Is Octopus Halal? Can Muslims Eat It?

Most of the people are genuinely confused about is octopus halal or haram in Islam. Because there are different opinions of different scholars regarding this. Islam strictly declares the rules of halal and haram. And these rules must be checked by Muslims before eating anything.

Yes, It is Halal (permissible) in Islam to eat octopus. Undoubtedly, seafood is halal, Whether it is dead or alive, plant-based or animal-based. If you are still confused about this topic. let’s get to the bottom of this topic.

Yes, octopus is halal under Islamic law. Because it is mentioned in the Quran that all seafood is lawful to eat. Muslims are not forbidden to eat octopus.

Halal is an Islamic Arabic term whose meaning is permissible., The consumption of octopus is halal or permissible without any doubt. It can be proved by  Quranic verses of surah al Maidah and surah an Nahl that are stated as follows:

“ It is lawful for you to hunt and eat seafood, as a provision for you and for travelers”.                                                                        Ayah Al-Maidah 5:96

" It is He Who has made the sea subject, that ye may eat thereof flesh that is fresh and tender, and that ye may extract therefrom ornaments to wear; and thou seest the ships therein that plough the waves, that ye may seek (thus) of the bounty of Allah and that ye may be grateful."     
                                                                           Ayah An-Nahl 16:14

The answer to this most searched question is NO. There are two sources of knowledge for believers of  Hazrat Muhammad (Blessings and peace be upon him).

• Quran 
• Hadith 

 Muslims refer back to above-stated options to educate themselves on specific topics while looking for guidance. From verses stated above of the Quran, it is proved that octopus is halal not haram. Reference to Hadith for its being halal is given below also.

It was narrated from Jabir (R.A) that The Prophet(Blessings and peace be upon him) was asked about seawater, and he said: Its water is a means of purification, and its dead meat is permissible.

So, it can be proved from both Islamic resources, the Quran and Hadith that octopus is halal.

Religion Islam orders Muslims to slaughter their animals properly. It means they are not harmed or tortured when being slaughtered. Animals slaughtered in this way are said to be halal.

          Octopuses do not need to be slaughtered. Their nervous system is somewhat different from other typical structures. Their neurons (nerve cells) are located in their eight arms. So, they don’t feel pain when are killed. Sea creatures that do not need to be slaughtered are halal in Islam. Hence, it is allowed to eat octopus.

Octopus is low in calories and fat but rich in protein. It is higher in Vitamin B12. It is one of the most delicious and lavish halal seafood. Muslims should enjoy this blessing of Allah unless they are allergic to seafood or they are poisonous harmful or tortured. 

There are different schools of thought. Each thought has its own opinion. and this difference makes it difficult for some believers to decide whether octopus is halal or haram. There are four different schools of thought in Sunni Islamic law. Let us discuss each school of thought one by one.

• Hanbali 
• Maliki  
• Hanafi 
• Shafi’i.

 Hanafis follow Imam Abu Hanifa. They consider octopus as Makruh. Makruh refers to those things which are not banned in Islam but are not liked. They don’t eat it as it is Makruh for them. And they also give valid reasons for this. They believe that only fish with scales is halal in Islam. scaleless fishes are haram.

Malikis follow the teachings of Malik ibn Anas  commonly known as Imam Malik. People following this school of thought can eat octopus. This perspective says that everything from the sea is halal unless it is poisonous.

Shafii follows Imam Shafi. According to Shafii’s Islamic perspective, eating octopus is halal. As it can be consumed without slaughtering. Prophet Muhammad PBUH said in a part of a Hadith “Two dead things are made halal for us, the fish, and the grasshopper.

Hanbalis follow Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, founder of the Hanbali school of thought. This Islamic perspective says that Muslims can eat octopus as Hanbali consider all sea game to be halal. 

Shia considers octopus as haram. They claim that fishes with scales are halal. All other creatures are haram. Shia scholars give a reason that fish must have 

• fin 
• Gills
• Spine 

Octopuses don’t pass the criteria of fish. They belong to mollusks. So in Shia Islam, it is not permissible to eat octopus. 

Salafis are also known as  ahl e Hadith.They consider octopus as haram. Followers of this school of thought are not allowed to consume creatures other than fish.

 Islamqa is a famous website for Islamic queries. It also states that octopus is halal.

Octopus is not allowed to eat for Deobandi fiqh because this fiqh follows the Hanafi Islamic school of thought. Hanafi considers octopus as Makruh. They believe that only fish is halal in Islam and octopus is not categorized as a fish but it is a different sea animal. The prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Blessings and peace be upon him) has stated that:

Translation: “On the Authority of Abdullah bin Umar the Messenger of Allah(Blessings and peace be upon him)said:“2 dead things have been made Halal for us Fish and locusts.”

This article was about the permissibility of consumption of octopus. Different scholars and Islamic schools of thought have different points of view. Hanbali Maliki and Shafii schools of thought consider octopus as halal. While Hanafi takes octopus as makruh and the Shia community considers it haram. A general agreement is that it is halal and now it’s up to you to decide whether you should eat octopus or not.