4 Clear Proofs Why Eating Snails is Halal in Islam
C.J Ahmed-08.04.2023
Eating snails are not haram in Islam because sea snails are from the ocean making is halal with all the other se animals and land snails are also halal due to the fact that Isam has not specifically forbidden eating them. Snails belong to a species known as mollusca and the oxford university defines Mollusca as follows,
“Mollusca is the group of animals that includes gastropods (snails, slugs, limpets etc), bivalves (clams, oysters, mussels etc), cephalopods (octopuses, nautiluses, squids etc), scaphopods (tusk shells), caudofoveates, solenogastres, monoplacophorans and polyplacophorans (chitons).” (https://oumnh.ox.ac.uk/learn-mollusca#:~:text=Mollusca%20is%20the%20group%20of,monoplacophorans%20and%20polyplacophorans%20(chitons)
Most Mollusca live in freshwater or oceanic enviroments and is is completely halal to eat Mollusca. The evidence for this is as follows,
Allah(Swt) says in the Quran,
"The game of the water and eating thereof are permitted to you as a provision for you and for those on a journey" (Al-Quran-5:96)
The above verse clearly says that animals that live in the water such as in the sea is halal.
Ibn Abbas(Rali) explained the above verse as mentioned in Ibn kathir as "Sayduhu (lit. hunting, pursuit) refers to whatever is taken from it alive, and ta’aamuhu (lit. its food) means whatever is taken dead.”
This verse is clear proof that any animal that lives in the sea is halal.
Umar ibn al-Khattab (rali) said,
“Water game means what is hunted, and its food is what the sea throws out (onto the shore).” (Sahih al Bukhari)
Abu Hurayrah(Rali) narrated the prophet(Sal) was asked about sea water and he said, “Its water is purifying for ablution, and its dead animals are lawful to eat.”
(Tirmidhi-Graded Sahih by imam Tirmidhi)
The above authentic hadith closes the argument on whether you can eat octopuses or not and proves clearly that eating them is halal. The companions of the prophet(Sal) also had no difference of opinion. One example is below.Jabir(Rali) said,"We set out in the army of al-Khabt and Abu Ubayda (Rali) was the commander of the troops. We were struck with severe hunger and the sea threw out a dead fish the like of which we had never seen, and it was called al-Anbar. We ate of it for half a month. Abu Ubayda took (and fixed) one of its bones and a rider passed underneath it (without touching it). Abu Ubayda said (to us): "Eat (of that fish)." When we arrived at Madina, we informed the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) about what had happened, and he said: "Eat, for it is food Allah has brought out for you, and feed us if you have some of it." So some of them gave him (of that fish) and he ate it."
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
Some argue that non water or oceanic molluscs such as snails are haram because it does not fall in to this category. This argument has no basis from the Quran or authentic hadiths and is only an opinion. There is no evidence from the Quran or authentic hadiths prohibiting eating land snails. Some schlars like Imam Malik stated that is was halal to eat snails.
“Malik was asked about something in the Maghreb (North Africa) which is called a snail, that is found in the desert on the trees – can it be eaten? He said: I think it is like the locust. If it is taken alive and boiled or roasted, I do not think there is anything wrong with eating it, but if it is found dead, it should not be eaten.”(Al-Mudawwanah (1/542)
Imam Malik was having a favourable opinion on eating snails that are living in the land but gave his view by saying that if it is dead it should not be eaten. Allah9swt) says,
“He has forbidden you only Al Maitah (meat of a dead animal), blood, the flesh of swine, and any animal which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah (Al-Quran- 16:115)
But under necessity eating dead animals is halal in Islam. Allah(swt) says,
“He has forbidden to you only dead carrion, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that over which any name other than God's has been invoked; but if one is driven by necessity - neither coveting it nor exceeding his immediate need -no sin shall be upon him: for, behold, God is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace” (Al-Quran-2:173)
Narrated Jabir ibn Samurah:
A man alighted at Harrah with his wife and children. A man said (to him): My she-camel has strayed; if you find it, detain it.
He found it, but did not find its owner, and it fell ill. His wife said: Slaughter it. But he refused and it died.
She said: Skin it so that we may dry its fat and flesh and then eat them.
He said: Let me ask the Messenger of Allah (sal). So he came to him (the Prophet) and asked him. He said: Have you sufficient for your needs? He replied: No. He then said: Then eat it.
Then its owner came and he told him the story. He said: Why did you not slaughter it? He replied: I was ashamed (or afraid) of you (Abu-Dawud-Graded Sahih by Albani)
Eating snails is not haram in Islam.
