Carcasses and Blood That Muslims Can Eat

Table of Contents

Hi All! In this article, I will explain the types of carcasses and blood that Muslims can eat according to the Quran and Hadith. Generally, Muslims are prohibited from consuming carcasses and blood, as clearly stated in the Quran and supported by Hadith.

Quran on Carcasses and Blood That Muslims Can Eat

The Quranic verses related to carcasses and blood permissible for Muslims are as follows:

Al-Baqarah [2:173]

إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلۡمَيۡتَةَ وَٱلدَّمَ وَلَحۡمَ ٱلۡخِنزِيرِ وَمَآ أُهِلَّ بِهِۦ لِغَيۡرِ ٱللَّهِۖ فَمَنِ ٱضۡطُرَّ غَيۡرَ بَاغٖ وَلَا عَادٖ فَلَآ إِثۡمَ عَلَيۡهِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٌ ١٧٣

"He has only forbidden you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit] – there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."

Al-Maa'idah [5:3]

حُرِّمَتۡ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلۡمَيۡتَةُ وَٱلدَّمُ وَلَحۡمُ ٱلۡخِنزِيرِ وَمَآ أُهِلَّ لِغَيۡرِ ٱللَّهِ بِهِۦ وَٱلۡمُنۡخَنِقَةُ وَٱلۡمَوۡقُوذَةُ وَٱلۡمُتَرَدِّيَةُ وَٱلنَّطِيحَةُ وَمَآ أَكَلَ ٱلسَّبُعُ إِلَّا مَا ذَكَّيۡتُمۡ وَمَا ذُبِحَ عَلَى ٱلنُّصُبِ

"Prohibited to you are dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah, and [those animals] killed by strangling, by a violent blow, by a headlong fall, by the goring of horns, and those from which a wild animal has eaten—except what you are able to slaughter [before death]..."

An-Nahl [16:115]

إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلۡمَيۡتَةَ وَٱلدَّمَ وَلَحۡمَ ٱلۡخِنزِيرِ وَمَآ أُهِلَّ لِغَيۡرِ ٱللَّهِ بِهِۦۖ فَمَنِ ٱضۡطُرَّ غَيۡرَ بَاغٖ وَلَا عَادٖ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٞ ١١٥

"He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah. But if one is forced by necessity, without willful disobedience nor transgressing due limits, then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."

How to Bury a Cat in Islam?

Although these Quranic verses emphasize the prohibition of carcasses and blood, exceptions exist, as clarified by a Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad.

Hadith on Carcasses and Blood That Muslims Can Eat

The Hadith regarding carcasses and blood permissible for Muslims is as follows:

عَنْ اِبْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : أُحِلَّتْ لَنَا مَيْتَتَانِ وَدَمَانِ ، فَأَمَّا الْمَيْتَتَانِ فَالْجَرَادُ وَالْحُوْتُ ، وَأَمَّا الدَّمَانِ فَالْكَبِدُ وَالطَّحَالُ . أَخْرَجَهُ أَحْمَدُ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ

"From Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah said: 'Two types of dead animals and two types of blood are lawful for us. The two dead animals are locusts and fish, and the two types of blood are the liver and spleen.' (Narrated by Ahmad and Ibn Majah)"

Key Points from the Hadith

Permissible Carcasses:

• Locusts: All scholars agree that locusts are permissible regardless of how they die.
• Fish: Scholars differ slightly. Most agree that fish can be eaten even if found dead, but some prefer it to be killed intentionally.

Permissible Blood:

• Liver and Spleen: Both are explicitly mentioned as permissible in the Hadith.

Conclusion

I hope this article has clarified the rules regarding carcasses and blood that Muslims can consume. While the Quran and Hadith provide strict guidelines, they also allow certain exceptions under specific circumstances.

May this article be helpful and increase your understanding. See you in the next article!