I want to know about the land and sea animals whose consumption is forbidden. I have heard that it is permissible to eat, for example, turtles, pigeons, and frogs. Is this correct?
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The questioner : I want to know about the land and sea animals whose consumption is forbidden. I have heard that it is permissible to eat, for example, turtles, pigeons, and frogs. Is this correct?
The Shaykh : First, it must be known that the original ruling regarding foods and drinks is that they are lawful, except for what evidence has established as forbidden. If we are in doubt about something, whether it is lawful or forbidden, it is lawful until it becomes clear that it is forbidden. The evidence for this is the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Baqarah 2:29] Thus, His saying: [Al-Baqarah 2:29] includes everything on earth, whether animal, plant, clothing, or otherwise.
And Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Jathiyah 45:13] And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: .
Accordingly, the original ruling for all animals is that they are lawful until evidence of prohibition is established. Among the forbidden items are domestic donkeys, based on the hadith of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered Abu Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him) on the day of Khaybar to announce:Sunan Ibn Majah 3196Sahih (Darussalam) Also included in this is every predator with fangs that preys with them, such as the wolf, the lion, the elephant, and the like.
Also included is every bird of prey with talons that hunts with them, such as the eagle, the falcon, the hawk, the kite, and the like. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 3806Da'if (Al-Albani) Also included is what the Shari'ah has ordered to be killed or forbidden from being killed.
As for what the Shari'ah has ordered to be killed, it is not eaten, because what the Lawgiver has ordered to be killed is harmful by its nature. If a person feeds on it, he may acquire from the nature of its meat something that causes harm, making him inclined to harm people. As for what the Lawgiver has forbidden from being killed, it is out of respect for it, as the Lawgiver has forbidden its killing.
Among those forbidden from being killed are the crow and the kite. Among those forbidden from being killed are the ant, the bee, the hoopoe, and the woodpecker.
Also included is what is born from a mix of edible and non-edible, such as the mule, because in it is combined a permissive factor and a prohibitive factor, and the side of prohibition prevails, since it is not possible to leave the prohibited here except by avoiding the commanded, so it is obligatory to turn away from it.
Also included is what eats carrion, such as the vulture, the buzzard, and the like.
These are seven types of what the Shari'ah has forbidden, although there is scholarly disagreement regarding some of them. Things should be referred back to their original principles, and it is said that the original ruling for birds and other animals is that they are lawful until evidence of prohibition is established.
The Shaykh : First, it must be known that the original ruling regarding foods and drinks is that they are lawful, except for what evidence has established as forbidden. If we are in doubt about something, whether it is lawful or forbidden, it is lawful until it becomes clear that it is forbidden. The evidence for this is the saying of Allah the Exalted:
It is He who created for you all of that which is on the earth
هو الذي خلق لكم ما في الأرض جميعاًcreated for you all of that which is on the earth
خلق لكم ما في الأرض جميعاًAnd Allah the Exalted said:
And He has subjected to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth - all from Him
وسخر لكم ما في السماوات وما في الأرض جميعاً منهWhat Allah has been silent about is a matter of discretion
ما سكت الله عنه فهو عفوIndeed, Allah has prescribed obligations, so do not neglect them, and He has set limits, so do not transgress them, and He has been silent about certain things out of mercy for you, not out of forgetfulness, so do not seek them out.
إن الله فرض فرائض فلا تضيعوها وحد حدوداً فلا تعتدوها ، وسكت عن أشيائ رحمة بكم غير نسيان فلا تبحثوا عنهاAccordingly, the original ruling for all animals is that they are lawful until evidence of prohibition is established. Among the forbidden items are domestic donkeys, based on the hadith of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered Abu Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him) on the day of Khaybar to announce:
Allah and His Messenger forbid you to eat the flesh of domesticated donkeys, for it is filthy.
إن الله ورسوله ينهيانك عن لحوم الحمر الأهلية فإنها رجسAlso included is every bird of prey with talons that hunts with them, such as the eagle, the falcon, the hawk, the kite, and the like. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
every fanged beast of prey, and every bird with a talon
نهى عن كل ناب من السباع وكل ذي مخلب من الطيرAs for what the Shari'ah has ordered to be killed, it is not eaten, because what the Lawgiver has ordered to be killed is harmful by its nature. If a person feeds on it, he may acquire from the nature of its meat something that causes harm, making him inclined to harm people. As for what the Lawgiver has forbidden from being killed, it is out of respect for it, as the Lawgiver has forbidden its killing.
Among those forbidden from being killed are the crow and the kite. Among those forbidden from being killed are the ant, the bee, the hoopoe, and the woodpecker.
Also included is what is born from a mix of edible and non-edible, such as the mule, because in it is combined a permissive factor and a prohibitive factor, and the side of prohibition prevails, since it is not possible to leave the prohibited here except by avoiding the commanded, so it is obligatory to turn away from it.
Also included is what eats carrion, such as the vulture, the buzzard, and the like.
These are seven types of what the Shari'ah has forbidden, although there is scholarly disagreement regarding some of them. Things should be referred back to their original principles, and it is said that the original ruling for birds and other animals is that they are lawful until evidence of prohibition is established.