Halal or Not? Your Guide to Permissible Land and Aquatic Animals

Jump to: Halal animals | Haram animals

Maintaining a list of what is permissible (halal) and what is not (haram) regarding animals is deemed essential by Muslims who adhere to Islamic dietary guidelines. Several reasons underscore the significance of this list.

Before delving into the details, it is crucial to understand the criteria for classifying a land animal as Halal according to Islamic law:

  1. The animal must belong to a permissible species. According to the Islamic halal rule, animals with fangs and claws, alongside birds with talons, are non-halal and unfit for eating. Since crocodiles are also land animals, the reason for the prohibition is valid. They are land animals with fangs, therefore non-halal.
    Fact: While consuming certain animals (such as carnivorous animals or those trained to fight) is generally considered haram or forbidden in Islam, this is not always the case. For example, chickens and turkeys have claws and beaks and are generally considered halal.
  2. It must be alive and healthy at the time of slaughter.
  3. The slaughtering process must be carried out by a sane adult Muslim.
  4. The name of Allah must be invoked during the slaughter.
  5. The animal should be swiftly and precisely slaughtered with a sharp knife, ensuring that the throat, windpipe, and blood vessels in the neck are cut, leading to the animal’s death without severing the spine.
  6. The blood must be fully drained from the veins.

Regarding seafood, the Hanafi and Shafi’i schools of Islamic jurisprudence hold differing views:

  • According to the Shafi’i school, all living creatures in the sea, regardless of their resemblance to fish, are considered halal. This category includes oysters, shrimp, lobsters, and crabs.
  • However, the Hanafi school adopts a more restrictive stance. They permit only fish from the sea (with fins and scales), while other sea creatures are generally deemed unlawful for consumption. Notably, opinions within the Hanafi school vary regarding prawns, with some scholars allowing them due to their resemblance to fish, while others do not.
  • Naturally poisonous animals are generally prohibited in Islamic jurisprudence due to the health risks they pose to humans. However, certain non-harmful parts of animals, especially aquatic ones, may be permissible.
  • Consult knowledgeable Islamic scholars or Halal certification authorities to navigate these dietary guidelines effectively.

This comprehensive list may help Muslims to make informed choices aligned with their religious beliefs, health considerations, ethical values, and cultural practices.

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Column 5

Jump to: Halal animals | Haram animals

Halal Animals (Permissible to Eat)

