4 Islamic Proofs Why Eating Alligator is Not Haram in Islam
C.J Ahmed-21.05.2023
Alligator is an animal hat mostly lives in freshwater and also land. Eating Alligator is halal for a Muslim because animals that live in the sea is halal.
Allah(Swt) says in the Quran,
1. "The game of the water and eating thereof are permitted to you as a provision for you and for those on a journey" (Al-Quran-5:96)
The above verse clearly says that animals that live in the water such as in the sea is halal.
Ibn Abbas(Rali) explained the above verse as mentioned in Ibn kathir as "Sayduhu (lit. hunting, pursuit) refers to whatever is taken from it alive, and ta’aamuhu (lit. its food) means whatever is taken dead.”
This verse is clear proof that any animal that lives in the sea is halal.
Are Alligators Predatory?
Alligators are predatory animals just like Sharks and other fish that lives in the sea but that does not negate it as something haram to be eaten.
Abu Thalabah (Rali) narrated,The prophet (Sal) forbidding the eating of all beast of prey with fangs"
(Sahih Muslim)
Abu Hurayrah (Rali) narrated,The prophet(Sal) as saying,"The eating of all fanged beasts of prey is unlawful".(Sahih Muslim)
Anas(Rali) narrated that the prophet(Sal) prohibited the eating of all fanged beasts of prey, and all the birds having talons."
(Sahih Muslim)
There is no evidencein Ilam to prove that eating animals that live in lakes or in salt water areas are haram.Salt water lake are infact made up of sea water.
Eating Alligators is like eating crabs which is also halal to eat. What has been forbidden to eat is clearly mentioned in the Quran where Allah (swt) says,
“Say: I find not in that which is revealed unto me aught prohibited to an eater that he eat thereof, except it be carrion, or blood poured forth, or swine flesh for that verily is foul or the abomination which was immolated to the name of other than Allah. But whoso is compelled (thereto), neither craving nor transgressing, (for him) lo! Your Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.”(Al-Quran- 6:145)
Eating Alligators is somethi ng Islam is in other words silent.
The Prophet (sal) said, “Verily Allah has obligated the obligations – so do not neglect them. And He has limited the limits – so do not transgress them. And His silence about things is from His mercy, not forgetfulness, so do not investigate them.”
(Hasan sahih-Ad-Darqutni No. 4/199 and Al-Baihaqi No. 10/122 and also graded Sahih by Sheikh Albani)
Sheikh Salih al Uthaymin was one of the scholars who considered eating Alligators as halal.
Alligator is an animal hat mostly lives in freshwater and also land. Eating Alligator is halal for a Muslim because animals that live in the sea is halal.
Allah(Swt) says in the Quran,
1. "The game of the water and eating thereof are permitted to you as a provision for you and for those on a journey" (Al-Quran-5:96)
The above verse clearly says that animals that live in the water such as in the sea is halal.
Ibn Abbas(Rali) explained the above verse as mentioned in Ibn kathir as "Sayduhu (lit. hunting, pursuit) refers to whatever is taken from it alive, and ta’aamuhu (lit. its food) means whatever is taken dead.”
This verse is clear proof that any animal that lives in the sea is halal.
- Umar ibn al-Khattab (rali) said,
- Abu Hurayrah(Rali) narrated the prophet(Sal) was asked about sea water and he said, “Its water is purifying for ablution, and its dead animals are lawful to eat.”
(Tirmidhi-Graded Sahih by imam Tirmidhi)
The above authentic hadith closes the argument on whether you can eat Alligaators or not and proves clearly that eating them is halal. The companions of the prophet(Sal) also had no difference of opinion. One example is below.
- Jabir(Rali) said,"We set out in the army of al-Khabt and Abu Ubayda (Rali) was the commander of the troops. We were struck with severe hunger and the sea threw out a dead fish the like of which we had never seen, and it was called al-Anbar. We ate of it for half a month. Abu Ubayda took (and fixed) one of its bones and a rider passed underneath it (without touching it). Abu Ubayda said (to us): "Eat (of that fish)." When we arrived at Madina, we informed the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) about what had happened, and he said: "Eat, for it is food Allah has brought out for you, and feed us if you have some of it." So some of them gave him (of that fish) and he ate it."
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
Are Alligators Predatory?
Alligators are predatory animals just like Sharks and other fish that lives in the sea but that does not negate it as something haram to be eaten.
Abu Thalabah (Rali) narrated,The prophet (Sal) forbidding the eating of all beast of prey with fangs"
(Sahih Muslim)
Abu Hurayrah (Rali) narrated,The prophet(Sal) as saying,"The eating of all fanged beasts of prey is unlawful".(Sahih Muslim)
Anas(Rali) narrated that the prophet(Sal) prohibited the eating of all fanged beasts of prey, and all the birds having talons."
(Sahih Muslim)
There is no evidencein Ilam to prove that eating animals that live in lakes or in salt water areas are haram.Salt water lake are infact made up of sea water.
Eating Alligators is like eating crabs which is also halal to eat. What has been forbidden to eat is clearly mentioned in the Quran where Allah (swt) says,
“Say: I find not in that which is revealed unto me aught prohibited to an eater that he eat thereof, except it be carrion, or blood poured forth, or swine flesh for that verily is foul or the abomination which was immolated to the name of other than Allah. But whoso is compelled (thereto), neither craving nor transgressing, (for him) lo! Your Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.”(Al-Quran- 6:145)
Eating Alligators is somethi ng Islam is in other words silent.
The Prophet (sal) said, “Verily Allah has obligated the obligations – so do not neglect them. And He has limited the limits – so do not transgress them. And His silence about things is from His mercy, not forgetfulness, so do not investigate them.”
(Hasan sahih-Ad-Darqutni No. 4/199 and Al-Baihaqi No. 10/122 and also graded Sahih by Sheikh Albani)
Sheikh Salih al Uthaymin was one of the scholars who considered eating Alligators as halal.