Is clams fish permissible to consume?

Published as Clams fish

· 20 Rajab 1443 AH1 min readEnglish

Question

Is clams fish permissible to consume?

Answer

According to our research, clams, or clamshell, do not fall into the category of fish. Below is an excerpt extracted from the Internet, defining clamshell:

Clam fish

Despite the name, shellfish are not actually fish, but are simply water-dwelling animals. Most shellfish are low on the food chain and eat a diet composed primarily of phytoplankton and zooplankton. … Molluscs used as a food source by humans include many species of clams, mussels, oysters, winkles, and scallops.

We, as followers of the Hanafi Madhab, are only permitted to consume fish from the ocean, and due to the clamshell not falling in the category of a fish, it will not be Halal/suitable for consumption by us, as followers of the Hanafi Madhab.

Answered by
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Questions about this ruling, answered only from the archive with sources.

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

Fatawa SA is an independent, read-only index of fatawa already published by Darul Ifta Ibn Masood. It is not a fatwa service. For your own situation, please ask a Mufti. Report an issue

For corrections or mistakes, please email us at fatawasa786@gmail.com.