# Animal Status
1 Addax
Land animals · Addax nasomaculatus
Halal
2 Albatross
Birds · Diomedeidae
Halal
3 Alpaca
Land animals · Vicugna pacos
Halal
4 Anglerfish
Fish · Lophiiformes
Halal
5 Antelope
Land animals · Bovidae (various species)
Halal
6 Argali
Land animals · Ovis ammon
Halal
7 Barracuda
Fish · Sphyraena
Halal
8 Birds without talons
Birds
Halal
9 Bison
Land animals · Bison bison / Bison bonasus
Halal
10 Blackbird
Birds · Turdus merula
Halal
11 Budgerigar
Birds · Melopsittacus undulatus
Halal
12 Buffalo
Land animals · Bubalus bubalis
Halal
13 Bustard (bird)
Birds · Otididae
Halal
14 Camel
Land animals · Camelus dromedarius / Camelus bactrianus
Halal
15 Catfish
Fish · Siluriformes
Halal
16 Caviar
Fish · Acipenseriformes
Halal
17 Chicken
Birds · Gallus gallus domesticus
Halal
18 Clam
Marine seafood · Bivalvia
Halal
19 Cormorant
Birds · Phalacrocorax
Halal
20 Cow
Land animals · Bos taurus
Halal
21 Crab
Marine seafood · Brachyura
See Mud Crab in the Not Halal table.
Halal
22 Crane
Birds · Gruidae
Halal
23 Crawfish
Marine seafood · Astacidea
Halal
24 Crayfish
Marine seafood · Astacidea
Halal
25 Cricket
Insects & land invertebrates · Gryllidae
Halal
26 Cuttlefish
Marine seafood · Sepiida
Halal
27 Deer
Land animals · Cervidae
Halal
28 Dogfish
Fish · Squalus acanthias
Halal
29 Dolphin
Marine mammals · Delphinidae
Only according to the Shafi’i and Maliki schools.
Halal
30 Dove
Birds · Columbidae
Halal
31 Duck
Birds · Anatidae
Halal
32 Dugong
Marine mammals · Dugong dugon
Only according to the Shafi’i and Maliki schools.
Halal
33 Eel
Fish · Anguilla
Halal
34 Egg roe
Fish
Halal
35 Egret
Birds · Ardeidae
Halal
36 Eland
Land animals · Taurotragus oryx
Halal
37 Finch
Birds · Fringillidae
Halal
38 Fish (common fish, e.g., salmon, snapper)
Fish
Halal
39 Flamingo
Birds · Phoenicopteridae
Halal
40 Francolin
Birds · Francolinus
Halal
41 Freshwater fish (e.g., tilapia)
Fish
Halal
42 Gazelle
Land animals · Gazella
Halal
43 Geese
Birds · Anser
Halal
44 Gemsbok
Land animals · Oryx gazella
Halal
45 Giraffe
Land animals · Giraffa camelopardalis
Halal
46 Goat
Land animals · Capra hircus
Halal
47 Grasshopper
Insects & land invertebrates · Caelifera
Halal
48 Grebe
Birds · Podicipedidae
Halal
49 Gull
Birds · Laridae
Halal
50 Hagfish
Fish · Myxinidae
Halal
51 Hares
Land animals · Lepus
Halal
52 Heron
Birds · Ardeidae
Halal
53 Hoopoe
Birds · Upupa epops
Halal
54 Horse
Land animals · Equus ferus caballus
Halal
55 Ibex
Land animals · Capra ibex
Halal
56 Ibis
Birds · Threskiornithidae
Halal
57 Kangaroo
Land animals · Macropus
If the government protects it as a protected species, it is not Halal under the rules of the land.
Halal
58 Kingfisher
Birds · Alcedinidae
Halal
59 Krill
Marine seafood · Euphausiacea
Halal
60 Lamb
Land animals · Ovis aries
Halal
61 Llama
Land animals · Lama glama
Halal
62 Lobster
Marine seafood · Nephropidae
