Question:
Assalamu Alaykum,
I have recently been researching into what seafood are allowed and what are not. Currently I have found out that Crabs and such crustaceans that survive on land may not be and fish are. My question is what is the Hanafi ruling on the matter of prawns, squids and other such vermin of the oceans. I have been told that it’s down to my opinion whether they are fish or not but I was hoping for a Hanafi ruling on the matter. Thank you.
Answer:
Assalamu`alaikum
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim
Seafood is allowed in the Shafi’i Madhhab, whether fish, sea vermins like shrimp, prawns, lobsters, all shellfish and crustacean (i.e. they must be entirely aquatic only, not like land crabs and amphibious creatures), whether they were harvested from the sea or found dead on the shore (but not found dead and floating on the water).
In the Hanafi Madhhab, any living creature in the form of a fish only is permitted. Turbot, carp, flipper, eel and shark are included. Sea vermins are not permitted because they are not in the form of fish.
Wallahu A’lam
Abdul Shakur Hadi
