Consuming elephant meat

QUESTION:-

Is elephant meat halaal to consume?

ANSWER:-

It is important to keep in mind that the food one consumes, has an impact on one’s A’amaal (actions). If one eats Halaal and pure food, then one will be blessed with the Taufeeq of doing good actions, and, on the other hand, if one eats Haraam food, then the heart inclines towards the disobedience of Allah Ta’ala.

A predatory animal is defined by the Fuqaha as follows:

وَالسَّبُعُ اسْمٌ لِكُلِّ مُخْتَطِفٍ مُنْتَهِبٍ جَارِحٍ قَاتِلٍ عَادٍ عَادَةً (البحر الرائق ص63 ج3)

“A predatory animal is such an animal that grips, forcefully takes, wounds, kills and is generally aggressive.”

The Fuqaha have mentioned that it is Haraam to consume a predatory animal. Hence, it will not be permissible to consume elephant meat.

وَأما المستوحش مِنْهُ فَيحرم كل ذِي نَاب من السبَاع وكل ذِي مخلب من الطُّيُور إِلَّا الأرنب خَاصَّة لحَدِيث رَسُول الله صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم رَوَاهُ ابْن عَبَّاس أَنه نهى عَن أكل كل ذِي نَاب من السبَاع وكل ذِي مخلب من الطير وَخص مِنْهُ الأرنب لحَدِيث عمر فذو الناب من السبَاع الْأسد والذنب والنمر والفهد والثعلب والضبع وَالْكَلب والسنور الْبري والأهلي وَكَذَلِكَ الْفِيل وَابْن عرس من جملَة ذِي الناب وَنَحْوهَا (تحفة الفقهاء ص65 ج3)

 ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:-

Maulana Abdul Kader Fazlani

Date:- 25 Dhul Qa’dah 1444 / 15 June 2023

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:-

Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb