HARAM: Animals

Categories of haram Animals

Listed below, the basic Islamic principles of permissibility and impermissibility, within the Hanafi School of Thought, with regards to animal consumption. Muslim scholars[1] have classified prohibited (haram) land and air animals into six categories. These are:

1. Animals specifically stated in the Quran and Sunnah as haram, such as domestic donkeys and pigs.
2. Animals restricted by certain characteristics and criteria, like fanged beasts of prey (predators) and birds with talons.
3. Scavengers that feed on carrion (dead animals), like vultures, crow, insects.
4. Whatever is pernicious and causes harm, injury, ruin, like rats, snakes, scorpions, raccoon, and the kite hawk.
5. Whatever is born as a result of copulation between two animal species, one of which is lawful to be eaten and the other which is prohibited, like the mule.
6. Whatever the Shari'ah has ordered us to kill, like the five pernicious animals, and what Allah has forbidden us from killing, like the frog, the hoopoe (a crested bird) and the shrike (a bird with a hooked, jagged bill).

All other animals and birds are considered lawful, according to the rule stating that anything is deemed halal (lawful)[2, 3] until proved otherwise.

Things to Keep in Mind

1. Each of the four Sunni (Shafa'i, Maliki, Hanbali & Hanafi) and the Shi'a (Jafari) Schools of Thought developed principles of permissibility with regards to which animals are lawful (halal) and which are unlawful (haram) for consumption. That being said, the basis for their jurisprudence (fiqh) is the common source of guidance for all Muslims—the Quran & Sunnah. While the principles above are representative of the whole, variations may exist.
2. There are separate rules with regards to slaughtering and hunting halal animals. Failure to comply with these rules may render the meat of a halal animal haram.
3. The jallalah of halal animals (cows, chicken, camels, etc.) are temporarily excluded from the lawful foods until they can be cleansed.

A list haram animals

ANIMAL	HALAL	COMMENTS
Boar	No
Cephalopods octopus, squid, cuttlefish	Yes*	Sunni: Hanafi fiqh split on its legality. Halal in all other sunni Schools of Thought. Shi'a: Not halal in Jafari.
Crustaceans crab, lobster, crawfish	Yes*	Sunni: Hanafi fiqh split on its legality. Halal in all other sunni Schools of Thought. Shi'a: Not halal in Jafari.
Donkey	No
Frog	No
Horse	Yes*	While permitted, eating horse meat is hated (makrouh).
Insects carmine, shellac, cheese mites	No*	The Arabian locust is the only insect that is allowed by both halal and kosher dietary laws.
Pig swine, boar	No
Predators, Air hawk, owl, falcon	No
Predators, Land bear, dog, alligator, snake	No
Scavengers, Carrion Eaters buzzards, raccoon, worms	No*	Scavenging sea creatures are permitted.
Shellfish mussels, clams, oysters	Yes*	Sunni: Hanafi fiqh split on its legality. Halal in all other sunni Schools of Thought. Shi'a: Not halal in Jafari.
Snails	No
Zebra	Yes*	A wild donkey, zebra meat is permissible.

Quran & Hadith: Predators

Hadith referencing PREDATORS

Narrated by Ibn 'Abbas:
"The Prophet (s.a.s.) prohibited eating (the meat of) every taloned bird and every predatory animal possessing canine teeth."
— Sahih Muslim, Book 021, Number 4752

Narrated by Abu Darda:
"The Prophet (s.a.s.) prevented the eating of khatafah (خطفة) [creatures that snatch (monkeys, raccoons, etc.)], nahabah (نهبه) [creatures that plunder (mice, rats, etc.)] and mujathama (مجثمة) [animals which are tied down, restricted or trapped for target shooting], and every predator possessing canine teeth / fangs."
— Tirmidhi, Ibn Maja and Nisaa'i

Narrated Abu Tha'laba Al-Khushani:
"Allah's Prophet forbade the eating of the meat of beasts having fangs."
— Sahih Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 67; Muslim.

There is only one noted exception and that is the hyena, as indicated in the following hadith.
Narrated by Jabir ibn 'Abdullah:
"I asked Allah’s Messenger about the hyena and he replied, 'It is game, and if one in the state of ihram hunts it, he should give a sheep as atonement.'"
— Sunan Abu Dawud, Vol. 3, p. 1071, Number 3792; As-Daarimee, Al-Bayhaqee, Ibn Hibaan, Ad-Daaraqutnee and Al-Hakim, and declared Sahih by al-Haakim and al-Albaani in Irwaa al-Ghaleel, Vol. 1, p. 242, Number 1050

Islamic Schools of Thought

Predatory Land Animals
The Shafi'i School of fiqh states:
In Shafi'i fiqh, there is a distinction between animals with an innate 'predatory nature' that can conceivably prey on humans and those that do not or which are opportunists / scavengers.

