Is Eating Insects Halal in Islam? A Detailed Explanation
C.J Ahmed-15.06.2023
Islam clearly has explained what needs to be eaten and what is to be avoided. Eating insects falls under the grey area between halal and haram meaning that Islam is silent on whether or not to eat insects.
it is halal to eat insects because Islam is Silent on it.
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)
Thefollowing verses in the Quran explains what is haram to eat and eating insects is not included.
“Say (O Muhammad): ‘I find not in that which has been revealed to me anything forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be Maytah (a dead animal) or blood poured forth (by slaughtering or the like), or the flesh of swine (pork); for that surely, is impure or impious (unlawful) meat (of an animal) which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allaah (or has been slaughtered for idols, or on which Allaah’s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering).” (6:145)
“He has forbidden to you only dead carrion, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that over which any name other than God's has been invoked; but if one is driven by necessity - neither coveting it nor exceeding his immediate need -no sin shall be upon him: for, behold, God is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace” (Al-Quran-2:173)
Eating Locusts Which are Also Insects
There is a hadith mentioning eating insects.
Narrated at-Talabb ibn Tha'labah at-Tamimi:
“I accompanied the Messenger of Allah (sal), but I did not hear about the prohibition of (eating) insects and little creatures of land.”
This hadith was narrated in Abu Dawud number-3798 but was graded weak by sheikh Albani
The permissibility of eating of insects is further proven with the eating of locusts. Locusts are also a form of insects and the pophet (sal) and his compaions ate locusts
Narrated Ibn Abi `Aufa:
We participated with the Prophet (sal) in six or seven Ghazawat, and we used to eat locusts with him. (Bukhari)
Abu Ya’fur said:
I heard Ibn Abi Awfa say when I asked him about (eating) locusts: I went on six or seven expeditions along with the Messenger of Allah (sal) and we ate them (locusts) along with him (Abu Dawud-Graded Sahih by Albani)
Ibn Abu Aufa reported:
We went on seven expeditions with Allah's Messenger (sal) and ate locusts.(Sahih Muslim)
Some try to argue that eating insects is Kabaaith (harmful or bad things). First of all anything mentioned as harmful in the Quran or the authentic hadiths should be avoided but something which is nt mentioned cannot be declared as haram based on an un brella statement. Insects contain protein, carbohydrates,zinc, calcium and magnesium. In general, eating insects are not haram in Islam un less the specific insect which is clearly mentioned in Islam as forbidden.
Islam clearly has explained what needs to be eaten and what is to be avoided. Eating insects falls under the grey area between halal and haram meaning that Islam is silent on whether or not to eat insects.
it is halal to eat insects because Islam is Silent on it.
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)
Thefollowing verses in the Quran explains what is haram to eat and eating insects is not included.
“Say (O Muhammad): ‘I find not in that which has been revealed to me anything forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be Maytah (a dead animal) or blood poured forth (by slaughtering or the like), or the flesh of swine (pork); for that surely, is impure or impious (unlawful) meat (of an animal) which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allaah (or has been slaughtered for idols, or on which Allaah’s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering).” (6:145)
“He has forbidden to you only dead carrion, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that over which any name other than God's has been invoked; but if one is driven by necessity - neither coveting it nor exceeding his immediate need -no sin shall be upon him: for, behold, God is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace” (Al-Quran-2:173)
Eating Locusts Which are Also Insects
There is a hadith mentioning eating insects.
Narrated at-Talabb ibn Tha'labah at-Tamimi:
“I accompanied the Messenger of Allah (sal), but I did not hear about the prohibition of (eating) insects and little creatures of land.”
This hadith was narrated in Abu Dawud number-3798 but was graded weak by sheikh Albani
The permissibility of eating of insects is further proven with the eating of locusts. Locusts are also a form of insects and the pophet (sal) and his compaions ate locusts
Narrated Ibn Abi `Aufa:
We participated with the Prophet (sal) in six or seven Ghazawat, and we used to eat locusts with him. (Bukhari)
Abu Ya’fur said:
I heard Ibn Abi Awfa say when I asked him about (eating) locusts: I went on six or seven expeditions along with the Messenger of Allah (sal) and we ate them (locusts) along with him (Abu Dawud-Graded Sahih by Albani)
Ibn Abu Aufa reported:
We went on seven expeditions with Allah's Messenger (sal) and ate locusts.(Sahih Muslim)
Some try to argue that eating insects is Kabaaith (harmful or bad things). First of all anything mentioned as harmful in the Quran or the authentic hadiths should be avoided but something which is nt mentioned cannot be declared as haram based on an un brella statement. Insects contain protein, carbohydrates,zinc, calcium and magnesium. In general, eating insects are not haram in Islam un less the specific insect which is clearly mentioned in Islam as forbidden.