#473: The Categories of Animals Forbidden to Eat
QUESTION
“Asalam alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatu, pls it is permissible in Islam for someone to eat gorilla or monkey meat. Since it not carnivorous animal.”
ANSWER
Wa alaykum Salām Warahmatullāh Wabarakātuh.
Alhamdulillāh, The Ulamā explained that the categories of animals that are forbidden for eating are as follows:
1. Animals that a clear cut textual evidence has forbidden us from consuming, example of this is the pig.
2. Animals that we were commanded to kill whenever we find them. An example of this is the Wall Geko.
3. Animals that we were forbidden from killing. Examples are Ants, Bees, etc.
4. Every animal that has claws for carnivorous purposes.
5. Every bird that has claws for same.
6. Any animal whose eating is harmful.
7. Any animal that was despised.
As for the Ape, it falls under this seventh category. The Ulamā did not differ on the prohibition of eating the monkey/ape/gorilla.
Imām Ibn Qudāmah – rahimahullāh – said in the Mughnī:
“It is not permissible to eat monkeys. Umar forbade it. So did ‘Atā, Mujāhid, Mak’hūl and Al-Hasan. It is also not permissible to transact it (for same). Ibn ‘Abdilbarr said: I do not know of any difference among the Ulamā of the Muslims that the monkey/ape must not be eaten nor transacted. And Ash-Sha’abī narrated that the Prophet – salallāhu alayhi wasallam – forbade eating the meat of the Ape…”
What is meant by it been despised is that when Allāh wanted the punish the Jews for their rebellion and transgression, he despised and humiliated them by transforming them into Apes.
Allāhu A’alam.
Bārakallāhu fīkum
Jazākumullāhu Khayran.
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