Jibreel
The Duolingo for Fiqh
Fishing is a common activity for food and recreation, but many Muslims wonder: is fishing halal or haram in Islam? According to Islamic teachings – particularly the Hanafi school of thought – the act of fishing is generally considered halal (permissible), especially when done to obtain food. The Qur’an explicitly states, “Lawful to you is what you catch from the sea and its use for food – for the benefit of yourselves and those who travel”islamqa.info. This means that catching seafood (like fish) for nourishment is fundamentally allowed. However, the intention and method of fishing matter. While catching fish for food is clearly permissible, there is scholarly discussion about fishing purely for sport or leisure. All scholars agree on one key principle: no unnecessary harm should be caused to animals, even when fishing for recreationseekersguidance.orgseekersguidance.org. In this article, we will explore the Hanafi fiqh perspective on fishing – looking at fishing for food versus sport – and the ethical guidelines that ensure this activity remains halal.
A fisherman casts his net on a tranquil lake at dawn, reflecting on the blessings of halal sustenance through fishing.
In general Islamic law, fishing and hunting are permissible activities. Animals taken from the sea are considered halal to eat without the need for ritual slaughter, as indicated by the Qur’anic verse above and the hadith, “Its water is pure and its dead (sea creature) is lawful to eat” (recorded in Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi)raleighmasjid.orgraleighmasjid.org. This establishes that fish and other allowed seafood are halal as food, and therefore catching them is permissible. From the Hanafi perspective, it’s worth noting that the term “seafood” has a specific scope: the Hanafi school considers only fish to be lawful from the sea, excluding other creatures like crab or squid from halal consumptionraleighmasjid.orgraleighmasjid.org. In other words, when Hanafis discuss “fishing,” it usually refers to catching fish (which are halal to eat), as opposed to non-fish seafood.
Because fish are halal to eat, fishing for the purpose of food is unquestionably allowed in Islam. In fact, there is a consensus that if someone hunts or fishes with a legitimate need – for example, to eat or sell the catch for sustenance – “there is nothing wrong with hunting or catching them”islamqa.info. The activity becomes a means of obtaining halal sustenance, which is commendable. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions ate fish, and historically Muslim communities have engaged in fishing as a livelihood without objection. Therefore, fishing as a source of food or income is halal and carries no sin.
However, Islamic ethics emphasize doing so responsibly. Even when killing animals for food, Islam teaches kindness and minimal suffering. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “When you slaughter, slaughter well. You should sharpen your knife and put the animal at ease”seekersguidance.org. By extension, when fishing for food, one should aim to minimize the fish’s suffering – for instance, using proper equipment and swiftly dispatching the fish once caught, rather than letting it needlessly suffocate. These compassionate guidelines ensure that the halal act of fishing for food is carried out in a humane manner, as part of ihsan (excellence) in everything we doseekersguidance.org.
From the Hanafi fiqh perspective, there is no doubt about the permissibility of fishing for food. Hanafis base this ruling on the Quranic allowance of “game of the sea” (mentioned in Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:96) and hadith evidence. As mentioned, Hanafis generally restrict halal sea creatures to fish aloneraleighmasjid.org. But within that category, all types of fish are halal and permissible to catchraleighmasjid.org. If you catch a fish by any halal method – whether using a hook and line, nets, or traps – it is lawful to eat and share. You do not need to perform zabiha (ritual slaughter) on fish; simply catching it (or finding it dead on the water) is enough to consider it halal, as long as it died out of water by the act of fishing. This leniency is a mercy that recognizes fishing as a convenient way to obtain food.
In Hanafi jurisprudence, there is an interesting nuance: while fishing is allowed, using certain methods that cause unnecessary pain would be disliked. For example, using live bait (another living fish or frog) can be considered cruel and thus makruh (disliked), according to some fatwas, because it causes suffering to the bait animal. The core principle is that even in permissible actions, a Muslim should avoid causing undue harm. Still, catching fish for the purpose of eating is generally seen as not only allowed but part of enjoying the halal provisions Allah has provided from the sea. If a Muslim goes fishing, intends to consume or sell the catch, and follows ethical guidelines, that activity is fully halal and even praiseworthy as a means of earning a livelihood or feeding one’s family with halal food.
What about fishing purely for sport or leisure? This is where we find a difference of opinion among scholars, including those of the Hanafi school. The question arises when someone fishes not out of need for food, but for the enjoyment of the activity – often practicing “catch-and-release” (where the fish are returned to the water) or simply keeping a trophy catch.
