Jibreel
The Duolingo for Fiqh
For many people, fishing is a beloved pastime or a way to put food on the table. But observant Muslims often ask, is fishing halal – permissible under Islamic law?
To answer this, we will explore what Islam – and specifically the Hanafi school of jurisprudence – says about catching fish for sustenance versus fishing purely for sport or leisure.
The Hanafi madhhab (legal school) provides guidance distinguishing fishing for food (a valid necessity) from fishing for sport (recreation), with an emphasis on intention and animal welfare.
In Islam, catching fish for the purpose of food or livelihood is generally considered halal (permissible).
According to Hanafi scholars, if one fishes with the intention of eating the fish or otherwise benefiting from the catch, then the act of fishing is allowed. In other words, fishing to obtain halal sustenance is permissible, even if one enjoys the activity.
The Quran states that the lawful game of the sea is made halal as provision for us. Thus, using fishing as a means to acquire food or earn a living is in line with Islamic principles.
"You are permitted to catch and eat seafood—an enjoyment for you and the traveller"
Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:96)
That said, even when fishing for food, a Muslim should maintain ethical conduct. This means one should not needlessly torture or waste the catch.
If a fish is caught, it should be utilized – for example, eaten or given away – rather than killed for no reason. Hanafi jurists emphasize that having a valid purpose (like consumption or sale) makes fishing acceptable.
In short, fishing for sustenance is halal in the Hanafi school, provided one upholds Islamic guidelines of humane treatment and gratitude for the blessing of food.
Fishing purely for sport or leisure (often catch-and-release) is more problematic from a Hanafi fiqh perspective.
The key issue is the intention and potential harm to the animal. If one is fishing just “to pass time” or for the thrill, with no intention of using the fish (neither eating nor selling it), then Hanafi scholars consider this practice impermissible.
This is because such fishing lacks a valid Shar‘ī purpose and causes unnecessary harm or stress to the fish for the sake of entertainment. Simply put, catch-and-release fishing for fun – where the fish is hooked and then let go without any beneficial use – is viewed as causing undue harm to an animal, which Islam does not allow.
On the other hand, if someone enjoys the sport of fishing but also intends to eat the catch, the ruling is different.
In that case, it falls under fishing for a valid purpose (food), which is permissible, and the enjoyment is merely a byproduct. The pleasure or relaxation gained from fishing is not haram in itself; what is objectionable is inflicting harm on animals needlessly or treating living creatures as mere playthings.
Hanafi scholars stress one major concern with sport fishing, cruelty to animals.
Islam strongly prohibits cruelty to animals. The Prophet ﷺ taught that even when we must kill an animal for food, we should do so with utmost compassion and minimal suffering:
“Allah has ordained excellence in all things. So when you kill, kill well; and when you slaughter, slaughter well. Let each of you sharpen his blade and spare the animal any suffering.”
Sahih Muslim
This means if we are fishing, we must minimize the pain caused to the fish. Using hooks and then releasing fish can injure or stress them, violating the Islamic principle of kindness to creatures.
Fishing for sport is only permissible if it causes no harm to the animal; otherwise it becomes impermissible. In practice, since hooking a fish by the mouth usually does cause some harm, one should avoid purely recreational fishing.
These animals are a blessing given to us for genuine needs like food, but that does not mean they have to needlessly suffer". If one cannot pursue fishing as a hobby without harming fish, the ethical response in Islam is to give up that hobby.
The Messenger of Allah said "Wealth taken by force is (not permissible), any predator that has fangs is not permissible, and any animal used for target practice is not permissible."
Narrated by Abu Tha'labah
In conclusion, fishing is halal in Islam – particularly in Hanafi fiqh – when it is done for a valid purpose like obtaining food, and when it’s carried out humanely.
Catching fish to eat (for yourself or others) or to sell is permissible and lawful, as it fulfills a genuine need and appreciates the bounty Allah has provided.
However, using animals as mere toys for entertainment, with no intention to make use of them, is not permissible and contradicts the Islamic principles of mercy and responsibility.
A Muslim who enjoys fishing should always pair that enjoyment with mindful purpose and kindness. By doing so, one can ensure their leisure activity remains within the halal boundaries and earns the pleasure of Allah.
To summarize, here are some key guidelines for halal and ethical fishing in light of the Hanafi perspective:
By following these guidelines, one can ensure that their fishing activity remains within the halal scope and is conducted with the ethics and compassion that Islam requires.
In the Hanafi view, as in all Islamic schools, the overarching principle is to use the blessings of nature responsibly and kindly. Fishing can indeed be halal and even rewardable (when done to feed oneself or others), but it must be done with purpose, gratitude, and respect for Allah’s creation.
This balanced approach allows Muslims to enjoy fishing as a hobby or livelihood while staying true to their faith’s values.