Halal
63 Locust
Insects & land invertebrates · Acrididae
Halal
64 Loon
Birds · Gavia
Halal
65 Mackerel
Fish · Scombridae
Halal
66 Magpie
Birds · Pica pica
Halal
67 Manta ray
Fish · Mobula
Halal
68 Martlet
Birds
Halal
69 Moorhen
Birds · Gallinula chloropus
Halal
70 Moose
Land animals · Alces alces
Halal
71 Mussel
Marine seafood · Mytilidae
Halal
72 Nightingale
Birds · Luscinia megarhynchos
Halal
73 Octopus
Marine seafood · Octopoda
Halal
74 Oryx
Land animals · Oryx
Halal
75 Ostrich
Birds · Struthio camelus
Halal
76 Ox
Land animals · Bos taurus
Halal
77 Oyster
Marine seafood · Ostreidae
Halal
78 Parrot
Birds · Psittaciformes
Halal
79 Partridge
Birds · Perdix perdix
Halal
80 Peacock
Birds · Pavo cristatus
Halal
81 Pelican
Birds · Pelecanus
Halal
82 Penguin
Birds · Spheniscidae
Halal
83 Petrel
Birds · Procellariidae
Halal
84 Pigeon
Birds · Columba livia
Halal
85 Pike
Fish · Esox lucius
Halal
86 Puffin
Birds · Fratercula
Halal
87 Quail
Birds · Coturnix
Halal
88 Rabbit
Land animals · Oryctolagus cuniculus
Halal
89 Reindeer
Land animals · Rangifer tarandus
Halal
90 Ringdove / woodpigeon
Birds · Columba palumbus
Halal
91 Roebuck
Land animals · Capreolus capreolus
Halal
92 Roller
Birds · Coraciidae
Halal
93 Rooster
Birds · Gallus gallus domesticus
Halal
94 Scallop
Marine seafood · Pectinidae
Halal
95 Sea urchin
Marine seafood · Echinoidea
Halal
96 Shark
Fish · Selachimorpha
With limitations due to arsenic and mercury levels.
Halal
97 Shearwater
Birds · Puffinus
Halal
98 Sheep
Land animals · Ovis aries
Halal
99 Shrimp
Marine seafood · Caridea
Halal
100 Small birds (sparrow, swallow, finch)
Birds
Halal
101 Snipe
Birds · Gallinago
Halal
102 Spoonbill
Birds · Platalea
Halal
103 Springbok
Land animals · Antidorcas marsupialis
Halal
104 Squid
Marine seafood · Teuthida
Halal
105 Squirrel
Land animals · Sciuridae
Scholars hold two opinions (Halal and Haram), since the squirrel is considered vermin.
Halal
106 Stag
Land animals · Cervus elaphus
Halal
107 Starfish
Marine seafood · Asteroidea
Halal
108 Starling
Birds · Sturnus vulgaris
Halal
109 Stingray
Fish · Myliobatiformes
Halal
110 Stork
Birds · Ciconiidae
Halal
111 Sturgeon
Fish · Acipenser
If the government protects it as a protected species, it is not Halal under the rules of the land.
Halal
112 Swan
Birds · Cygnus
Halal
113 Tern / sea swallow
Birds · Sternidae
Halal
114 Thrush
Birds · Turdidae
Halal
115 Trout
Fish · Salmo trutta
Halal
116 Turkey
Birds · Meleagris gallopavo
Halal
117 Turtledove
Birds · Streptopelia turtur
Halal
118 Wallaby
Land animals · Macropodidae
Halal
119 Waterbuck
Land animals · Kobus ellipsiprymnus
Halal
120 White abalone
Marine seafood · Haliotis sorenseni
Halal
121 Wild-range fish
Fish
Halal
122 Wildebeest
Land animals · Connochaetes
Halal
123 Wren
Birds · Troglodytidae
Halal
124 Zebra
Land animals · Hippotigris
Halal

