Introduction

Institute for Religious and Linguistic Graduate Studies

Introduction

Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds, and may God’s prayers be upon Muhammad and his family, the Imams and the Mahdi, and grant them peace

Guide to Halal Animals book consists of three chapters, the first relates to fish and marine creatures. The names of the fish have been referred to in English as well as its scientific name, with an illustration provided for the reader for easy identification. The list has been classified into halal to eat fish and haram to eat fish according to the following religious rule:

“All fish that live in water, whether in salt or fresh water, are halal to to eat if they have scales or had scales during a period of their lives. Fish that do not have scales nor had scales are haram to eat.” Imam Ahmad Al-Hassan (PBUH).

There are groups of fish that do not have the usual scales that can usually be peeled but rather have bony scales attached to the skin of the fish and cannot be removed without tearing the skin of the fish, for example scales that cover cartilaginous fish bodies such as sharks and stingrays. These scales embedded in the skin and have the same structure as the teeth of vertebrates. There are other groups of fish that have scales, but only for a period of their lives, such as swordfish. There are also groups of fish that have scales, but are very small, such as eel. After listing the most important fish globally, scientific sources were researched for the type of scales or crusts covering their body and by adopting the above rule they were classified into halal to eat fish halal and haram to eat fish.

As for the second chapter, it relates to terrestrial animals. The names of the animals were referred to in English, as well as its scientific name, along with an illustration, to facilitate the identification of these animals. The list is divided into halal to eat animals, detestable (Makruh) to eat and haram to eat. The halal to eat animals include bovids, camels, and deers. These animals

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Guide to Halal Animals

are classified as ruminants, that is, they eat their food through the rumination process.

The makruh to eat animals include transport animals or riding animals, such as horses, donkeys, and mules. The third category includes animals that are haram to eat and are mainly predators, such as felines - cats, canines, pigs, and reptiles. These animals have a trait in common which is being predators, that is, they are dependant for food source on prey or smaller animals.

The third chapter of the book relates to birds. The names of the birds have been referred to in English as well as its scientific name, with an illustration provided for the reader for easy identification. The list has been classified into halal to eat bird, makruh to eat and haram to eat birds according to the following religious rule:

“Every predator with talon (prey claws) is haram to eat, whether it kills the prey on its own, such as hawks and some eagles, or it feeds mainly on the carcasses of other animals like some eagles. It is permissible to eat every bird - other than predators with talons - if its flapping is more than gliding during flight or are equal during flight. If the bird glides more than flaps during the flight, then it is haram to eat. It is also permissible to eat every bird - other than predators with talons – even if it doesn’t fly if it has a gizzard, crop or spurs, "Imam Ahmad Al-Hassan (PBUH)

After listing the most important birds globally, scientific sources were researched, and the above rule applied to classify the birds into the categories mentioned earlier.

The fourth chapter related to insects and was classified in the same manner as was mentioned in the classification of the three previous chapters.

Why do we eat permissible (Halal) food and avoid Haram food?

Imam Al-Ridha (PBUH), said: “Let it be known, may God have mercy on you, that God Almighty did not allow (to eat) food or drink except for those that have benefits and remedy. And did not forbid anything other than those that have harm, damage and corruption.

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Institute for Religious and Linguistic Graduate Studies

Every beneficial (food) gives the body strength, so it is permissible. Every harmful (food) that diminishes the strength or is toxic is haram such as the toxins, carcasses, blood, pork, canines, predator birds, birds that have no crop, eggs that have equal sides, fish that has no scale. All are haram to eat unless in necessity”. The Book of Fiqh Attributed to Al-Ridha, p. 254

In an answer from Imam Ahmad Al-Hassan on this topic, here’s a part that is relevant:

Haram food affects the heart because it runs in the blood and most of it reaches the physical heart in the chest and the chest is the site of the soul’s connection with the body. The quality food also positively affects the human heart and its connection to the kingdom of the heavens and its vision of the kingdom of the heavens, and for this reason God Almighty warned those who asked for the table of Heaven that if they disbelieve He will punish them by punishment that he punishes no one else from the worlds. ((Indeed, I will sent it down to you, but whoever disbelieves afterwards from among you - then indeed will I punish him with a punishment by which I have not punished anyone among the worlds.)) Because the table from heaven is permissible (Halal) food and of high quality that influences the heart for that allows them to see the kingdom of heavens and assure their hearts with it.

That is why they themselves explained their request for the table of heaven in order to reassure their hearts. Surely, they did not mean for that to be a miracle as they have seen multiple miracles from Jesus (PBUH) and a table of heaven itself doesn’t constitute a miracle that would reassure their hearts other any different from the other miracles. So, the real reason for the heart assurance was the heavenly food, the permissible (Halal) blessed and of high quality that allowed them to see the kingdom of heavens:

(([And remember] when the disciples said, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, can your Lord send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven? [Jesus] said," Fear Allah, if you should be believers." They said, "We wish to eat from it and let our hearts be reassured and know that you have been truthful to us and be among its witnesses." Said Jesus, the son of Mary, "O Allah, our Lord, send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven

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Guide to Halal Animals

to be for us a festival for the first of us and the last of us and a sign from You. And provide for us, and You are the best of providers." Allah said, "Indeed, I will sent it down to you, but whoever disbelieves afterwards from among you - then indeed will I punish him with a punishment by which I have not punished anyone among the worlds.”)) Quran 5:111-5:115.

Ahmad al-Hassan, the Illuminating Answer, Part 3 Question 219 Question No. 2

The story of this book

As a result of the lack of a reference for Muslims in classifying the meat of animals, birds and fish into halal and haram with ease, I came up with the idea of creating a classification for animal meat to know its permissibility with ease. The decision was - in the beginning - that the book would be limited to the halal and haram fish and specifically fish in middle eastern countries, that are often enquired about. The reason that led me to expand the circle, it is coincidence and let us say, scientific coincidence. I find it necessary to refer to the details of this coincidence to confirm loyalty of the student to his teacher, the teacher who does not skimp on his students to place them before the axis of choice to serve the scientific research, for it to be more comprehensive and inclusive and therefore, of more value.

On one of my visits to Iraq, I met my professor, Dr. Alaa Al-Salem in the library of the Institute of Religious and Linguistic Graduate Studies Building in Najaf, to be guided by his experience one the book’s axes, benefit from his notes and directions and to then seek help with possible resources.

Dr. Alaa Al-Salem asked me about the title of the book that I intend to write. I answered, "Guide to Halal fish." After a short lull, he said, what do you think if the topic of the book should be wider and more comprehensive? What about "Guide to Halal Animals”?

The idea was welcomed by me, which I did not announce at the time. Rather, I was satisfied with the valuable discussion thereafter, which were like enlightenment that I followed. I then began expanding the research to

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Institute for Religious and Linguistic Graduate Studies

include terrestrial animals, birds, insects, as well as fish. Accordingly, three additional chapters were added to the book, including terrestrial animals, birds, and insects.

The book was reviewed and audited by mutual correspondence between me and the Institute of Graduate Studies.

I present this book to you, asking God for it to be beneficial for the believers and accept it from me as a sincere deed for me, my father, and my mother, God bless them, He is the Hearer and the Answerer.

Ali Abuqlam

Ramadan 1437

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