#363: Ruling on Eating Cats and Frogs

“Salam walaykum sirs pls what is the hukmu on the intake of cat meat.”

ANSWER

Wa alaykum Salām Warahmatullāh Wabarakātuh.

As for the Cat, it is Harām by consensus for two reasons.

One, there is clear statement from the Rasūl – salallāhu alayhi wasallam – forbidding its consumption. This is recorded by Imām Muslim, Imām Abū Dāwud and Al-Bayhaqī – Rahimahumullāh – from Jābir Ibn ‘Abdullah – radiyallāhu ‘anhumā – that the Rasūl – salallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam – forbade eating the cat and benefiting from its Trade.

Two, it falls under the Category of animals that possess the Canine Tooth for Canivourism.

For these two reasons, the ‘Ulamā are at an agreement on the forbiddance of its consumption.

It is important here to respond to another question that often arises and which we have been asked before. It is the Ruling of consuming the Frog.

It is not permissible to eat the frog because it is of the animals we were forbidden from killing.

It is recorded by Al-Bayhaqī in his Sunan from Sahl Ibn Sa’ad As-Sā’idī – radiyallāhu ‘anhu – that the Rasūl – salallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam – forbade the killing of five animals: the Bee, the Ant, the Frog, the Shrike bird and the Hoopee.

As for the Toad that lives its entirety in water, there is a minority position among the ‘Ulamā to the effect that it is permissible. This position is based on the generality of permissibility for Water Animals to be consumed. Whereas the majority held that its forbiddance was specific (Khās) to it and must be given preference over the generality (‘Ām) for water animals.

The position favoured by the majority here is what is right. This is because it is an agreed upon Precept in Usūl that The Specific if given preference over the Generic whenever there is a seeming contradiction, as is the case here.

Imām Ibn Qudāmah Al-Maqdisī – rahimahullāh – mentioned in al-Mughnī:

“And all Aquatic Animals are permissible for consumption except the Toad. And this is the position of Ash-Shāfi’ī”

And Allāh knows best

Bārakallāhu fīkum
Jazākumullāhu Khayran

21st Safar 1439AH

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