Why eating Molluscs is halal in Islam with clear proofs
C.J Ahmed-08.04.2023
The oxford university defines Mollusca as follows,
“Mollusca is the group of animals that includes gastropods (snails, slugs, limpets etc), bivalves (clams, oysters, mussels etc), cephalopods (octopuses, nautiluses, squids etc), scaphopods (tusk shells), caudofoveates, solenogastres, monoplacophorans and polyplacophorans (chitons).” (https://oumnh.ox.ac.uk/learn-mollusca#:~:text=Mollusca%20is%20the%20group%20of,monoplacophorans%20and%20polyplacophorans%20(chitons)
Most Mollusca live in freshwater or oceanic enviroments and is is completely halal to eat Mollusca. The evidence for this is as follows,
Allah(Swt) says in the Quran,
"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,
“Water game means what is hunted, and its food is what the sea throws out (onto the shore).” (Sahih al Bukhari)
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 octopuses 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)
Some argue that non water or ocenic molluscs such as snails are haram because it does not fall in to this category. This argument has no basis from the Quran or authentic hadiths and is only an opinion. There is no evidence from the Quran or authentic hadiths prohibiting eating land snails. Some schlars like Imam Malik stated that is was halal to eat snails.
“Malik was asked about something in the Maghreb (North Africa) which is called a snail, that is found in the desert on the trees – can it be eaten? He said: I think it is like the locust. If it is taken alive and boiled or roasted, I do not think there is anything wrong with eating it, but if it is found dead, it should not be eaten.”(Al-Mudawwanah (1/542)
Imam Malik was having a favourable opinion on eating snails that are living in the land but gave his view by saying that if it is dead it should not be eaten. Allah9swt) says,
“He has forbidden you only Al Maitah (meat of a dead animal), blood, the flesh of swine, and any animal which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah (Al-Quran- 16:115)
But under necessity eating dead animals is halalin Islam. Allah(swt) says,
“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 molluscs is no haram in Islam.
The oxford university defines Mollusca as follows,
“Mollusca is the group of animals that includes gastropods (snails, slugs, limpets etc), bivalves (clams, oysters, mussels etc), cephalopods (octopuses, nautiluses, squids etc), scaphopods (tusk shells), caudofoveates, solenogastres, monoplacophorans and polyplacophorans (chitons).” (https://oumnh.ox.ac.uk/learn-mollusca#:~:text=Mollusca%20is%20the%20group%20of,monoplacophorans%20and%20polyplacophorans%20(chitons)
Most Mollusca live in freshwater or oceanic enviroments and is is completely halal to eat Mollusca. The evidence for this is as follows,
Allah(Swt) says in the Quran,
"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,
“Water game means what is hunted, and its food is what the sea throws out (onto the shore).” (Sahih al Bukhari)
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 octopuses 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)
Some argue that non water or ocenic molluscs such as snails are haram because it does not fall in to this category. This argument has no basis from the Quran or authentic hadiths and is only an opinion. There is no evidence from the Quran or authentic hadiths prohibiting eating land snails. Some schlars like Imam Malik stated that is was halal to eat snails.
“Malik was asked about something in the Maghreb (North Africa) which is called a snail, that is found in the desert on the trees – can it be eaten? He said: I think it is like the locust. If it is taken alive and boiled or roasted, I do not think there is anything wrong with eating it, but if it is found dead, it should not be eaten.”(Al-Mudawwanah (1/542)
Imam Malik was having a favourable opinion on eating snails that are living in the land but gave his view by saying that if it is dead it should not be eaten. Allah9swt) says,
“He has forbidden you only Al Maitah (meat of a dead animal), blood, the flesh of swine, and any animal which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah (Al-Quran- 16:115)
But under necessity eating dead animals is halalin Islam. Allah(swt) says,
“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 molluscs is no haram in Islam.