Is GSK.L (GSK plc) Halal or Haram?

Based on our AAOIFI-standard shariah screening, GSK.L is Halal and considered permissible for Muslim investors. It passed all 4 of 4 compliance screens including business activity review, debt-to-market-cap ratio (20.04% vs ≤33% threshold), interest income ratio (0.52% vs ≤5% threshold), and cash & securities ratio (3.85% vs ≤33% threshold).

GSK plc is a global biopharma giant headquartered in the UK, focusing primarily on vaccines and specialty medicines. The company is a leader in respiratory treatments and HIV therapies, alongside a growing portfolio in oncology and immunology. Unlike some peers, GSK recently spun off its consumer healthcare division (Haleon), allowing it to focus strictly on high-value prescription drugs and vaccine development. For Muslim investors, GSK is currently classified as Halal, passing all four AAOIFI screening metrics. The company’s core business of developing life-saving treatments aligns well with Islamic ethical principles of preserving life and health. Because it passes the business activity screen and all financial ratios, investors can hold this stock without the need for purification of the principal investment, though dividend purification may still apply to the small portion of interest income. Fin ancially, GSK maintains a healthy balance sheet relative to Shariah standards. Its debt-to-market cap ratio is 2 0.0%, which provides a comfortable buffer against the 33% limit, and its cash holdings are relatively low at 3 .9%, suggesting efficient capital deployment rather than hoarding cash in interest-bearing accounts. The primary financial metric to watch is the interest income ratio, which is currently very low at 0.52%, showing that GSK relies almost exclusively on drug sales for revenue. Going forward, investors should monitor GSK's debt levels if the company pursues large acquisitions to bolster its drug pipeline. While currently compliant, large-scale pharmaceutical mergers are often funded by debt, which could temporarily impact the debt -to-market cap ratio. However, as it stands, GSK represents a stable, compliant option within the healthcare sector. GSK plc operates in the Healthcare sector under the Drug Manufacturers - General industry and is headquartered in Brentford, GB. The company is led by CEO Luke Victor Miels and employs approximately 68,629 people.

GSK.L was screened using AAOIFI-based shariah compliance criteria. Four tests are applied: (1) Business Activity — the company's core business must not derive primary income from haram (prohibited) activities such as alcohol, gambling, tobacco, or interest-based finance. (2) Debt-to-Market-Cap — total debt must not exceed 33% of market capitalization. (3) Interest Income — interest income must not exceed 5% of total revenue. (4) Cash & Securities — cash and interest-bearing securities must not exceed 33% of market cap. GSK.L passed 4 of these 4 screens.

Although GSK.L passes all shariah screens, it does earn $169.0M in interest income (0.52% of revenue). Many scholars recommend purifying this portion by donating the equivalent percentage of any dividends received to charity. For example, if you receive $100 in dividends, you would donate approximately $0.52 to purify the income.

GSK.L was last screened on 2026-02-24. Shariah compliance status can change as companies report new financial data, acquire new businesses, or shift revenue streams. We recommend checking back periodically for the most up-to-date screening results.