Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 96

(Ayah 96)➊ {اُحِلَّ لَكُمْ صَيْدُ الْبَحْرِ …:} By {’’ الْبَحْرِ ‘‘} is meant water; in this, both sea and non-sea water are equal, and it includes all those animals that cannot live outside water, whether it is a fish or any other animal. If they are caught alive, there is no need for slaughter. In the Qur'an and Hadith, hunting from water has been declared lawful, and in no authentic hadith is it stated that everything except fish is forbidden. By {’’ صَيْدُ الْبَحْرِ ‘‘} is meant every animal from water that is caught alive, and by {’’ طَعَامُ ‘‘} is meant the animal from water that dies there and the sea or river throws it out, or it comes to the surface of the water after dying. This explanation has also come from the Prophet (peace be upon him). Ibn Jarir (may Allah have mercy on him) has narrated this statement of the Prophet (peace be upon him): [طَعَامُهُ مَا لَفَظَهُ الْبَحْرُ مَيْتًا ] That is, in this verse, by {’’ طَعَامُ ‘‘} is meant the animal that the sea throws onto the shore in a dead state. The author of "Hidayat al-Mustaneer" has declared it Hasan. Ibn Jarir has narrated this meaning from many Companions. Some people have declared only fish lawful and all other water animals forbidden, and that too only those caught alive; if it comes to the surface of the water after dying, they declare it forbidden. Both these things are not correct, because they are against this verse. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) about the water of the sea, so he said: [ هُوَ الطَّهُوْرُ مَاؤُهُ، الْحِلُّ مَيْتَتُهُ ] "The water of the sea is pure and its dead (animal) is lawful." [ الموطأ، الطہارۃ، باب الطھور للوضوء : ۱۲۔ أبوداوٗد : ۸۳۔ ترمذی : ۶۹، صححہ الألبانی ] Similarly, the Prophet (peace be upon him) sent some Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) on a military expedition; their food ran out, so they saw a very large fish like a mound, which the water of the sea had left on the shore. Abu Ubaidah (may Allah be pleased with him) was the leader; he allowed them to eat it. Three hundred men ate from it for a month and also took some dried with them. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Do you have any of its meat? Then give us some." So the Companions sent some meat to the Prophet (peace be upon him), and he ate it. [مسلم، الصید والذبائح،باب إباحۃ میتات البحر : ۱۹۳۵ ]

➋ {مَتَاعًا لَّكُمْ وَ لِلسَّيَّارَةِ:} By this, it is indicated that this concession is for your benefit, so that no one thinks that it has been made lawful due to Hajj, i.e., the animal of the sea is lawful for both the Muhrim and the non-Muhrim.