Are Sharks halaal?

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

dear sir,

asak

in this q&a issue u told all the animal of the sea water is halal, i want to know about sea animals like frogs (maindak), snakes, sharks, crocodile, seal, sea horse etc. etc. is this halal, if its hallal, please tell me about shark, it is eating humanbeings also, i never heared b4 that maindak eaten by any human beings. please reply all these quires

awaiting ur reply

 

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Answer:

 

Are Sharks halaal?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol,  no person,  no grave, no prophet,  no imam,  no dai,  nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

In determining whether a thing is halaal or haraam,  the principle or ‘usool’ in Shariah is that unless the thing is found in the list of the haraam,  it will be considered halaal for the believers.   Frogs,  snakes,  sharks,  crocodiles,  seals,  and sea-horses are not found in the list of haraam foods;  therefore they will be considered halaal for the believers.

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 16 Surah Nahl verse 14:It is He (Allah) Who has subjected the sea to your service so that you may get fresh flesh from it to eat and bring out of it articles of ornaments,  which you wear.

 

Abu Hurairah (r.a.)  related that a man asked the Messenger of Allah (saws), "O Messenger of Allah, we sail on the ocean and we carry only a little water.  If we use it for ablution, we will have to go thirsty.  May we use sea water for ablution?"   Said the Messenger of Allah (saws),   "Its (the sea) water is pure and (even) its dead (animals) are lawful (i.e., they can be eaten without any prescribed slaughtering)."

 

In light of the above Aayah of the Quran,  and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws),  almost all the scholars in Islam are unanimous in their opinion that all types of animal that predominantly live in the sea are halaal for the believers.   

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verse 32 (part): Say: Who hath forbidden the beautiful (gifts) of Allah which He hath produced for His servants,  and the things clean and pure (which He hath provided) for sustenance?

 

Your Question: please tell me about shark, it is eating human beings also

The nature of most types of fish is such,  that it will eat almost anything which is edible.   If the flesh of human being is cut in small pieces and thrown in the sea,  the flesh will be eaten by most of the fishes.   Thus,  the permissibility of the haraam/halaal of a fish does not depend on whether it eats human flesh or not;   but its permissibility depends on the guidance and teachings of Allah and His Messenger (saws).   The Messenger of Allah (saws) has declared that all types of food that is derived from the sea is halaal for the believers,  and since Sharks live in the sea,  they will be considered halaal as food for the believers.

 

Your Question: i never heared b4 that maindak eaten by any human beings.

Although I personally have never tried it myself,  I understand that frogs,  especially frog-legs, are considered a delicacy in many parts of the world,  especially in South-East Asia.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your Brother in Islam,

 

 

Burhan

 

 
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