Ruling regarding eating at fish restaurants

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

The premise of your question is based on contamination of Haram with Halal. It should be pointed out that not everything that is Haram is impure (Najis). There may be items that are Haram (not permissible to consume) but not impure as well.

If there is contamination of Halal with something impure (Najis), for example, beef is contaminated with pork, then in that situation it will not be permissible to consume the beef. [1] However, if there is contamination with something that is not impure as well as not Halal, then such contamination does not make Halal into Haram. [2]

According to the Hanafi Madhab, calamari, lobsters and other sea creatures are not Halal (not permissible to eat). However, they are not Najis (impure) either. Therefore, if calamari or lobsters are mixed with fish, that does not make the fish Haram and impure.

It is permissible to eat at seafood restaurants that are certified by reliable Halal certifying organizations.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mohamed Ebrahim bin Ismail Abdullah

Student - Darul Iftaa

Pietermaritzburg, KZN, South Africa

Checked and Approved by,

Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

16-03-1442|02-11-2020