Q: 56 – Title: Please advise if it is permissible to eat shark meat for Hanafis and Shafis...

Question

Please advise if it is permissible to eat shark meat for Hanafis and Shafis

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalamu 'alaykum wa Rahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

According to the Hanafi Mazhab, it is only permissible to consume from the ocean that which is classified as a fish, irrespective of what it feeds on. All other aquatic creatures which are not classified as fish will be considered Haraam.

(Hidayah, vol.4, pg.442, Shika)^[1]
(Fatawa Hindiyya, vol.5, pg.289, Rashidiyya)^[2]
(Ad Durrul Mukhtaar, vol.6, pg.306, HM Saeed)

Allamah Damiri (Rahimahullah) has classified sharks as fish.

(Hayatul Hayawan, vol.2, pg.708, Darul Fikr)

The characteristics of a fish are found in the shark. Hence, it will be permissible for a Hanafi to eat shark meat as well as the by-products of sharks.

And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Wassalamu 'alaykum

Ml. Rayhaan Docrat,
Student Darul Ifta

Checked and Approved by:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Ifta, Madrasah In'amiyyah