Eating snails are not haram in Islam because sea snails are from the ocean making is halal with all the other se animals and land snails are also halal due to the fact that Isam has not specifically forbidden eating them. Snails belong to a species known as mollusca and the oxford university defines Mollusca as follows,
“Mollusca is the group of animals that includes gastropods (snails, slugs, limpets etc), bivalves (clams, oysters, mussels etc), cephalopods (octopuses, nautiluses, squids etc), scaphopods (tusk shells), caudofoveates, solenogastres, monoplacophorans and polyplacophorans (chitons).” (https://oumnh.ox.ac.uk/learn-mollusca#:~:text=Mollusca%20is%20the%20group%20of,monoplacophorans%20and%20polyplacophorans%20(chitons)
Most Mollusca live in freshwater or oceanic enviroments and is is completely halal to eat Mollusca. The evidence for this is as follows,
Allah(Swt) says in the Quran,
"The game of the water and eating thereof are permitted to you as a provision for you and for those on a journey" (Al-Quran-5:96)
The above verse clearly says that animals that live in the water such as in the sea is halal.
Ibn Abbas(Rali) explained the above verse as mentioned in Ibn kathir as "Sayduhu (lit. hunting, pursuit) refers to whatever is taken from it alive, and ta’aamuhu (lit. its food) means whatever is taken dead.”
This verse is clear proof that any animal that lives in the sea is halal.
Umar ibn al-Khattab (rali) said,
“Water game means what is hunted, and its food is what the sea throws out (onto the shore).” (Sahih al Bukhari)
Abu Hurayrah(Rali) narrated the prophet(Sal) was asked about sea water and he said, “Its water is purifying for ablution, and its dead animals are lawful to eat.”
(Tirmidhi-Graded Sahih by imam Tirmidhi)
The above authentic hadith closes the argument on whether you can eat octopuses or not and proves clearly that eating them is halal. The companions of the prophet(Sal) also had no difference of opinion. One example is below.Jabir(Rali) said,"We set out in the army of al-Khabt and Abu Ubayda (Rali) was the commander of the troops. We were struck with severe hunger and the sea threw out a dead fish the like of which we had never seen, and it was called al-Anbar. We ate of it for half a month. Abu Ubayda took (and fixed) one of its bones and a rider passed underneath it (without touching it). Abu Ubayda said (to us): "Eat (of that fish)." When we arrived at Madina, we informed the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) about what had happened, and he said: "Eat, for it is food Allah has brought out for you, and feed us if you have some of it." So some of them gave him (of that fish) and he ate it."
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
Some argue that non water or oceanic molluscs such as snails are haram because it does not fall in to this category. This argument has no basis from the Quran or authentic hadiths and is only an opinion. There is no evidence from the Quran or authentic hadiths prohibiting eating land snails. Some schlars like Imam Malik stated that is was halal to eat snails.
“Malik was asked about something in the Maghreb (North Africa) which is called a snail, that is found in the desert on the trees – can it be eaten? He said: I think it is like the locust. If it is taken alive and boiled or roasted, I do not think there is anything wrong with eating it, but if it is found dead, it should not be eaten.”(Al-Mudawwanah (1/542)
Imam Malik was having a favourable opinion on eating snails that are living in the land but gave his view by saying that if it is dead it should not be eaten. Allah9swt) says,
“He has forbidden you only Al Maitah (meat of a dead animal), blood, the flesh of swine, and any animal which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah (Al-Quran- 16:115)
But under necessity eating dead animals is halal in Islam. Allah(swt) says,
“He has forbidden to you only dead carrion, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that over which any name other than God's has been invoked; but if one is driven by necessity - neither coveting it nor exceeding his immediate need -no sin shall be upon him: for, behold, God is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace” (Al-Quran-2:173)
Narrated Jabir ibn Samurah:
A man alighted at Harrah with his wife and children. A man said (to him): My she-camel has strayed; if you find it, detain it.
He found it, but did not find its owner, and it fell ill. His wife said: Slaughter it. But he refused and it died.
She said: Skin it so that we may dry its fat and flesh and then eat them.
He said: Let me ask the Messenger of Allah (sal). So he came to him (the Prophet) and asked him. He said: Have you sufficient for your needs? He replied: No. He then said: Then eat it.
Then its owner came and he told him the story. He said: Why did you not slaughter it? He replied: I was ashamed (or afraid) of you (Abu-Dawud-Graded Sahih by Albani)
Eating snails is not haram in Islam.