Seafood

QUESTION:

How can some things, for example, crayfish, be Halaal for some Muslims and Haraam for other Muslims to consume?

ANSWER:

With regards to seafood, the four Imaams had differences of opinion regarding its permissibility. According to the Hanafi Madhab, only fish is permissible to eat. This means that everything that is not considered to be a fish will not be permissible to eat.

قُل لَّآ أَجِدُ فِى مَآ أُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ مُحَرَّمًا عَلَىٰ طَاعِمٍ يَطْعَمُهُۥٓ إِلَّآ أَن يَكُونَ مَيْتَةً أَوْ دَمًا مَّسْفُوحًا أَوْ لَحْمَ خِنزِيرٍ فَإِنَّهُۥ رِجْسٌ أَوْ فِسْقًا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ ٱللَّهِ بِهِۦ فَمَنِ ٱضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

(سورة الانعام 145)

فعند الحنفية يحرم ما عدا السمك

(اعلاء السنن 17/186)

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

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Muhammad Isa Ali

Date: 26 Rajab 1447 / 16 January 2026

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:

Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb