5 Reasons Why Sea Creatures are Halal in Islam

God’s creatures of the sea are uncountable since the ¾ of the earth surface’s is water. There is no doubt that so many creatures are living there. But, are they halal to consume for Muslims? To answer this question we need to see in the Quran surah Al Maidah verse 96,

اُحِلَّ لَكُمْ صَيْدُ الْبَحْرِ وَطَعَامُهٗ مَتَاعًا لَّكُمْ وَلِلسَّيَّارَةِ ۚ

“It is permissible for you to hunt sea animals and food (which is served) from the sea as delicious food for you..”

So, based on that verse, commonly all of the kind of sea creatures type that produces from the sea is halal. Another kind besides them is forbidden to consume. The verse assumed lawful to consume as long as they are not harmful to the human body.

What Are Sea Creatures?

Sea creatures are animals that live in the ocean. Every kind animal beyond the sea are grouping by lawful and forbidden to consume such as animal from the land. Allah provides fish and another animal in the sea as one means of sustenance for humans. It writes in the Quran surah Al Ankabut verse 60:

وَكَاَيِّنْ مِّنْ دَاۤبَّةٍ لَّا تَحْمِلُ رِزْقَهَاۖ اللّٰهُ يَرْزُقُهَاوَاِيَّاكُمْ وَهُوَ السَّمِيْعُ الْعَلِيْمُ – ٦٠

“And there are so many creatures that do not carry its provision. Allah provides for it, as well as for you. He is the hearer and the Omniscient.”

The seawater as part of the ocean has so many Allah’s creatures, includes fish. Fish are one of the group animals that live in the water and can’t live without seawater. With this condition, we should know how the etiquettes of eating and drinking in Islam includes eating sea creatures.

What Makes Sea Creatures Halal in Islam?

Sea creatures are halal in Islam because it mentions in the Quran several times. Once again, how to prove it is Halal? The law has the same meaning as what makes food haram in Islam. Yes, the answer is according to the Quran. Here we have 5 reasons why sea creatures are halal in Islam. Let’s check them out!

1. The ocean is a Place that Provides Halal Food

In the Quran surah, Al Fatir verse 12 mentions that the ocean is a place that provides halal food for Muslims. Commonly every humankind can reach the bounty from this seawater. Here as the benefit as the purposes of believing in Allah for Muslims because Allah provides everything.

وَمَا يَسْتَوِى الْبَحْرٰنِۖ هٰذَا عَذْبٌ فُرَاتٌ سَاۤىِٕغٌ شَرَابُهٗ وَهٰذَا مِلْحٌ اُجَاجٌۗ وَمِنْ كُلٍّ تَأْكُلُوْنَ لَحْمًا طَرِيًّا وَّتَسْتَخْرِجُوْنَ حِلْيَةً تَلْبَسُوْنَهَا ۚوَتَرَى الْفُلْكَ فِيْهِ مَوَاخِرَ لِتَبْتَغُوْا مِنْ فَضْلِهٖ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُوْنَ – ١٢

“And not the same (between) two seas; this one is tasteless, fresh, delicious to drink and the other salty and bitter. And from each of the seas, you can buy fresh meat and you can take out the jewelry that you are wearing, and there you see ships sailing so that the sea can search for His jewelry and so that you are grateful.”

2. Sea Creatures are Nutritious

Sea creatures such as fish, shrimps, crabs, and lobsters contain so much nutrition in it. It makes the body healthier with omega-3, vitamin A, selenium, and zinc.

These minerals are good to make body health. Islam always suggests consuming any food that gives benefits to the body, not the harmful ones. So that, sea creatures are commonly consumed by Muslims.

As mentions are the Quran surah An Nahl verse 114, that Muslims should eat from food that gives the benefit to their body.

فَكُلُوْا مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللّٰهُ حَلٰلًا طَيِّبًاۖ وَّاشْكُرُوْا نِعْمَتَ اللّٰهِ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ اِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُوْنَ – ١١٤

“Then eat the lawful again from the fortune that God has given you; and thank God, if you only worship Him.”

3. Sea Creatures Benefit to Keep Body Health

As mentions above that sea creatures include fish contains Omega 3. This kind of minerals helps the body to keep the heart healthier. It claims can make the balance of the heart’s work.

The key fatty acid mixes perfectly with Omega 3 which claims can keep the heart-healthy. On the other hand, sea creatures contain proteins and minerals. These benefits can keep the brain productive and prevent cardiovascular disease.

Accordingly, based on the Quran surah Al Fatir verse 12, mention that the sea creatures are lawful. So, we can consume them every day to keep our bodies healthy.

4. Consuming Sea Creatures Have Minimum Side Effect

Risk Associated with sea creatures consumption is lesser than any other food. Fish consumption sometimes takes a risk in the carries from environment toxic. That is why we should consume them with other foods and vegetables to balance the system immune in our bodies. 

As mentions in the Quran surah Al Baqarah verse 195 “ … And do not throw yourselves into destruction..”. That means consuming food we should not do that too much to avoid harmful in our body.

5. Allah Has Not Made Sea Creatures Unbearable to Consume

Sea creatures that live both on the land and seawater are halal to consume with some condition. Such as turtles and otter are halal after it has slaughter properly.

But for safety matters for them, it has to be slaughter in a safe place. Except for crabs which should not be slaughter because they don’t have blood. There are things that are sunnah when slaughtering and sacrificial animals and their verses include sea creatures.

All sea creatures are halal to consume as long as they don’t harm the human body. Whether they are plants, animals, live or dead in the sea are permissible. Allah has not made every type of food from the seawater unbearable to consume. In the Quran Al Baqarah verse 185, say that:

 يُرِيْدُ اللّٰهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيْدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ ۖ

“… Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you…”

Everything is easier if we live according to Islamic law. That verse proves that there are ways to believe in the prophet and its verses to keep us safe both living in this world or in the last days.

So, these are the 5 reasons why consuming the creatures is halal in Islam. Remember, that every kind of food that cause harm to our body is forbidden to consume. Even if they come from the sea, so we should be careful of it.