Imam Shafi'i states:
"There is no eating of predatory animals with claws which feed on people: lion, tiger, and wolf. There is eating of the hyena and the fox."

Within the Shafi'i madh'hab, the great scholar Ibnul-Qayim has said: 

"The animals that are prohibited are those having the two attributes of having fangs and being predators by nature such as lions, wolves, tigers and leopards. But, as for the hyena, it only has one of these two attributes; it has fangs, but it is not a predatory beast by nature. The predatory beasts are forbidden to be eaten owing to the predatory nature they possess which is transmitted to the one feeding on them. However, the hyena is not considered a beast of prey by nature whether linguistically or conventionally."
— Ibnul-Qayim. "I'lam Al-Muwaqqi'in" (2/126), (4/ 240, 380).

The Hanafi School of fiqh states:
In Hanafi fiqh, the hyena and the fox are not permissible because this School (مذهب) defines a predatory animal as an animal that habitually snatches, plunders, wounds and kills aggressively, using the above hadith (as narrated by Abu Darda) as its proof.

See the principles of permissibility & impermissibility of animals in Hanafi fiqh.

The Maliki School of fiqh states:

In Maliki fiqh, the School takes the principle to forbid those predatory animals that have fangs. His opinion is based on the fact that the Prophet (s.a.s.) forbade the eating of predatory animals with fangs, which birds do not have, and are thus not forbidden although they might be predatory.

Imam Malik states: 
"There is no eating of lions, nor cats whether wild or domestic, nor fox, nor hyena, nor anything that is predatory."

Within the Maliki Madh'hab it is considered to be makrouh tahreem to eat vultures and hyena.

al-Awza'i says: 
"All birds are allowed except vultures (which are) reprehensible."

al-Layth says:
"There is no harm in eating a cat but a hyena is reprehensible."

[AMNA Note: The Arabic phrase "ذى ناب" can be understood to mean both "possessor of fangs" or "possessor of canine teeth." This could be the source of difference of opinion between the Maliki and Hanafi medhahib.]

Predatory Birds
The Shafi'i School of fiqh:
Imam Shafi'i states: 
"There is no eating of ... the vulture, falcon and birds like them because they are birds that feed on people."

The Hanafi School of fiqh:
Imam Abu Hanifa dislikes the eating of the meats of vultures and small hunting birds, that people do not normally eat, because they eat carcasses (carrion, الميتة).

The Maliki School of fiqh:
Imam Malik states: 
"There is no harm in eating predatory birds: Egyptian vultures, eagles, other vultures, and other birds that do not eat carrion."

"Among the birds that are forbidden to be eaten are those which feed on carrion, like vultures and crows, owing to the evil food they feed on."
— Al Fawzan, Dr. Salih (Professor of Islamic Jurisprudence. Member, The Permanent Committee on Fatwa and Research). "A Summary of Islamic Jurisprudence, Vol. 2," Section XI: Food, Chapter 1, p. 654.

Quran, hadith and fiqh on eating Snakes and Scorpions.

Crocodiles
The Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Fatawa said:

“Malik and a number of other scholars, and Ash-Shafi’I, permitted eating snail and crocodiles, because they are from the game of the sea. [However,] Abu Hanifah and a number of other scholars forbade them because they are predators [and are not truly ocean creatures]. And the question is one requiring Ijtihaad and the matter is a wide one, so it is more prudent not to eat them, bearing in mind the difference of opinion and the preponderance of the likelihood that it is not allowed.”
— Fatawa Islamiyah, 6/230

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid was asked about Crocodiles and he said:

“The correct view is that eating these is not allowed, because they have fangs and live on land – even though they may spend a lot of time in the water – so precedence should be given to the reason for forbidding it (it is a land animal that has fangs)” and Allah Knows Best."

HARAM: Predator

PREDATOR - In the strictest sense, predators are hunting animals. In Islam, explicitely prohibited are land animals posessing fangs or canine teeth and claws, as well as birds possessing talons. Omnivorous animals and non-hunting carnivores (scavengers) are considered within AMNA's PREDATOR classification. Though omnivorous, the pig and wild boar are included in a AMNA's PORK class, due to the specific Quranic prohibition against swine.

