Please advise if it is permissible to eat shark meat for Hanafis and Shafis...
Question
Please advise if it is permissible to eat shark meat for Hanafis and Shafis
Answer
In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalāmu ῾alaykum wa Rahmatullāhi Wabarakātuh
According to the Hanafi Mazhab, it is only permissible to consume from the ocean that which is classified as a fish, irrespective of what it feeds on. All other aquatic creatures which are not classified as fish will be considered Haraam.
(Hidayah, vol.4, pg.442, Shika)[1]
(Fatawa Hindiyya, vol.5, pg.289, Rashidiyya)[2]
(Ad Durrul Mukhtaar, vol.6, pg.306, HM Saeed)
Allamah Damiri (Rahimahullah) has classified sharks as fish.
(Hayatul Hayawan, vol.2, pg.708, Darul Fikr)
The characteristics of a fish are found in the shark. Hence, it will be permissible for a Hanafi to eat shark meat as well as the by-products of sharks.
And Allāh Ta῾āla Knows Best
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Dārul Iftā
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
[1] ولا يؤكل من حيوان الماء إلا السمك (فصل فيما يحل أكله وما لا يحل)
[2] فجميع ما في البحر من الحيوان يحرم أكله إلا السمك خاصة فإنه يحل أكله إلا ما طفا منه (الباب الثاني في بيان ما يؤكل من الحيوان وما لا يؤكل)
- Checked & approved by
- Mufti Ebrahim Desai
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