Note: For aquatic animals, any form of poison or intoxicant must be removed. Land animals must be slaughtered according to the Halal slaughtering process.

Haram Animals (Impermissible to Eat)

# Animal Status
1 Aardvark
Land animals · Orycteropus afer
Haram
2 Alligator
Reptiles & amphibians · Alligator mississippiensis
Haram
3 Animals that live underground (burrowing animals)
Land animals
Haram
4 Ant
Insects & land invertebrates · Formicidae
Haram
5 Anteater
Land animals · Vermilingua
Haram
6 Ape
Land animals · Hominoidea
Haram
7 Armadillo
Land animals · Dasypodidae
Haram
8 Badger
Land animals · Meles meles
Haram
9 Barnacle
Marine seafood · Cirripedia
Only according to the Hanafi school.
Haram
10 Beaver
Land animals · Castor
Haram
11 Bee
Insects & land invertebrates · Anthophila
Haram
12 Beetle
Insects & land invertebrates · Coleoptera
Haram
13 Bilby
Land animals · Macrotis lagotis
Haram
14 Birds with talons that use them to hunt
Birds
Haram
15 Black bear
Land animals · Ursus americanus
Haram
16 Butterfly
Insects & land invertebrates · Papilionoidea
Haram
17 Caecilians
Reptiles & amphibians · Gymnophiona
Haram
18 Capybara
Land animals · Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
Haram
19 Cat
Land animals · Felis catus
Haram
20 Caterpillar
Insects & land invertebrates · Lepidoptera (larvae)
Haram
21 Centipede
Insects & land invertebrates · Chilopoda
Haram
22 Chameleon
Reptiles & amphibians · Chamaeleonidae
Haram
23 Cheetah
Land animals · Acinonyx jubatus
Haram
24 Chimpanzee
Land animals · Pan troglodytes
Haram
25 Chinchilla
Land animals · Chinchilla lanigera
Haram
26 Chipmunk
Land animals · Tamiini
Haram
27 Cicada
Insects & land invertebrates · Cicadidae
Haram
28 Coati
Land animals · Nasua
Haram
29 Cockle
Marine seafood · Cardiidae
Only according to the Hanafi school.
Haram
30 Cockroach
Insects & land invertebrates · Blattodea
Haram
31 Cony
Land animals
Haram
32 Cougar
Land animals · Puma concolor
Haram
33 Coyote
Land animals · Canis latrans
Haram
34 Coypu
Land animals · Myocastor coypus
Haram
35 Creepy crawlies (insects and bugs)
Insects & land invertebrates
Haram
36 Crocodile
Reptiles & amphibians · Crocodylus
Haram
37 Crow, and all birds that eat beef only
Birds · Corvus
Haram
38 Dingo
Land animals · Canis lupus dingo
Haram
39 Dog
Land animals · Canis lupus familiaris
Haram
40 Dolphin
Marine mammals · Delphinidae
Only according to the Hanafi school.
Haram
41 Donkey
Land animals · Equus africanus asinus
Haram
42 Dormouse
Land animals · Gliridae
Haram
43 Dragonfly
Insects & land invertebrates · Anisoptera
Haram
44 Dugong
Marine mammals · Dugong dugon
Only according to the Hanafi school.
Haram
45 Eagle
Birds · Accipitridae
Haram
46 Earwig
Insects & land invertebrates · Dermaptera
Haram
47 Elephant
Land animals · Elephantidae
Haram
48 Ermine
Land animals · Mustela erminea
Haram
49 Falcon
Birds · Falco
Haram
50 Fennec
Land animals · Vulpes zerda
Haram
51 Flea
Insects & land invertebrates · Siphonaptera
Haram
52 Fly
Insects & land invertebrates · Diptera
Haram
53 Fox
Land animals · Vulpes
Haram
54 Frog
Reptiles & amphibians · Anura
Haram
55 Gecko
Reptiles & amphibians · Gekkota
Haram
56 Gerbil
Land animals · Gerbillinae
Haram
57 Gharial
Reptiles & amphibians · Gavialis gangeticus
Haram
58 Glede
Birds · Milvus
Haram
59 Gopher
Land animals · Geomyidae
Haram
60 Gorilla
Land animals · Gorilla
Haram
61 Grizzly bear
Land animals · Ursus arctos horribilis
Haram
62 Groundhog
Land animals · Marmota monax
Haram
63 Hamster
Land animals · Cricetinae
Haram
64 Harrier
Birds · Circus
Haram
65 Hawk
Birds · Accipitridae
Haram
66 Hedgehog
Land animals · Erinaceinae
Haram
67 Hippopotamus
Land animals · Hippopotamus amphibius
Haram
68 Hornet
Insects & land invertebrates · Vespa
Haram
69 Hyena
Land animals · Hyaenidae
Haram
70 Iguana
Reptiles & amphibians · Iguana
Haram
71 Jackal
Land animals · Canis aureus
Haram
72 Jaguar
Land animals · Panthera onca
Haram
73 Jellyfish
Marine seafood · Scyphozoa
The venomous part is Haram.
Haram
74 Jerboa
Land animals · Dipodidae
