General Ruling: All “fish” from the sea is permissible. There is no restriction in any type of fish. However, those creatures of the sea which do not fulfil the technical definition of fish, are not considered permissible.
This is based on the hadeeth that mentions that Nabi ﷺ said, “Two carrions and two bloods are permissible for you; as for two carrion then it is fish and locust. And as for blood, then it is liver and spleen.” (Sunan Ibn Maajah #3314)
This would mean all crustaceans, mollusks (Mollusca), and any other type of creatures from the sea would not be permissible. These may include, but not limited to:
Lobsters, Crabs, Sea Shells, Mussels, Squid, Calamari, Octopus, etc.
Shrimps and Prawns: There is a genuine difference of opinion among the scholars about Shrimps and Prawns. The fatwa position of them being Makruh is borne from this difference of opinion by way of caution. Hence for the purpose of policy, shrimps and prawns will be considered halal suitable. While due to the difference, we encourage people to adopt taqwa and abstain, but the consumer product containing these as ingredients will be marked “halal suitable”.
Use of Alcohol in sea-food: Many sea-food cuisines use a variety of ingredients which may not be halal suitable. For example, an active use of beer in beer-batter or use of wine for texture and flavour may be used. Any alcohol used as an “active ingredient” will be considered impermissible, marked as “Haram”. However, like other consumer products, non-khamr alcohol may be tolerable under a certain threshold as halal suitable.
Other Ingredients in Sea-food cuisine: Once the above distinction is clear between “fish” vs “non-fish seafood”, any use of non-fish seafood ingredient (squid ink, oyster sauce etc.) will render the otherwise halal suitable product “haram”.
Cross Contamination in Manufacturing Facilities: Some manufacturing facilities may use the same facility to prepare non-fish ingredients to prepare or package their general consumer products. In such a case, the product may mention “May contain crustaceans”. This will render the product otherwise halal suitable, “Mushbooh (doubtful)” and thus should be avoided by way of caution.
Dolphin and Whales: Dolphin and Whales are technically not “fish” as they are mammals. However, scholars differ whether they are considered fish or not according to jurisprudence. Hence for our policy, just like prawns and shrimps, they will be marked “Halal Suitable”, which we encourage people to avoid them out of taqwa and caution.
Caviar: Caviar are fish eggs from Sturgeon Fish. Some non-Sturgeon caviar like Wild Salmon are also eaten. These are under the same ruling as “fish” hence Halal Suitable. The same will apply to algaviar, which is actually not fish based, rather from algae as a substitute.
Imitation Meat: Some imitation meat is used as a substitute for sea-food. Such imitation meat if prepared from halal suitable ingredients will be treated as halal suitable as well. An example for this is imitation crab meat which is made from surimi (deboned fish flesh often from pollock).
And Allah Ta’āla Knows BestMuftī Faisal bin Abdul Hamīd al-Mahmūdī
Darul Iftaa Canada (www.fatwa.ca)
Edmonton, Canada
for:
AskHalal.ca (Halal Foods and Ingredients)
