Is Capybara Halal
Capybara is the friendly giant of the rodent world. They are famous for being the world’s largest rodent. With their barrel-shaped bodies, semi-aquatic lifestyle, and sociable nature, capybaras are quite unique in the vast family of rodents.
You’re here today to know, is eating capybara halal? And what about simply touching or petting this mammal? Is that permissible? Dive into this riveting exploration between the intersection of zoology and Islamic dietary laws, and settle once and for all – is the capybara halal or haram? Let’s find out!
Is Capybara Halal to Eat
Diving into the specific question, “Is capybara halal to eat?”, there seem to be different views across the Islamic world.
Our research journey led us to a definite “no.” We found that according to our interpretation, Capybara isn’t halal to eat. This viewpoint stems from considering the capybara as ‘khabeeth,’ or repugnant. We base this belief on the verse from Surah A’raaf (157) in which Allah has prohibited khabaa’ith.
Seeking more wisdom, we turned to Mufti Ebrahim Desai Saheb. Renowned for his understanding of Islamic dietary laws. He also regards eating capybaras as impermissible. This finding aligns with the fact that the capybara is native to South America, where local Ulama from Suriname and Guyana have not allowed its consumption.
However, it would be unfair not to mention other views. A fatwa on Islamweb suggests that the capybara might be halal. They explain that capybaras are herbivorous animals without fangs. So, they are not considered impure, thus making them halal to eat.
Despite this view, we lean more towards the ruling of Mufti Ebrahim Desai Saheb, given his reputation and expertise in the field. His opinion seems more concrete and aligns with our initial findings.
So, is the capybara halal to eat? According to our research and the respected views of Mufti Ebrahim Desai Saheb, No, It’s not halal.
There are a lot of other animals that are permissible by Allah for us to enjoy. Remember, always seek guidance in dietary matters; you’ll be surprised how exciting and diverse halal food can be!
Is Capybara Halal to Touch/ Pet
At this point, you may be wondering, “Okay, we can’t eat capybaras. But can we pet or touch them?” The answer is Yes, you can.
You see, Islamic law differentiates between animals that are permissible to eat (halal) and those permissible to use or interact with. Though, Capybara isn’t halal to eat, pose no prohibition against petting or touching.
This brings us to the field of Islamic Fiqh, where the matter gets a little technical. But I promise to make it simple!
In Islam, while we all know swine and dogs rank high on the major impurity list. A creature like a capybara doesn’t fall into the same categories. It doesn’t come from the same species or family as a pig, no matter how similar they look.
According to Al-Khatib al-Syirbini, an animal is seen as pure, and so is its touch, unless proven otherwise. So in our case, despite the capybara’s nickname – the ‘water pig’, it’s genetically a rodent and not a pig. This brings it to the same category as other rodents like rabbits or squirrels, which are allowed to be handled.
Let me conclude by reiterating, no matter how misleading the nickname ‘water pig’ may be, don’t let it befuddle you. A capybara is a rodent – unique and special no doubt, but a rodent nonetheless. Thus, handling capybaras or even keeping them as pets isn’t a religious concern.
Understanding the Islamic Halal Haram Law
Based on the detailed guidelines in Islamic law according to the Hanafi school of thought, here is a summarized portrayal of which animals are considered halal (permissible) or haram (forbidden) to consume.
1. Halal Animals: These include all species of fish. Certain birds that do not hunt with their talons, and specific land animals. Example includes all domesticated birds such as chickens, crows, pigeons, deer, cows, sheep, and goats. They also include less common animals like kangaroos, addax, moose, and elands.
2. Haram Animals: These consist of all sea animals besides fish and birds that hunt with their talons. And certain categories of land animals like vermin, pests, and animals with flowing blood cannot be properly slaughtered according to Islamic law. Examples include alligators, lions, elephants, and hippos, as well as insects, spiders, and snakes.
3. Makruh Animals: Animals falling somewhere in between are those which, due to varying scholarly opinions, are mostly disliked (makruh) rather than completely forbidden. Their consumption is often avoided out of caution.
As for touching or keeping as pets, most scholars agree that there is no harm in touching or owning animals considered haram to eat, so long as they pose no danger and are not kept for hunting or other activities forbidden in Islam.
As for the capybara, it falls into the category of haram animals according to Islamic dietary laws, which prohibit the consumption of rodents. Capybaras are deemed not halal to eat. However, from a pet or touch perspective, scholars do not forbid interacting with capybaras, making them halal to pet or touch.
References
- https://islamqa.org/hanafi/darululoomtt/149172/is-capybara-halaal-to-consume/
- https://maktabahalbakri.com/346-touching-capybara/