Darul Ifta, Darul Uloom Azaadville

Consuming Squid, Prawns, Crayfish, Calamari And Crabs

· 19 Rabiʻ I 1443 AH1 min readEnglish

Question

Can Hanafis consume the following: Squid, Prawns, Crayfish, Calamari and Crabs?

Answer

According to the Hanafi Madhab, all sea animals and species that are born and live in the sea/ocean/water are impermissible to consume with the exception of all fish. Therefore, the enquired creatures except prawns will be impermissible to consume, since they are not fish. As far as prawns are concerned, due to the difference of opinion in categorizing prawns (being from the fish family or not), our ‘Ulama have advised us to exercise caution and abstain from eating prawns as this is also the demand of Taqwa (piety), which is the best and safest option for a believer.

However, one should not reprimand others who consume it, and should not accuse them of consuming Haram as some ‘Ulama have permitted the consuming of prawns.

References (Arabic / Urdu sources)

ولا يؤكل من حيوان البحر الا السمك…هداية ص ١٥٠ ج ٧ ط:بشري نسخة قديمة

(ولا) يحل (حيوان مائي إلا السمك) … (و) إلا (الجريث) سمك أسود (والمارما هي) سمك في صورة الحية، وأفردهما بالذكر للخفاء وخلاف محمد..(وحل الجراد) وإن مات حتف أنفه، بخلاف السمك (وأنواع السمك بلا ذكاة) لحديث «أحلت لنا ميتتان: السمك والجراد، ودمان: الكبد والطحال» بكسر الطاء…

شامي ص ٣٠٦-٣٠٧ ج ٦ ط:سعيد

سب سے پہلے یہ جاننا چاہئے کہ ماہرین حیوانات نے مچھلی کی پہچان کیلئے چار علامات لکھی ہیں: (۱) ریڑھ کی ہڈی (۲) سانس لینے کیلئے گلپھڑے (۳) تیرنے کے پنکھے (۴) ماحول کے مطابق جسم کے درجہ حرارت کا کم وبیش ہونا۔ یہ علامتیں جس میں ہونگی وہ مچھلی کہلائیگی اور مذہبِ حنفی میں سمندری جانوروں میں سے فقط مچھلی کے کھانے کی اجازت ہے۔ کلماری(calamari) یہ بھی اخطوبط کی طرح ایک سمندر جانور ہے مچھلی کی علامت اس میں موجود نہیں اس لئے اسکا کھانا بھی ناجائز ہے۔

فتاوی دار العلوم زکریا ص ۲۷۱-۲۷۲ ج ۶ ط: زم زم

تكملة فتح الملهم 514/3 ؛ فقهي مقالات 215-219/3

Approved by
Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.
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Questions about this ruling, answered only from the archive with sources.

Where scholars differ, it’s safer to take the more cautious view.

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Source: Darul Ifta, Darul Uloom Azaadville — https://www.iftadua.co.za/squid-prawns-crayfish-calamari-and-crabs/9998/
Fatawa SA: https://fatawa.co.za/fatwa/azaadville-9998

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