Islamic Prohibition against PREDATORS:
Islam forbids consuming the meat of predatory land animals and birds. Specifically the prohibition is against animals possessing canine teeth or fangs and claws and birds possessing talons. Islam also forbids eating the meat of carrion eaters.

[ PREDATOR in Quran & Hadith ]

AMNA's Criteria for PREDATOR:
The table below describes our criteria for judging a FOOD as PREDATOR. Helpful icons make it easy to judge foods at a glance.

ICON	CLASS	AMNA JUDGING CRITERIA	SOME EXAMPLES...
	PREDATOR	Meats from predatory, scavenging, or omnivorous land or air creatures.	o'possum, alligator meat, gaeju (Korean)

Related Topics:
Where can I find verses from the Quran, or hadith about PREDATOR?
What are the food import regulations for countries like Saudi Arabia?
What are the halal animals?
What are the haram animals?
How does AMNA identify and label foods containing other HARAM substances like PORK, or BLOOD?
What's the difference between kosher and halal?
Why do we use "?" on some icons? What does it mean?
What if a food contains TWO haram substances?

Quran & Hadith: Index

ياايها الذين امنوا كلوا من طيبات مارزقناكم واشكروا لله ان كنتم اياه تعبدون

"O ye who believe! Eat of the good things that We have provided for you, and be grateful to Allah, if it is Him ye worship."
— Quran. 2:172

ALCOHOL

• ALCOHOL in the Quran
• Hadith referencing ALCOHOL
• Fiqh: rulings and differences

BLOOD

• BLOOD in the Quran
• Hadith referencing BLOOD
• Fiqh: rulings and differences

CARRION (DEAD) الميتة

• CARRION in the Quran
• Hadith referencing CARRION
• Fiqh: rulings and differences

DONKEY & HORSE

• DONKEY & HORSE in the Quran
• Hadith referencing DONKEY & HORSE
• Fiqh: rulings and differences

HALAL

• HALAL in the Quran
• Hadith referencing HALAL
• Fiqh: rulings and differences

HAWWAM
(Insects, Reptiles, Amphibians & Rodents)

• HAWWAM in the Quran
• Hadith referencing HAWWAM
• Fiqh: rulings and differences

HUMAN, PRIMATE

• HUMANS in the Quran
• Hadith referencing HUMANS
• Fiqh: rulings and differences

PORK

• PIGS in the Quran
• Hadith referencing PIGS
• Fiqh: rulings and differences

PREDATORS

• PREDATORS in the Quran
• Hadith referencing PREDATORS
• Fiqh: rulings and differences

SHIRK شرك

• SHIRK in the Quran
• Hadith referencing SHIRK
• Fiqh: rulings and differences

TOXIC / INTOXICANT

• INTOXICANTS in the Quran
• Hadith referencing INTOXICANTS
• Fiqh: rulings and differences

Zabihah ذبيحة

• Zabihah in the Quran
• Hadith referencing Zabihah
• Fiqh: rulings and differences

KOSHER: Meats

Kosher Animals
Kosher animals are creatures that meet the Torah's criteria for what's permissible for Jews to consume. Kosher means 'fit', and kosher animals are animals that are fit for Jews to eat. Kashruth prohibits all predators, whether land, air or sea as well as all insects except for certain sub-species of locust.

Kosher mammals and birds must be slaughtered according to shechita (שחיטה), or 'the slaughter'.[1] 

Land Animals
Kosher land animals must have completely split hooves and they must chew their cud, like the goat, sheep, deer and cow. They cannot be predators or otherwise eat meat. Pawed animals like the dog, cat and rodents and all round hooved animal like the horse and the donkey are not kosher.[2, 3]

Birds
Kosher laws applying to birds are the same as those for land animals—if a bird kills other animals regularly for its own food, eats meat, or is known to be dangerous, it's not kosher. Raptors, eagles, hawks, owls and other hunting birds, vultures and other carrion-eating birds, and storks, kingfishers, penguins and other fish-eating birds are not kosher. Ostriches and other giant fowl, which are capable of killing you or otherwise ruining your day, are also forbidden. Ducks, geese, turkeys, and chicken are kosher.[2, 4]

Fish
For aquatic creatures, the Torah lays down two simple laws: the creature must have fins, and the creature must have scales. Crustaceans, shellfish, squid and octopi have neither. Sharks, whales, and dolphins have fins but not scales.[5]

Meat & Dairy
The mixing of meat and dairy in the same meal period is forbidden under kosher law. This means that cheeseburgers and chicken pizza are not kosher.