Haram
75 Kinkajou
Land animals · Potos flavus
Haram
76 Kite
Birds · Milvus
Haram
77 Kitten
Land animals · Felis catus
Haram
78 Komodo dragon
Reptiles & amphibians · Varanus komodoensis
Haram
79 Ladybird
Insects & land invertebrates · Coccinellidae
Haram
80 Leopard
Land animals · Panthera pardus
Haram
81 Lice
Insects & land invertebrates · Phthiraptera
Haram
82 Lion
Land animals · Panthera leo
Haram
83 Lizard
Reptiles & amphibians · Lacertilia
Haram
84 Lynx
Land animals · Lynx
Haram
85 Mandrill
Land animals · Mandrillus sphinx
Haram
86 Marten
Land animals · Martes
Haram
87 Mayfly
Insects & land invertebrates · Ephemeroptera
Haram
88 Mice
Land animals · Mus musculus
Haram
89 Millipede
Insects & land invertebrates · Diplopoda
Haram
90 Mink
Land animals · Neogale vison
Haram
91 Mole
Land animals · Talpidae
Haram
92 Mongoose
Land animals · Herpestidae
Haram
93 Monkey
Land animals · Simiiformes
Haram
94 Mosquito
Insects & land invertebrates · Culicidae
Haram
95 Moth
Insects & land invertebrates · Lepidoptera
Haram
96 Mud crab
Marine seafood · Scylla serrata
Lacks flipper legs, a sign that it lives predominantly on land.
Haram
97 Mule
Land animals · Equus asinus × Equus caballus
Haram
98 Muskrat
Land animals · Ondatra zibethicus
Haram
99 Newt
Reptiles & amphibians · Pleurodelinae
Haram
100 Nutria
Land animals · Myocastor coypus
Haram
101 Opossum
Land animals · Didelphimorphia
Haram
102 Orang-utan
Land animals · Pongo
Haram
103 Owl
Birds · Strigiformes
Haram
104 Panther
Land animals · Panthera
Haram
105 Peccary
Land animals · Tayassuidae
Haram
106 Periwinkle
Marine seafood · Littorina littorea
Only according to the Hanafi school.
Haram
107 Pig
Land animals · Sus scrofa domesticus
Haram
108 Polar bear
Land animals · Ursus maritimus
Haram
109 Porcupine
Land animals · Hystricidae
Haram
110 Prairie dog
Land animals · Cynomys
Haram
111 Raccoon
Land animals · Procyon lotor
Haram
112 Rat
Land animals · Rattus
Haram
113 Rodents
Land animals · Rodentia
Haram
114 Sable
Land animals · Martes zibellina
Haram
115 Salamander
Reptiles & amphibians · Caudata
Haram
116 Sannakji (a dish of live baby octopus)
Marine seafood · Octopus minor
Only according to the Hanafi school.
Haram
117 Scorpion
Insects & land invertebrates · Scorpiones
Haram
118 Sea snail
Marine seafood · Gastropoda
Only according to the Hanafi school.
Haram
119 Sea squirt
Marine seafood · Ascidiacea
Only according to the Hanafi school.
Haram
120 Seal
Marine mammals · Phocidae
Only according to the Hanafi school.
Haram
121 Shrew
Land animals · Soricidae
Haram
122 Skunk
Land animals · Mephitidae
Haram
123 Slug
Insects & land invertebrates · Gastropoda
Haram
124 Snail
Insects & land invertebrates · Gastropoda
Haram
125 Snake
Reptiles & amphibians · Serpentes
Haram
126 Spider
Insects & land invertebrates · Araneae
Haram
127 Sponge
Marine seafood · Porifera
Only according to the Hanafi school.
Haram
128 Squirrel
Land animals · Sciuridae
Scholars hold two opinions (Halal and Haram), since the squirrel is considered vermin.
Haram
129 Stoat
Land animals · Mustela erminea
Haram
130 Stone crab
Marine seafood · Menippe mercenaria
Only according to the Hanafi school.
Haram
131 Termite
Insects & land invertebrates · Termitoidae
Haram
132 Tick
Insects & land invertebrates · Ixodida
Haram
133 Tiger
Land animals · Panthera tigris
Haram
134 Toad
Reptiles & amphibians · Bufonidae
Haram
135 Tortoise / turtle
Reptiles & amphibians · Testudines
Haram
136 Vermin
Land animals
Any animal or insect classed as vermin.
Haram
137 Vole
Land animals · Arvicolinae
Haram
138 Vulture
Birds · Accipitridae / Cathartidae
Haram
139 Walrus
Marine mammals · Odobenus rosmarus
Only according to the Hanafi school.
Haram
140 Wasp
Insects & land invertebrates · Vespidae
Haram
141 Weasel
Land animals · Mustela nivalis
Haram
142 Whelk
Marine seafood · Buccinidae
Only according to the Hanafi school. 
Haram
143 Wolf
Land animals · Canis lupus
Haram
144 Woodlouse
Insects & land invertebrates · Oniscidea
Haram
145 Worm
Insects & land invertebrates
Haram

