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Fact Checked by: Shahina Islam
Is Shrimp Halal Or Haram?: Are you looking for an answer to whether is shrimp halal? This question has been a source of debate for many years among Muslims. One of the most important sources for determining what is halal and haram, according to Islamic law, is the Quran.
The Quran does not specifically address the issue of eating seafood and thus does not provide an absolute answer on the matter. However, it does contain guidelines that may be used to help determine if shrimp is indeed halal or haram.
Is Shrimp Halal Or Haram?
Is Shrimp Halal: Generally speaking, the consensus is that shrimp is halal as long as it has been caught alive. This means it must not have died from natural causes before being consumed. The evidence to back this argument is taken from the words of our prophet, peace be upon him, where he says
“Its water is pure (for the purpose of purification rites) and its fish is lawful for you to eat.”(Sunan e Abi Dawood)
In order to make informed decisions about food, one must look at both the Islamic legal aspects as well as the general practices and opinions of scholars on the subject.
It is important to note that there is no single opinion on this issue and that various scholars have differing views based on their interpretation of Islamic law and other factors.
When looking at the Quranic guidance regarding food, states that
“..eat from what Allah has provided you; lawful and pure”
(Quran 5:88).
This directive provides some direction regarding permissible food but does not specifically mention shrimp or seafood. Furthermore, while some theologians have interpreted this verse to include fish, there are also those who believe that it only applies to land animals such as chickens and cows.
Shrimp is a type of seafood that has been consumed by people for thousands of years and is considered a delicacy in many cultures. However, the question of doubt against shrimp is raised because shrimp lacks scales, which is one of the criteria for a food to be deemed halal.
Additionally, shrimp also lacks fins, another requirement for a food to be considered halal. For this reason, shrimp is often put in concerned food materials as per traditional Islamic practices.
Also, Read:
Is Chicken Halal Or Haram? Best Information In 2023
Is Horse Meat Halal? What Quran And Hadith Say About It?
Does Quran Consider Eating Sea Food Halal?
The Quran states in Chapter 5 Verse 3,
“Forbidden to you (for food) are dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been invoked in the name of other than Allah”.
This verse clearly prohibits the consumption of pork and any animal slaughtered without proper Islamic ritual slaughtering. Since shrimp comes from the sea, it is not included in this prohibition.
Wild-caught shrimps are considered halal due to their natural origin and lack of contact with pollutants, farmed shrimp often contain antibiotics, hormones, and other chemicals that Muslims should avoid for health reasons.
Is Shrimp Halal: It is important to note that the Quran does not provide a clear-cut answer on shrimp being halal or haram and ultimately it is up to the individual Muslim to make their own informed decision about consuming shrimp.
Why In Shi’i fiqh Are Shrimp Halal But Lobsters And Crabs Are Haram?
Is Shrimp Halal: The Shi’i fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) rules on whether eating prawns, lobsters, and crabs is permitted in Islam.
When asked why shrimp is halal but lobster and crab are not, it is explained that while shrimp is regarded as a form of fish, lobster, and crab are not. Only fish with scales are typically regarded as halal in Islamic dietary regulations, while animals without scales are not.
Another possible explanation for the distinction between prawns, lobsters, and crabs is based on conventional interpretations of Islamic doctrine and the knowledge of early Islamic scholars.
What Does Scholar Say About Shrimp Being Halal Or Haram?
1. Shaikh Ahmad Kutty Thoughts On Shrimp Being Halal.
The majority opinion of Islamic scholars is that shrimp is halal and permissible to consume. Shaikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada stated:
Allah Almighty says,
“The game of the sea and its food are lawful unto you.”
(Al-Ma’idah 5:96)
Since neither Allah nor His Messenger excluded any type of fish from this permission (and we know for a fact that “Allah is never forgetful”), the vast majority of scholars hold the view that all varieties of fish found in water (which includes the sea, lakes, rivers, ponds, wells, etc.) are lawful for us to consume.
Those scholars who exclude shellfish from this category of lawful games of the sea have no solid proof. Therefore, the view of the former is considered to be the strongest.”
According to sir Shaikh Ahmad Kutty, the same affirmative view was shared by many prestigious imams as
- Malik
- Ash-Shafi`i
- Ahmad
- Abu Hanifah, and his two foremost disciples
- Abu Yusuf and Muhammad.
Thus shrimp is permissible in Islam according to the majority opinion of Islamic scholars.
2. Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani’s Opinion on Shrimp Being Halal.
Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani, a leading Islamic scholar from Pakistan, shares a different opinion on shrimp being halal. He believes that shrimp should not be consumed as it does not have scales. He states:
“Most of the jurists are of the opinion that shrimp is permissible, while some consider it forbidden because they say shrimp is like land animals in terms of being without scales and fins. The preferred view is that shrimp should not be eaten.”
Learn more: Are Prawns Halal or Haram in Islam?
3. Mufti Abdur Rahman ibn Yusuf Explains His Thought About Shrimp.
Mufti Abdur Rahman ibn Yusuf, who is a renowned Islamic scholar from South Africa, explains his opinion on shrimp being halal with the following statement:
“Shrimp is considered to be halal if it meets certain conditions. For example, shrimp must not have been caught in any filthy water or polluted environment and shrimp must not have consumed any prohibited feed or food. In addition, shrimp must be slaughtered according to Islamic principles before it is considered to be halal. Thus, shrimp can only be considered halal if all of these conditions are met.”
In conclusion, shrimp can either be regarded as halal or haram depending on what opinion you follow. Ultimately, it is up to each individual Muslim to make their own informed decision on shrimp being halal or haram.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which Seafood Is Haram In Islam?
According to Islamic law, all animals that live in the sea and don’t have scales or fins (such as shrimp, octopus, squid, etc.) are considered haram. All other types of seafood such as fish with scales or fins are considered halal.
2. Are Shrimp And Prawn The Same?
No, shrimp and prawns are not the same. Shrimp are smaller in size than prawns and they have thin, segmented tails while prawns have fan-like tails. Additionally, shrimp have claws on two front legs while prawns have claws on three pairs of front legs.
Conclusion
So, Is shrimp halal? We hope you have your answer after reading our blog post.
It is recommended that Muslims only consume responsibly sourced shrimps that have been checked for purity before the purchase in order to ensure their safety and adherence to Islamic laws regarding food consumption.
For more information on this topic you can check out the video given below:-
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