Question: Respected Islamic scholar, I would like to ask why we are not allowed to eat crab, and could you please explain this in detail? I would appreciate your guidance.
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلاة والسلام على سيد المرسلين وعلى اله و اصحابه اجمعين
Answer:
There is a difference of opinion among Islamic jurists regarding this issue. However, the unanimous position of the Hanafi school is that eating crab is not permissible. According to the Hanafi jurists, among aquatic animals only fish, with all of its types, is lawful, while all other aquatic animals are unlawful.
Based on this principle, Allama Ibn Abidin Shami (رحمہ اللہ) states in Fatawa Shami:
“ولا یحل حیوان مائی الا السمک”
(Fatawa Shami, Vol. 9, p. 444)
Translation:
No aquatic animal is lawful except fish.
Similarly, the author of Al-Hidayah writes in Hidayah Sharif:
“ولا یوکل من حیوان الماء الا السمک”
(Hidayah, Vol. 4, p. 441)
Translation:
No water-dwelling animal may be eaten except fish.
Further explaining this, the author of Al-Hidayah narrates a hadith:
“نهی عن بیع السرطان”
(Hidayah, Vol. 4, p. 442)
Translation:
The Prophet ﷺ forbade the sale of crab.
Since the sale of crab is prohibited, its consumption is also prohibited. Therefore, according to Hanafi jurists, eating crab is unlawful and forbidden.
And Allah knows best.
Answered by the Hafiz-e-Millat team
Verified by Maulana Naziem Qadri
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