Kosher Slaughter[6] (שחיטה) 
Jewish method of slaughter, shechita, has similar requirements to Islamic zabiha; kosher meat is acceptable for Muslims to eat. This section describes several aspects of the shechita process against requirements for zabiha.

As in Islam, Jewish law states that kosher mammals and birds must be slaughtered according to a strict set of guidelines, known as 'the slaughter' or shechita (שחיטה). This necessarily eliminates the practice of hunting wild game for food, unless it can be captured alive and then ritually slaughtered; this is not the case in Islamic law.

The Slaughter
As with zabiha, a professional slaughterer, or shochet (שוחט), using a large razor-sharp knife with absolutely no irregularities, nicks or dents, and checked carefully between killing each animal, makes a single cut across the throat to a precise depth, severing both carotid arteries, both jugular veins, the vagus nerve, the trachea and the esophagus, no higher than the epiglottis and no lower than where cilia begin inside the trachea, causing the animal to bleed to death. Islamic law dictates that the slaughterer not allow the animal to see the knife.

Any variation from this exact procedure invalidates the process, rendering the carcass not kosher (nevela). It is sold as regular meat to the general public.

The Slaughterer
Similar to Islamic requirements, the shochet must not only be rigorously trained in this procedure, but also a pious Jew of good character who observes the Sabbath, and who remains cognizant that these are God's creatures who are sacrificing their lives for the good of himself and his community and should not be allowed to suffer in any way shape or form. In smaller communities, the shochet was often the town rabbi or the rabbi of one of the local synagogues; large factories which produce Kosher meat have professional full time shochtim on staff. 

Physical Inspection (bedika)
As with zabiha, before slaughter, the shochet inspects the animal for illness, lesions, evidence of bruising or broken bones. Ill or maimed animals are not fit to be kosher. 

After the animal has been properly slaughtered, a trained inspector (bodek) inspects the internal organs for any abnormalities that may render the animal non-kosher (treif). There are seventy different irregularities or growths on an animal's internal organs, which would render the animal non-kosher. The lungs, in particular, must be examined in order to determine that they are smooth (glatt). If scarring is found, the bodek must further examine it carefully to determine its kashrus status.

Stunning
As with zabiha, the animal must be in good health and fully conscious at the time of shechita, however, compromises in countries (such as the U.K.) with animal cruelty laws that prohibit such practices involve stunning the animal to lessen the suffering that occurs while the animal bleeds to death. However, the use of electric shocks to daze the animal is often not accepted by some markets as producing meat which is Kosher.

Removing Blood
As does the Quran, the Torah forbids the consumption of the blood of an animal. The two Torah accepted methods of extracting blood from meat, a process referred to as “koshering”, are either salting or broiling.[7]

Unlike in Islam, kosher law requires that meat be koshered (soaked in salt) within 72 hours after slaughter so as not to allow the blood to congeal. If meat has been thoroughly soaked prior to the 72 hours limit, an additional seventy-two hours time stay is granted to complete the first step of the salting process.

Unlike in Islam, the hindquarters of a mammal are not kosher unless the sciatic nerve and the fat surrounding it are removed.[8] This is a very time-consuming process demanding a great deal of special training, and is rarely done outside Israel where there is a greater demand for kosher meat. When it is not done the hindquarters of the animal are sold for non-kosher meat.

Related Topics:
Kosher v. Halal: What are the differences and similarities of kosher and halal?
A comparison of kosher and halal animals
What are the halal animals?
What are the haram animals?
What is zabiha?
How does AMNA judge foods containing meat?
BLOOD: In Islam, it's Haram

References:
[1] Hecht, Rabbi Mendy. "What is kosher meat?" Ask Moses.com. http://www.askmoses.com/article/553,2193106/What-is-kosher-meat.html
[2] Hecht, Rabbi Mendy. "What are kosher animals?" Ask Moses.com. http://www.askmoses.com/article/277,180/What-are-kosher-animals.html
[3] Positive Mitzvah #149: Searching for the prescribed signs in cattle and animals. Leviticus 11.2
[4] Positive Mitzvah #150: Searching for the prescribed signs in birds. Deuteronomy 14.11
[5] Positive Mitzvah #152: Searching for the prescribed signs in fish. Leviticus 11.9
[6] Luban, Rabbi Yaakov "The Kosher Primer," The OU website: http://oukosher.org/index.php/common/article/the_kosher_primer/P1/
[7] Kumer, Dinka. "Why is it so important to drain all the blood from kosher meat?" Ask Moses.com. http://www.askmoses.com/article/146,88523/Why-is-it-so-important-to-drain-all-the-blood-from-kosher-meat.html
[8] Genesis 32, last verse