Seafood

Q. Some people say that all seafood—crabs, shrimps, fish, etc.—are halaal, while others say that except for fish, they are all "Makruh." Please enlighten me on this.

A. No seafood is halaal except fish. Crabs and shrimps do not fall into the category of fish and are therefore not halaal.

There is no evidence in the verse of Surah Al-Maa'idah that all seafood is halaal. The word "swaid" in this verse typically refers to "hunting" or "fishing." However, in this context, it refers to "Swaid-ul-Bahr"—i.e., marine hunting or fishing—which has been declared permissible or halaal. A distinction must be made between permission to hunt and permission to consume. Just because hunting land game is permissible does not mean that it is permissible to consume it. Similarly, permission for marine hunting does not imply permission to consume everything that is caught.

In verses 94 to 97 of Surah Al-Maa'idah, Allah Ta'ala outlines regulations concerning the Haram and the Muhrim (one who is in a state of Ihraam). Indeed, it is stated that a Muhrim does not have the right to hunt, whether inside or outside the Haram area. In verse 95 of Surah Al-Maa'idah, both terrestrial and marine hunting are prohibited. However, the next verse specifies that marine hunting is exempt from this prohibition, and emphasizes that, in a state of Ihraam, only terrestrial hunting is prohibited.

The Hadith where Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) says, "Al hillu Maita tu-hu," meaning "its Maita is halaal," does not prove that everything in the sea is halaal, because Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) himself defined the word "Maita" (a lifeless body) as "samak" (fish). Similarly, the term "lahm tari" (fresh meat), mentioned in verse 14 of Surah 16 and in verse 12 of Surah 35, means "fish" according to the Mufassireen.

Therefore, it is incorrect to claim that all seafood is halaal. In reality, only fish is halaal.

[English version of "‎Produits de mer" – Al Haadi – Vol. 1 No. 9]