References:

1. Syakh Yusuf Qardawi’s Reference and Fatwa on Seafood and Others

2. Quran Al-Maidah : 96 – Seafood

أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ صَيْدُ الْبَحْرِ وَطَعَامُهُ مَتَاعًا لَّكُمْ وَلِلسَّيَّارَةِ ۖ وَحُرِّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ صَيْدُ الْبَرِّ مَا دُمْتُمْ حُرُمًا ۗ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ

Lawful to you is the pursuit of water-game and its use for food,- for the benefit of yourselves and those who travel; but forbidden is the pursuit of land-game;- as long as ye are in the sacred precincts or in pilgrim garb. And fear Allah, to Whom ye shall be gathered back.

3. Quran Al-An’am : 119 – Land Animal

وَمَا لَكُمْ أَلَّا تَأْكُلُوا مِمَّا ذُكِرَ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَقَدْ فَصَّلَ لَكُم مَّا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِلَّا مَا اضْطُرِرْتُمْ إِلَيْهِ ۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا لَّيُضِلُّونَ بِأَهْوَائِهِم بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُعْتَدِينَ

And why should you not eat of that upon which the name of Allah has been mentioned while He has explained in detail to you what He has forbidden you, excepting that to which you are compelled. And indeed do many lead [others] astray through their [own] inclinations without knowledge. Indeed, your Lord – He is most knowing of the transgressors.

4. Consensus of Scholars

The majority of the scholars (al-rajih `inda al-jumhur) believe that in our Religion, “the default in things is permissibility” (al-aslu fil-ashya’ al-ibaha) until proven haram.

5. According to Imam Ahmed Ibn Hanbal (RA) And Imam Shafi (RA):

All living creatures that live in the sea are halal, whether they are in the form of fish or not. Imam Malik (RA) has said that all living creatures are halal except for an eel. Based on this, oysters, shrimp, lobsters and crabs will be permissible to consume. (Hidayah p.442 v.4 & Al Lubab p.533 v.7)

 

49 Comments

  1. Mamintal Indar

    Greeting of Peace be upon all, kindly classify mud crabs that are categorized haram, because mud crabs grown in the pond are also mud crabs.please if possible the pictures. Sukran.

    • The mud crabs that are Haram has no flippers shape on their legs. Any crabs with flippers leg are Halal as it spends more time in the water. Water is a property that cleanses whatever under the sea and its ecosystem. However, for poisonous marine, as long that poison can be removed, it can be consumed.

    • The poison cannot be removed.

    • Only if there is a way. Islam is not a tight religion.

  2. Rushdi Ahmad

    Krill , mud crab, cockle ,sea snail ?? Are you sure ,

    • Yes, based on Shafie school.

    • What about horse?
      It is not mentioned in both lists.

    • It is updated. Thank you for the suggestion.

    • Mud crab living on the land is not permissible, the rest is fine according to Shafie school.

    • Greeting of Peace be upon all, kindly classify mud crabs that are categorized haram, because mud crabs grown in the pond are also mud crabs.please if possible the pictures. Sukran.

    • In this document showed a mud crab with a flipper leg – which is Halal https://www.fish.wa.gov.au/Documents/recreational_fishing/fact_sheets/fact_sheet_mud_crab.pdf

      the one without a flipper leg – living on the land-only is Haram based on the basic behaviour that it will eat filthy things.

    • Asalamualaykum my husband and I get in to these petty arguments about crab I know he says it is haram I say it is halal actually he is a Pathan from Pakistan I am German however he did bring me some king crab legs one day as a surprise and I really enjoyed it tremendously I said if crab was haram it would not come in to our house period besides he knows how much I love crab and I will show him this inshallah

    • Hi Benazir. Waalaikumsalam. Crab is makruh for Hanafi school. Other schools of thought would be permissible. However, crab, which is dirty and spends more time on the land, in some interpretation, is Haram. To distinguish it, look at the crab legs. Usually, a crab that has flipper legs would be fine.

    • It doesn’t matter if it has a flipper leg or not, mud crab is inedible. There is no antidote for its poison and it cannot become edible by cooking.

    • Interpretation brother/sister. Every school of thought has their own thing. With flipper meaning, it is living more in the water. Shafie schools for example allowed it. Some poison of seafood is removable. It is a pre-condition. Islam is not advocating strict rules, it addresses all problems of humanity.

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