Is Whale Halal? What You Need To Know

As Muslims, we are often asked about the halal status of various types of meat. One of the most common questions is ‘is whale halal?’ In this post, we will look at the Islamic perspective on whale and discuss whether or not eating whale is halal or haram according to Islamic law.

Is Whale Halal?

Yes, whale meat is halal. All the four major Sunni Madhabs are in agreement that consuming all types of fish including whale is without doubt Halal, due to the explicit mention of this in the Qur’an and Sunnah.

The permissibility to consume all types of fish without following the Islamic method of slaughter is a special dispensation granted to us by Allah Most High, the All-Wise and All-Knowing.

Fish has been exempted from the general rule against eating dead animals, and it can be consumed even if the animal was a man-eater.

Allah Most High says:

“Lawful to you is the pursuit of water-game (fishing) and its use for food, for the benefit of yourselves and those who travel”

Surah al-Ma’ida : 96

This ayah in the Quran clearly states that anything that lives in water is halal for us to consume.

The exception would be if it’s something harmful. So if there is an animal or a fish that if you eat it you get poisoned, then in this case it cannot be consumed because it falls under the general guidelines.

The Prophet said there should be neither harming (darar) nor reciprocating harm (dirar). And Allah said do not throw yourself in harm’s way and do not kill yourselves.

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Moreover, AbdAllah ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him eternal peace) said:

“Two types of dead meat and two types of blood have been made lawful for our consumption: The two dead meats are: fish and locust, and the two types of blood are: liver and spleen.”

Sunan Abu Dawud, Musnad Ahmad, 2/97 and Sunan Ibn Majah, no: 3314

As a result of the above-mentioned and numerous other evidences found in the Sunnah, there is complete agreement on the permissibility of eating all types of fish, including sharks and whales.

Many narrations mention the Prophet of Allah SAW and his blessed Companions (Allah be pleased with them all) eating fish.

In fact, there is a well-known Hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari and elsewhere that mentions eating large fish like sharks and whales.

Is Eating Whale Halal?

Yes, eating whale fish is halal and permissible in Islam. It is important to understand that all sea animals are considered halal in Islam, with the exception of those that are explicitly prohibited in the Qur’an or Hadith. Whales are not included in this list of prohibited animals.

The permissibility of the haram or halal of a fish does not depend on whether it eats human flesh or not; but its permissibility depends on the guidance and teachings of Allah and His Messenger SAW.

The Messenger of Allah SAW has declared that all types of food that is derived from the sea is halal for the believers, and since whales live in the sea, they will be considered halal as food for the believers.

Conclusion

All the Fuqaha of the four Sunni Schools of Islamic law are in agreement that all types of fish are Halal for consumption. This also includes whales, for they are also considered to be from the fish family.

Whale is a type of fish that is considered halal, or permissible, for Muslims to eat according to Islamic law. This is because Islamic dietary laws permit the consumption of any type of fish that lives in water.

And Allah knows best