Islamic Ruling on the Buying and Selling of Dead Animals
The buying and selling of dead animals is forbidden (ḥarām), based on the clear command of Allah ﷻ in the Qur’an:
«حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةُ» [المائدة: 3]
“Dead meat has been made unlawful for you.”
Since consuming dead animals is ḥarām, its trade and its price are also ḥarām. It is not permissible for any person to consume it except in a case of dire necessity.
In Sūrat al-Mā’idah, after listing the forbidden items including dead animals, Allah ﷻ further states:
«فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ فِي مَخْمَصَةٍ غَيْرَ مُتَجَانِفٍ لِّإِثْمٍ ۙ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ» [المائدة: 3]
“But whoever is forced by extreme hunger with no inclination to sin, then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”
This implies that consuming dead meat is only permitted in cases of absolute necessity, where there is a risk to life and no lawful food is available.
However, two types of dead animals are excluded from this prohibition: locusts and fish. These do not fall under the ruling of ḥarām dead meat, and their consumption and trade are permissible.
Allah ﷻ says:
«أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ صَيْدُ الْبَحْرِ وَطَعَامُهُ مَتَاعًا لَّكُمْ وَلِلسَّيَّارَةِ» [المائدة: 96]
“Lawful to you is the catch of the sea and its food as provision for you and for travelers.”
Additionally, the Prophet ﷺ said regarding the sea:
«هو الطهور ماؤه الحل ميتته»
“Its water is pure, and its dead (animals) are lawful.”
[Sunan al-Tirmidhī, 69; Sunan al-Nasā’ī, 59; Sunan Ibn Mājah, 3246]
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
“Two types of dead animals and two types of blood have been made lawful for us. The two dead animals are locusts and fish, and the two types of blood are liver and spleen.”
[Sunan Ibn Mājah, 3314]
Conclusion:
The general rule is that the buying, selling, and consuming of dead animals is unlawful, except for locusts and fish, which are clearly excluded by the Qur’an and Sunnah. Only in cases of dire necessity is consuming other dead animals allowed, and even then, without inclination toward sin.
[Al-Lajnah al-Dā’imah: Fatwa No. 1818]
❖ Prohibition Based on Qur'anic Command
The buying and selling of dead animals is forbidden (ḥarām), based on the clear command of Allah ﷻ in the Qur’an:
«حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةُ» [المائدة: 3]
“Dead meat has been made unlawful for you.”
Since consuming dead animals is ḥarām, its trade and its price are also ḥarām. It is not permissible for any person to consume it except in a case of dire necessity.
✿ Exception in Case of Compulsion
In Sūrat al-Mā’idah, after listing the forbidden items including dead animals, Allah ﷻ further states:
«فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ فِي مَخْمَصَةٍ غَيْرَ مُتَجَانِفٍ لِّإِثْمٍ ۙ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ» [المائدة: 3]
“But whoever is forced by extreme hunger with no inclination to sin, then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”
This implies that consuming dead meat is only permitted in cases of absolute necessity, where there is a risk to life and no lawful food is available.
✔ Permissible Exceptions: Locusts and Fish
However, two types of dead animals are excluded from this prohibition: locusts and fish. These do not fall under the ruling of ḥarām dead meat, and their consumption and trade are permissible.
Allah ﷻ says:
«أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ صَيْدُ الْبَحْرِ وَطَعَامُهُ مَتَاعًا لَّكُمْ وَلِلسَّيَّارَةِ» [المائدة: 96]
“Lawful to you is the catch of the sea and its food as provision for you and for travelers.”
Additionally, the Prophet ﷺ said regarding the sea:
«هو الطهور ماؤه الحل ميتته»
“Its water is pure, and its dead (animals) are lawful.”
[Sunan al-Tirmidhī, 69; Sunan al-Nasā’ī, 59; Sunan Ibn Mājah, 3246]
❖ Hadith Clarifying the Exceptions
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
“Two types of dead animals and two types of blood have been made lawful for us. The two dead animals are locusts and fish, and the two types of blood are liver and spleen.”
[Sunan Ibn Mājah, 3314]
Conclusion:
The general rule is that the buying, selling, and consuming of dead animals is unlawful, except for locusts and fish, which are clearly excluded by the Qur’an and Sunnah. Only in cases of dire necessity is consuming other dead animals allowed, and even then, without inclination toward sin.
[Al-Lajnah al-Dā’imah: Fatwa No. 1818]