By: K.H. Abdurrahman Dahlan
Member of the National Sharia Council of the Indonesian Ulema Council (DSN MUI)
Question:
Assalamu’alaikum wr. wb.
In Islamic law we know food that is halal and which is haram. This is so that we can be selective in choosing food. The law of origin of any food is lawful and permissible. However, in everyday life we are often faced with problems that can cause differences in understanding about the halal haram of a food. Therefore, on this occasion we ask for an explanation from Mr. Kiai related to the law of consuming fanged animals. Are kosher fanged animals eaten? What is the underlying argument?
Thus we convey this question, for the answer and explanation we convey thank you.
Wassalamualaikum wr. wb.
Answer:
Waalaikumsalam wr. Wb.
Thanks for the question. To answer the question of whether fanged animals can be consumed or not, then we first return to the law of origin: as long as there is no argument that prohibits it then the law is lawful. Meanwhile, everything that is forbidden in the Qur’an and hadith, is definitely punished as haram. That’s what applies anyway when it comes to the law of eating fanged beasts as you ask.
The scholars explain that the fanged animals referred to in the hadith are animals that are dangerous to humans, such as lions, tigers, leopards and wolves. Or also those who eat meat such as dogs and cats. Some scholars also forbid donkeys and apes through the hadith above because both have fangs.
The implicit postulate is in the form of a Qur’anic verse that prohibits eating animals that died because they were eaten by wild animals. That is to say: “It is forbidden to you (eat) carrion, blood, pork, (animal flesh) slaughtered in the name other than Allah, the strangled, the beaten, the fallen, the horned, and the pounced on the beast, except the one you had time to slaughter it.” [QS. Al-Maidah (5: 3)].
Fanged beasts belong to the beasts, as explained in the above hadith. The monasticity of fanged animals can also be taken from the Qur’anic information about the haram of animals that die because they are pounced on by wild animals, even though the animals are basically halal, such as goats or cows.
In the beasts there is a fierce nature in which they like to kill others. By forbidding wild animals, it means that Islam has paid homage to humans so as not to have such a nature as the beast. In addition, wild animals are considered dirty and disgusting so that their food is also forbidden in Islamic law.
In the verses of the Qur’an it is explained that what is forbidden in Islam are items that are indeed inherently dirty, dirty and disgusting. God said: It means: “(Allah) justifies for them all that is good and forbids them all that is bad.” [QS. Al-A’raf (7): 157].
From Abu Hurairah radhiyallahu ‘anhu, he said from the Prophet sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, he said: “Every beast that has fangs, then eating it is haram.” (HR. Muslims). From Ibn ‘Abbas, he said: “The Messenger of Allaah sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam forbade eating every fanged beast, and every kind of bird that has a hoof to grip” (HR. Muslims). Likewise Abi Tsa’labah, he said: “The Messenger of Allaah sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam forbade eating every fanged beast.” (HR. Bukhari).
Thus our explanation, hopefully answering your question. Wallahu a’lam bishawab.
Wassalamualaikum wr. wb.