According to a number of scholars, fishing (or hunting) for sport without intending to eat or use the animal can be problematic. Many classify it as makruh (disliked) if done solely for entertainment. They cite a well-known hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him): “Do not take any living creature as a target (for shooting practice).”islamqa.info This hadith strongly discourages treating animals as mere objects of fun or target practice, which by extension covers the idea of tormenting or killing them for sport. Classical scholars across different schools have echoed this sentiment. For instance, in the Hanafi texts and other juristic works, it’s mentioned that hunting or fishing for no need but play is dislikedislamqa.info. Some even went further to say it could be haram to needlessly take an animal’s life. Hanafi jurists like Mufti Ebrahim Salejee have ruled that if fishing is done to eat or sell, it is permissible – implying that if it’s done with no intention to utilize the fish, it would not be permissibleislamqa.org. In other words, trophy hunting or catch-and-discard fishing is unlawful in that view, because it leads to killing or harming an animal without a valid reason.
On the other hand, some scholars allow recreational fishing under certain conditions. They argue that if you are not killing or permanently harming the fish, the activity can be permissible. For example, contemporary Hanafi scholars like Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat have responded that “Yes, fishing and hunting for sport are permissible – as long as there is no harm caused to the animal”seekersguidance.org. If the fish are caught with minimal injury and then released back alive, and no cruelty is involved, this view considers it allowable leisure. The condition is that the fish should not be hurt or left to die unnecessarily. If the method of catch-and-release inherently causes serious harm or suffering to the fish, then engaging in it would not be permissibleseekersguidance.org. Shaykh Reasat advises, “See if you can find a means of fishing that does not harm the fish… If you can’t continue your hobby without harming the fish, it’s probably time to look for another hobby.”seekersguidance.orgseekersguidance.org. This balanced approach recognizes the enjoyment of fishing as a hobby but sets a firm ethical requirement: the welfare of the animal comes first.
In summary, there is a difference of opinion on fishing for sport. Some scholars (including many Hanafis) consider it disliked or even impermissible to fish purely for fun if the fish will not be eaten or used. Other scholars permit recreational catch-and-release fishing, provided it’s done humanely and the fish aren’t harmed. All scholars, however, agree that wanton cruelty to animals is forbidden. Causing any living creature unnecessary pain or death is against the teachings of Islam. Therefore, even if one takes the lenient view allowing sport fishing, one must be extremely careful about how it’s done.
No matter the purpose of fishing, Islam sets forth ethical guidelines to ensure compassion towards animals. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught that mercy to animals is a part of faith. We have examples in the sunnah where kindness to animals earned people divine reward, and cruelty earned punishment. When it comes to fishing or hunting, these general principles translate into practical guidelines:
By following these guidelines, a Muslim ensures that their fishing activity remains within the bounds of halal and tayyib (wholesome). The focus is on responsibility and mercy: whether one fishes for sustenance or relaxation, one must remember that these animals are creatures of Allah. We are accountable for how we treat them. As one fatwa puts it, “These animals have been created for us, as a blessing, for our necessity to consume them. This necessity does not mean they have to needlessly suffer.”seekersguidance.org
In conclusion, fishing is halal in Islam – particularly in the Hanafi view – when it is done for a legitimate purpose like obtaining food. All four Sunni schools of law agree that catching fish for food is permissible and in line with the Qur’an and hadith. The Hanafi school, while only recognizing fish (and not other sea creatures) as halal, fully endorses fishing as a means of acquiring halal sustenance. There is some difference of opinion regarding fishing purely for sport. Many scholars discourage or disallow it if it serves no purpose beyond entertainment, citing Islamic teachings against pointless crueltyislamqa.infoislamqa.org. Other scholars allow recreational fishing provided the fish are not harmed and are released safelyseekersguidance.org. Regardless of these differing views, all scholars agree that no harm should be caused to the animal when fishing for fun or otherwiseseekersguidance.orgseekersguidance.org.
For a Muslim who enjoys fishing, the safest and most ethical approach is to fish with the intention of using the catch – eat it, share it, or sell it – and to always practice compassion. Fishing for food is not only halal but is a way of appreciating the lawful bounties Allah has provided from the sea. If one fishes for sport, one must take extra care to avoid injuring the fish and be willing to stop the hobby if it proves harmful to animalsseekersguidance.org. By adhering to Islamic guidelines and maintaining respect for Allah’s creatures, Muslims can enjoy fishing in a halal and responsible manner. Ultimately, Islam permits us to benefit from hunting and fishing, but it also calls us to be kind caretakers of every living thing in the process.
