Imagine you have sizzling hot shrimp, tender lobster, and succulent fish, in front of you, does it look enticing? The scene must have made your mouth water but can of think of these to eat as a Muslim? All Muslims stick to the halal dietary guidelines all their life. If you are a Muslim you must have thought is seafood halal? We will reveal the truth about this concerning thought of Muslims in our today’s blog. Let’s find out is seafood is permissible for Muslims according to Islamic dietary laws.
Is All Seafood Halal?
There has been a lot of debate between Islamic scholars on the status of water animals. A verse in Quran (5:96) states:
“Lawful to you is what you catch from the sea and use for food as provision for yourself and for the travelers……”
According to this message, all seafood is halal in Islam. From sea plants to animals, everything is halal. This does not mean eat everything there are some exceptions in seafood, too. The forbidden animals include crocodiles, frogs, and others.
The scholarly debates have complexed seeking answers to this question. So, is seafood halal? According to the 5:96 verse of the Quran, it is halal, but the Hanafi school of Islamic Law says that the verse is only specific to fish. No water animal other than fish is halal for a Muslim. According to this school of thought, crabs, shrimps, prawns, etc. are prohibited in Islam because they can not be categorized as fish.
However, a Muslim should follow the Quran only because that’s the only truth. Many believe, eat seafood other than fish too but that does not include any toxic or harmful animals. If any animal is proven to cause an allergic reaction, a disease, or toxic a Muslim should avoid eating it. Moreover, any fish without scales is not halal for Muslims.
Halal and Haram Sea Animals and Seafood
As I mentioned earlier not all sea animals and plants are halal. I am sharing a list of commonly eaten water animals to make this concept essay for you. Stay with us and see which animal is halal for you.
Sushi
Sushi is one of the most popular seafood all over the world. Is this Japanese dish halal for Muslims? The answer is a YES. Sushi is halal for Muslims and does not contain any haram ingredient.
The Shelled Fish: Crabs, Shrimps, & Prawns
There are a variety of animals you can find in the sea and ocean but not all of them are halal. Although, it has been mentioned in the Quran seafood is halal, different schools of thought have different opinions. Some say shelled fish like crabs, shrimps, lobsters, etc. are halal. While the Hanafi school disagrees with this statement and believes only fish is halal. So, it’s a matter of your choice and which school of thoughts make more sense to you. The best halal steakhouse restaurants in Canada are offering seafood. If you want to enjoy halal seafood, visit these restaurants.
Giant Sea Creatures
Besides, small sea animals and giant creatures live peacefully in the same water. But are these halal? What giant sea animal can you think of? Whale, Shark, Squid, Octopus? The whale is not a fish but a mammal and is considered halal. You won’t believe but sea monster like sharks is halal too. You as a Muslim can eat both gigantic fish without breaking the laws of Islamic dietary guidelines.
Similarly, squid and octopus are halal, too, but the clash of different schools of thought of Islam also exists here. The Hanafi school does not consider any animal other than fish as halal. So, if you follow the Hanafi school these animals might not be for you but are permissible in Islam.
Turtles
This is something all Islamic schools of thought agree upon, turtles are halal. However, because they are partially terrestrial animals, they should be slaughtered like land animals.
Sea Horses
Sea horses might not seem like fish, but surprisingly they are classified as fish. Like all other fish in the sea, the sea horse is also halal.
Crocodiles and Aligators
These are not sea animals completely. They live in water sometimes but are considered land animals. Also, they are not halal according to Islam because they have fangs. Any terrestrial animal with fangs is not halal. These include crocodiles, alligators, snakes, hippopotamus, otters, and seals.
Conclusion
A Muslim should only eat halal food. This is why it is important to understand what food is permissible and prohibited in Islam. Many also ask, is seafood halal. Yes, seafood is halal but there are a few exceptions in this too. We have shared the complete list of sea animals that are considered halal and haram for Muslims. Use this information to guide yourself about what seafood you are permitted to eat.
FAQs
Which seafood is not halal?
According to the Quran, all seafood is halal but it has a few exceptions. Fish with scales, shrimps, lobster, and octopus, are halal. However, crocodiles, alligators, and fish without scales are not halal.
Can Muslims eat prawns?
Prawns are halal and Muslims can eat it without any worries. However, Hanafi scholars do not categorize any seafood except fish as halal.
Is seafood naturally halal?
Yes, seafood is naturally halal. However, there are disagreements about this between different schools of thought of Islam. So, if you follow the Hanafi school you can only eat fish no other seafood is permissible to you. Remember, this is not what is written in the Quran. According to one of the verses, seafood is halal for Muslims except the toxic ones.