram Flour (Besan)" – One Stop Halal
- Balah Gram Flour 2kg – DesiMe
Disclaimer: This analysis combines research with AI verification. This is NOT a fatwa. Scholars genuinely differ on this issue. Please consult qualified Islamic scholars for religious rulings specific to your situation and madhab.