Is Locust Halal? (Plus Hadith About Eating Locusts)

Is Locust Halal?

Yes, locust is halal. Locust is a well-known insect which is lawful for consumption. It is lawful for a person to eat it dead or alive. The Prophet SAW said: “Two types of dead animals and two types of blood have been made lawful for us. As for the two dead animals, they are locusts and fish (sea food)”.

Consequently, it does not require slaughtering. It is considered a game, so one is forbidden from hunting it and displacing it if found in Makkah.

It is obligatory for whoever sees anyone hunting it in the Haram (the Sacred Precinct) to forbid him and prevent him.

This is because it is not permissible for a person who is in a state of ihram in Makkah to hunt for it, or other animals like birds, or cause it to fly.

Hadith About Eating Locusts

In the Hadith, locusts are specifically mentioned as being permissible to eat.

The first Hadith is found in Bukhari and Muslim.

Ibn Abu Aufa told that they went on seven expeditions along with God’s messenger and ate locusts along with him.
Mishkat al-Masabih 4113

Abu Ya’fur said: I heard Ibn Abi Awfa say when I asked him about (eating) locusts: I went on six or seven expeditions along with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and we ate them (locusts) along with him.
Sunan Abi Dawud 3812

This contains evidence that the companions considered the silent approval of the Messenger of Allah SAW as proof.

That is, if they do something and he tacitly agrees to it, then it shows that it is lawful. This is so because the Messenger of Allah SAW has the ability to say: Do not do that. However, as a long as he kept silent, it shows that that act is permissible.

In conclusion, locusts are halal and permissible to eat according to Islamic dietary laws. They are also a sustainable and nutritious food source.