Is it permissible to use a microwave, knowing its harm to human health, and that everything harmful to humans is unlawful?
Islamic Sharia is built upon the principle of realizing benefits and averting harms. If a benefit and a harm conflict, averting the harm takes precedence over realizing the benefit. However, if the harm in a matter is remote, or if the benefit outweighs it, then the benefit is acted upon. As Sayyid Abdullah stated in "Al-Maraqi": "And disregard if the harm is more remote… or if the reformation outweighs it, like captives… ransomed with what benefits the Christians." Accordingly, if it is proven that using a microwave oven harms human health, and its harm outweighs or equals its benefit, then its use is forbidden. But if its benefit outweighs its harm, then its use is permissible.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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