Please advise if it is permissible to eat shark meat for Hanafis and Shafis
In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalāmu ῾alaykum wa Rahmatullāhi Wabarakātuh
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 Allāh Ta῾āla Knows Best
Wassalāmu ῾alaykum
Ml. Rayhaan Docrat,
Student Dārul Iftā
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Dārul Iftā, Madrasah In῾āmiyyah