If you are someone who enjoys eating octopus, but you’re unsure if it’s halal (i.e., permissible) in Islam, then this article will help answer your question and give you the information that you need.
Is octopus halal to eat?
Octopus is Halal. Octopus is called halal food because it is halal for humans to eat and it has been explained from the Qur’an and Hadith that octopus is halal. It’s because there has not been proof that it is haram (i.e., impermissible in Islamic law).
So, the only thing you need to ask yourself is if you would like to eat octopus.
Is octopus halal in Islam?
Octopus is considered halal food in Islam.
Since octopus is halal in Islam, and you asked yourself if you would like to eat octopus, you should know that:
An animal must be slaughtered in the proper Islamic way to be considered halal. Halal means that the animal was killed without any harm or cruelty; it was not tortured or intentionally harmed. Thus, halal meat must be correctly slaughtered by a Muslim who follows these guidelines (or someone who is authorized to slaughter by virtue of their position).
So as long as you prepare octopus in this way , it is halal. Your meat will also be halal if prepared in the proper way. Therefore, whether or not you choose to eat it is up to you.
Why is octopus halal?
Allah Almighty has the knowledge of everything and he chooses what he wants for us to eat and an animal must be slaughtered in the proper Islamic way to be considered halal. Thus, octopus is known as a food that does not harm or kill or cause pain during its slaughter.
An animal slaughtered properly is a halal animal. This is because the killing of the animal was done to benefit humans. Halal means that the animal was not harmed or tortured. The Islamic law requires that animals be slaughtered in a proper manner and it also requires that they be killed without any harm or cruelty (Halal).
The animals such as octopus and other animals do not need to be slaughtered like cows and sheep, according to Islamic law. Some people ask questions about octopus because it has many legs and appears complex. However, there is no problem with eating octopus because it does not have a central nervous system. Its nerve center is in its head, not in other parts of its body, which means that it will never suffer from pain when it is killed.
The ruling for this type of animal that does not require slaughtering is that they can be killed by any means other than drowning or burning. Eating octopus and other animals that do not require slaughtering are halal to eat.
Are there any Muslims that believe octopus is haram?
There are some Muslims that believe octopus is haram, and there are some others who say that it is halal.
Some people consider octopus haram because they say that for an animal to be halal, it must have a backbone or spinal cord. They also think that the backbone is the main source of consciousness and life in general.
However, the backbone does not provide consciousness because there are animals with no backbone or spinal cord that are halal. So, this is not the main source of consciousness. Aside from this point, others are wrong in thinking that animals must have the backbone to be considered halal.
Some people say that the animal must have a central nervous system in order to be considered halal. However, this is nonsense and not correct. The main part of the central nervous system is in the brain and not in the backbone. When it comes to octopus and other animals that do not require slaughtering, they do not have a central nervous system.
The only thing that people who consider octopus haram because they think that if an animal does not have a backbone or spinal cord it cannot be considered halal is simply wrong.
So don’t be afraid, octopuses are halal.
Different Islam school opinions
There are different Islam schools that have different opinions about octopus.
Some say that it is halal for Muslims to eat octopus even though it is considered a type of sea creature that does not require slaughtering, because the Qur’an and Hadith prove that octopus can be eaten. Others say that it is not halal to eat octopus because the Qur’an and Hadith do not mention this fact.
Is octopus halal in Shia?
Shia does not say that octopus is haram. However, they say that octopus should not be eaten because it has many legs and this may cause one of its legs to touch the bones in the other legs and this may break them so they should not be eaten.
Is octopus halal in Sunni?
As for Sunni, there is no reliable information regarding octopus and its halal or haram status. But we can assume it’s halal because of all the indicators we have.
Is octopus halal in Hanafi?
Hanafi says that if the person knows that it’s an octopus then it’s ok to eat because Allah Almighty has confirmed its permission in the Qur’an.
Is octopus halal Islamqa?
Islamqa says that octopus is halal to eat because the Qur’an and Hadith say so.
Is octopus halal in Salafi?
Salafism says that there are many signs for octopus being haram, the most important of the signs is its head has a central nervous system which makes it possible for them to feel pain when they are killed. Because of this reason, it’s not ok to eat them according to Salafi.
Conclusion: Is eating octopus Halal or Haram?
As you know, there are many different Islam schools and opinions about octopus being halal or haram. However, according to my knowledge, they have been known as halal for a long time.
The most important point is that if the person is sure about the slaughtering of the animal, then he should eat it because there are some evidences that prove that seeing octopus as halal.
FAQ
Is consuming only fish and other sea creatures considered halal seafood in Islam?
Yes, consuming only fish and other sea creatures is considered halal seafood in Islam. Islamic scholars have determined that most sea animals are generally permissible unless they are poisonous or harmful to humans.
Are sea turtles allowed to be consumed according to Sunni Islam teachings?
In Sunni Islam, the consumption of sea turtles may not be widely accepted as they fall under the category of non-fish sea animals. However, opinions may vary among different schools of thought within Sunni Islam.
Do Islamic scholars consider crab halal as a type of seafood?
Islamic scholars have differing opinions on whether crab is halal. Some consider it permissible as it falls under the category of sea creatures, while others believe only fish with scales can be consumed according to Islamic law.
Are dead animals found in the ocean such as sushi halal in Islam?
Dead animals that are found in the ocean but not slaughtered according to Islamic guidelines are usually considered haram. This means sushi made from dead marine life without proper slaughtering might not be halal.
What does eating seafood mean compared to consuming land animals in an Islamic context?
Eating seafood refers to consuming aquatic creatures like fish, crustaceans or mollusks, while land animals include mammals and birds which require Islamic slaughtering methods (Dhabihah) for their meat to be considered halal. Seafood is generally more broadly accepted than some land animals based on various interpretations by different Islamic scholars.
Can Muslims consume octopus and shellfish? Are they categorized as halal or haram food items?
Octopus is generally considered permissible (halal) across many schools of thought within Islam; however, shellfish like clams and mussels may have differing opinions. For instance, according to the Hanafi school of thought, the consumption of shellfish might be categorized as makruh (disliked).
Comments from our readers…
“Octopuses are halal to eat in Islam, you can read the reasons for this in this article.”
“I’m glad to know that octopus is halal. I love eating octopus, especially BBQ octopus.”
“I heard that there are some people who say that octopus is haram; they say that it’s not halal because it has many legs and different species. They think that because of its feet touch each other like hands, it breaks their bones. I hope Allah Almighty will guide them to the right way. They should think again and say that octopus is halal.”
“I don’t like eating octopus, I prefer to eat fish and shrimp. But I can confirm that octopus is indeed halal food.”
