Seal Meat

By Mufti Ebrahim Desai


Q.) Is the meat of Seal Halal? If yes, then how about the extracts from its glands? [Ayub]

A.) According to the Hanafi Madhab, all water creatures besides those falling in the category of fish (Arabic samak) are impermissible. (Shaami vol.6 pg.306-7; HM Saeed)

The Seal, being a carnivorous mammal is not classified as a fish, hence not permissible. Below is an excerpt taken from the Encyclopaedia Britannica:

"...In Zoology, any of numerous species of carnivorous aquatic mammals that live chiefly in cold regions and have limbs modified into webbed flippers for use in swimming. Together with Walruses, Seals make the suborder Pinnipedia of the order Carnivora."

And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best