Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
I was wondering what the Hanafi position is on eating “Shrimp” and other shell fish. Is it considered makrooh or Haram. Also if a hanafi knowingly eats shrimp what kind of sin has he incurred?
Answer:
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
It is permitted to eat shrimp according to the soundest position in the Hanafi school.
The basic criterion is that anything that the Arabs considered ‘fish’ (samak) at time of revelation is permitted. Other produce of the sea is not permitted in the Hanafi school.
See below.
Wassalam.