✦ Introduction
In recent times, some individuals claim—out of either ignorance or deliberate distortion—that the permissibility of buffalo meat is not mentioned in the Qur'an or Hadith and is merely a product of juristic opinion (fiqh). But who has authorized juristic opinion to decide matters of ḥalāl and ḥarām independently? The Qur’an explicitly warns:
“Do not say, ‘This is lawful and that is forbidden,’ falsely attributing it to Allah. Indeed, those who fabricate lies against Allah will never succeed.”
(Sūrat al-Naḥl: 116)
✦ Divine Authority in Declaring Halal and Haram
Only Allah and His Messenger ﷺ hold the authority to define what is permissible and what is forbidden. Islam is a complete religion, and the Prophet ﷺ conveyed comprehensive principles regarding lawful and unlawful foods.✦ Evidence from the Qur’an
① General Permissibility of Livestock (Anʿām)
“Lawful for you are the animals of livestock…”(Sūrat al-Mā’idah: 1)
According to Tābiʿī Qatādah ibn Diʿāmah, this includes all kinds of livestock, including buffalo. Imams like al-Ṭabarī and al-Shawkānī affirm this interpretation. Mufti Muhammad Shafiʿ explains in Maʿārif al-Qur’ān that "anʿām" refers to domesticated animals like camels, cows, buffaloes, goats—eight types explicitly mentioned in Sūrat al-Anʿām.② No Explicit Prohibition = Permissibility
“Say, I do not find in what is revealed to me anything forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, except...”(Sūrat al-Anʿām: 145)
According to Ibn Rajab, what is not declared haram remains permissible. Ibn ʿAbbās stated: what Allah has not declared haram is pardoned. This principle is a fundamental rule in Islamic jurisprudence: everything is permissible unless proven otherwise.③ Clarification of Prohibitions
“He has clearly explained to you what He has made unlawful…”(Sūrat al-Anʿām: 119)
Ibn Rajab explains: if buffalo were haram, it would have been explicitly mentioned. The absence of its prohibition confirms its permissibility.✦ Evidence from the Sunnah
❖ Hadith on Unlawful Predators
“Every predator with fangs is haram.”(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1933)
Buffalo are not carnivorous and do not possess predatory fangs. Therefore, they do not fall under this prohibition.❖ Hadith on Avoiding Unnecessary Questions
“The gravest sinner among Muslims is the one who asks about something not forbidden, and it becomes forbidden due to his questioning.”(Bukhārī: 7289; Muslim: 2358)
Declaring buffalo meat haram without evidence risks this warning.✦ Consensus (Ijmāʿ) of Scholars
Imām Ibn al-Mundhir:“There is consensus that buffalo fall under the same ruling as cattle.”
(Al-Ijmāʿ: 47)
Ibn Qudāmah:“There is no known disagreement. Buffalo are a type of cattle.”
(Al-Mughnī: 2/594)
Ibn Taymiyyah:“Buffalo are treated like cattle, and consensus affirms this.”
(Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā: 25/37)
Ibn Ḥazm:“Buffalo are a kind of cattle.”
(Al-Muḥallā: 6/2)
✦ Conclusion
All reliable sources—Qur'an, Sunnah, and Ijmāʿ—affirm that buffalo are halal. Denying this, despite overwhelming evidence, equates to falsely accusing Allah and His Messenger ﷺ of omission or neglect—a grave slander.Muslims must rely on authentic revelation and scholarly consensus, not personal opinion or imitation of uninformed claims. Buffalo meat is undoubtedly halal, and to say otherwise is both irresponsible and misleading.
