List of halal fish

Various types of fish are considered halal under sharia, Islamic law.

Sunni views

In Sunni Islam, there are two general schools of thought. Most Sunni Muslim schools of jurisprudence (Shafi'i, Hanbali, and Maliki) hold as a general rule that all "sea game" (animals of the sea) are permissible to eat with a few minor exceptions. Thus, for example, the local dish Laksa (which includes meats such as shrimp and squid with a soup base made from shrimp paste), is deemed permissible in the Shafi'i Sunni Muslim majority nations of Indonesia and Malaysia where it is commonly consumed.

Hanafi views

In the Hanafi school, one of the four Sunni schools, only "fish" (as opposed to all "sea game") are permissible, including eel, croaker and hagfish.

Any other sea (or water) creatures that are not fish, therefore, are also makruh tahrimi (forbidden but not as the same level as haram) whether they breathe oxygen from water through gills (such as prawns, lobsters and crabs, which are crustaceans), molluscs such as clams, octopus, mussels and squid, especially if they breathe oxygen from air through lungs (such as sea turtles and sea snakes, which are reptiles, dolphins and whales, which are mammals, or semi-aquatic animals like penguins, which are birds, saltwater crocodiles, which are reptiles, seals, which are mammals, and frogs, which are amphibians).

In the Hanafi school of thought, there is a difference of opinion if shrimp and prawns are fish. Those who say they are halal say that the Arabs used to consider them fish, thus permissible. By contrast, others state that prawns and shrimps are not actually fish nor do they look like one so shrimps and prawns are not permissible. Additionally, the Hanafi scholars prohibit fish that died of natural causes and start to float on the surface of the water (also known as Samak-al-Tafi).[1]

Shia views

Under the Ja'fari jurisprudence followed by most Shia Muslims (including most Twelvers and Ismailis, the largest extant Shia sects), only certain fish are considered permissible for consumption. Any fish without scales are haram (forbidden) but fish that do have scales are permissible.[2] Shia scholars tend to teach that no other aquatic creatures are halal, with the exception of certain edible aquatic crustaceans (e.g. shrimp but not crab),[3][4][5] which are also Halal like scaled fish.

Ja'fari traditions require true fish scales. Specifically, Jafari Shia Islam excludes octopus exoskeleton.[6][7]

The rules are relaxed in some Islamic schools of thought, both Shia and Sunni. Some have looser definitions that include the exoskeleton of crustaceans as "scales", others yet include the softer exoskeletons of prawns as "scales" but exclude the harder exoskeletons of lobsters. They also differ in the definition of fish, some adopting a loose definition to include all water life ("sea game").

List of permitted fish

Type of sea creature Hanafi Shafi‘i Maliki Hanbali Ja‘fari (Shia)
True fish Hala (provided the animal is recognized as "fish", if possessing scales and fins)[10] Halal [10] Halal [10] Halal [10] Halal (only if it has scales) [10]
Shellfish/Crustaceans Generally not considered "true fish" and thus impermissible or at best makruh; nonetheless, there is a minority view among some Hanafi scholars that permits shrimp based on traditional usage. Halal (sea creatures are included under "sea game")[10] Halal (a broad permissibility is maintained)[10] Halal (similar to the Shafi‘i and Maliki view)[10] Haram (with debate on shrimp)[10]
Mollusks Impermissible (not classified as "fish").[10] Halal[10] Halal[10] Halal[10] Impermissible (only true fish with scales are accepted).[10]
Marine mammals Generally avoided or deemed non-permissible since they do not fit the traditional definition of "fish".[10] Halal (the general ruling "what comes from the sea is lawful" applies) [10] Halal[10] Halal[10] Haram (not classified as fish with scales)[10]
Amphibians Haram (explicitly forbidden in hadith).[11] Haram[11] Haram[11] Haram[11] Haram[11]
Reptiles Haram (not considered part of the "sea game")[10] Haram[10] Haram[10] Haram[10] Haram[10]

References

  1. ^ * Muhammad ibn Adam. "Sea Food in the Four Madhahib". Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Is Shrimp Halal?". Halal Guidance. 6 July 2022. Archived from the original on 5 June 2021.
  3. ^ "List of Halal Seafood (Shrimp)". Halal Guidance. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  4. ^ Al-Raad, Abdur Raqeeb (20 June 2022). "Is Crab Halal or Haram? (Truth Explained)". Halal Wisdom. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  5. ^ Al-Raad, Abdur Raqeeb (13 June 2021). "Is Shrimp Halal or Haram? (Truth Explained) | HalalWisdom". Halal Wisdom. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  6. ^ Common Halal and Non-Halal Sea Foods. Al-Islam.org. Retrieved on 25 April 2015
  7. ^ Food & Drink - Permitted & Prohibited - Islamic-laws.com. Retrieved on 25 April 2015.
  8. ^ "Common Kosher and Non Kosher Fish". The Kashrut Authority (Australia). (uses common names)
  9. ^ "List of Halal Fish - Halal Fish List Guide With Fish Names List". Hajj Guides. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Shaykh Muhammad Abu Bakr Badhib, "Is Seafood Permissible to Eat?", SeekersGuidance, June 15, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d e Office of His Eminence Al-Sayyid Ali Al-Husseini Al-Sistani, "Eating & Drinking – General Rules", Sistani.org.
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