A Rule Regarding Animals Forbidden to Eat and those Permissible to Eat

Question :

Is there a rule in the Islamic Law upon which one may depend regarding the prohibition and permission of eating animals? Because the Qur'an and the Sunnah have not made clear all of the animals. There are some domestic animals which are permissible and some which are forbidden, the same with wild animals. So if there is a rule or distinguishing characteristics for the forbidden and the permissible, I request that you explain so that we may be informed. And is there any role for analogy by similarity in this or not?

Answer:

The truth is that this question, and its statement that the Book (of Allah) and the Sunnah have not made it clear is a mistake on his part. What is correct is that it is not clear to him from the Book (of Allah) and the Sunnah. As for the Book (of Allah) and the Sunnah, Allah has made everything clear therein, for the Noble Qur'an says:
"as an exposition of everything, a guidance."

Believing in the Sunnah and implementing its rulings is a part of believing in the Qur'ân and it completes, perfects and explains that which it summarizes, and it explains that which is unclear.

In the Qur'an and in the Sunnah there is a cure, light, guidance and uprightness for whomsoever holds fast to them, and there is no problem that occurs except that a solution and an explanation for it is found in the Qur'an and Sunnah. However, some matters are clear by way of specification, and some are clear by way of rules and general regulations. Then (there is the fact that) the people differ greatly in this: They differ in knowledge, they differ in understanding and likewise, their comprehension of what is in the Qur'an and the Sunnah differs according to their level of faith and fear of Allah. The stronger one's faith in Allah, the Almighty, the All-Powerful and one's acceptance of what the Qur'an and Sunnah say, and the greater one's fear of Allah, the Almighty, the All-Powerful in obeying Him, the stronger becomes one's knowledge of the rulings which are contained in the Qur'an and Sunnah.

I say: Verily, in the Qur'an and the Sunnah there is guidance, knowledge, light and a solution for all problems and verily, their method and order are the most perfect, most beneficial and a most correct order for the creatures. Whoever refers to man-made rules and laws, which are often wrong, then he is in manifest error. If they are in agreement with what is correct, they are only correct inasmuch as they agree with the Qur'an and Sunnah. I say to this brother that there are regulations regarding what is forbidden, and I say that the basic principle is that all the things Allah, Most High has created in this world are permissible for us, including animals and nonliving, according to the Words of Allah, Most High:
"He it is Who created for you all that is on earth."

This is general, His creation is for us to use as food, drink and to utilize within the limits set by Allah and His Messenger.

This is a general, and comprehensive rule taken from the Book (of Allah) and also from the Sunnah. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"And whatever He was silent about, it is excused."

Based upon this, we shall now look at the forbidden things, which include dead animals, according to the Words of Allah, Most High:
"He has forbidden you only the Maitah (dead animals)".

And included among them is blood poured forth, according to the Words of Allah, Most High:
"Say (O Muhammad): "I find not in that which has been revealed to me anything forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it unless it be Maitah (a dead animal) or blood poured forth (by slaughtering or the like)."

And included among them is the meat of the pig, according to the Words of Allah, Most High:
"or the flesh of swine (pork)."

And these three things were only forbidden because they are impure. Because His Words: "for it surely"

i.e., the forbidden thing which the Messenger found is impure; and the pronoun (it) does not refer to the meat of the pig only, as some of the scholars said, because the exception
"unless it be" i.e., that which is eaten be
"maitah (a dead animal) or blood poured forth or the flesh of swine (pork); for it surely".

i.e., what is eaten from the dead animals, blood poured forth and the meat of the pig , "is impure".

Also, included is the domestic donkey; it has been confirmed in the Two Sahihs from the Prophet, that he ordered Abu Talhah, may Allah be pleased with him, to announce: "Verily, Allah and His Messenger forbid you (to eat) it (i.e., the meat of the donkey), because it is impure."

Also included among the forbidden animals are every beast of prey with fangs. That is, every predatory animal with fangs that it uses to tear the flesh of its prey, such as the wolf, the dog and the like.

Also included is every bird possessing talons, such as the hawk, the eagle, the falcon and the like.

Also included is that which is born of an animal which may be eaten and one which may not, such as the mule, because the mule is born of the donkey when it mates with a female horse, and the horse is permissible, while the donkey is forbidden. So when something is born of that which may be eaten and that which may not, the forbidden portion overcomes the permis- sible portion and it becomes forbidden.

These matters are mentioned all praise and thanks be to Allah in the Sunnah in detail and also in the sayings of the scholars, and the matter is clear.

If the matter is unclear to you, then refer to the aforementioned fundamental principle, which is that the basic rule is permissi- bility, according to the Words of Allah, Most High:
"He it is Who created for you all that is on earth. Then He rose over (Istawa) towards the heaven and made them seven heavens and He is the All-Knower of everything."

As for similarity, some scholars have resorted to it, saying that if we do not know the ruling on a certain animali.e., is it permissible or not then we base it upon the ruling of something which is similar to it. But what is apparent from the evidences is that what is forbidden is known, either by its type, or by the rules which we have indicated, as the Prophet forbade:
"every animal possessing fangs and every hird which possesses talons.