In Arabic, the word Halal means “accepted or permitted”; on the contrary, the word Haram means “offense for which there is severe punishment.”
“Halal,” as used by Arabs and Muslims, refers to what is regarded as allowed and legal under religion, but “haram” corresponds to what is banned and illegal under Islamic law.
For example:
- Taking an interest in money or investment is haram. Borrowing money without interest is halal.
- Marriage (Nikah) is halal, and the relationship between man and woman outside marriage is haram.
The concept of halal and haram differs in every field of life, and the same goes for eatables.
What Are Halal and Haram Foods?
You’ve certainly heard the words halal and haram food before, but you may not understand what these terms imply. So what do Muslims eat, what they don’t eat, and Why is it so?
According to the mainstream view, every food that is prohibited from consuming by Allah and His messangerﷺ is considered haram. All other foods that aren’t forbidden are Halal.
Examples of Halal Food:
- All types of halal meat that have been slaughtered in an Islamic way.
- Pure seafood, which can’t survive without water, such as fish and other sea creatures. Their slaughter is not necessary.
- Vegetables and fruits
- Products derived from milk unless made from non-halal rennet etc.
Examples of Haram Food:
- According to the Quran and Hadiths’ instructions, Meat has not been slaughtered.
- Alcohol
- Pork or pork products
- Blood
Are Rabbits Halal?
Westerners tend to make different creatures companions of their loneliness, including birds, insects, fish, pigs, cats, dogs, rabbits, lizards, snakes, and many others. But for a Muslim, his family and house are important, and keeps an animal only if he needs his meat or milk.
Moreover, an animal costs money and time, so Muslims usually don’t pet them. But it doesn’t mean they can’t own one. If a Muslim loves these innocent domestic creatures, he can pet them.
Rabbits are becoming popular pets across the world, so Muslims are concerned about whether they are halal or not. There’s a short answer to it: yes, it’s halal. Therefore, you can consume rabbit meat without any worries.
Moreover, in a Hadith, it is narrated very clearly that Holy Prophet ﷺ ate rabbit’s meat. For a Muslim, a doubt in an act doesn’t remain at all when this act is proved through Sunnah. Here is the related Hadith:
Hadith About Eating Rabbit
For providing evidence of whether Allah’s Messenger ﷺ allowed something or not, Muslims mostly refer to the hadith books including ‘Sahih al Bukhari’ and ‘Sahih Muslim.’ Here we have the evidence that eating rabbit meat is permissible in Islam from the hadith number 2572 in Sahih al Bukhari:
Hazrat Anas narrated: We chased a rabbit at Mar-al-Zahran, and the people ran after it but were exhausted. I overpowered and caught it and gave it to Abu Talha, who slaughtered it and sent its hip or two thighs to Allah’s Apostle.
(The narrator confirms that he sent two thighs). The Prophet (ﷺ) accepted that. (The sub-narrator asked Anas, “Did the Prophet; eat from it?” Anas replied, “He ate from it.”)
Which Organs of Rabbits Are Halal?
All parts of the halal animal are halal, except for his blood. The same rule applies to rabbits. You can eat rabbit meat from any part of his body if you want, but blood can’t be consumed. The most important thing to keep in mind is the halal way of slaughter.
The rabbit meat will also be considered haram if it is dictated to be slaughtered in the name of any other individual except Allah Almighty. The other case of its prohibition is when the rabbit has already died due to some reasons. But, rabbit meat is undoubtedly halal if it’s been slaughtered in the name of Allah as per the Islamic teachings.
Does Islam Allow to Keep Pets?
Yes, raising pets and taking care of them is permissible in Islam, except for some, such as dogs. According to a hadith (Al Bukhari: 3225), angels don’t enter the house where there is a dog.
Though a seeing-eye dog and hunting dogs are permissible in Islam, Shariyah hasn’t banned the use of dogs by the disabled.
In another hadith (Al Bukhari: 6203), a child used to play with nightingale, and Holy Prophet (ﷺ) never forbade him. It indicates that keeping birds as pets is also permissible.
Islam teaches us to be kind to pets. In fact, Holy Prophet (ﷺ) said, “A lady was punished because of a cat which she had imprisoned till it died.
She entered the (Hell) Fire because of it, for she neither gave it food nor water as she had imprisoned it nor set it free to eat from the vermin of the earth.” ( Sahih Muslim: 2242)
Can Rabbits Be Kept as Pets?
There is no objection to keeping rabbits as pets. It is sooooooo cute and harmless as an indoor pet. It is a quiet animal that gets attached to its owner in no time. If you want to get a pet but are afraid that you don’t have enough space in your apartment due to its small size or a greater number of family members, just get a pet rabbit.
Answers of Some Frequently Asked Related Questions:
What Is the Islamic Faith of Muslims Regarding Eating Animals?
Allah stated in Quran, in Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow), verse number 173,
“He has only forbidden you what dies of itself, and blood, and flesh of swine, and that over which any other (name) than (that of) Allah has been invoked; but whoever is driven to necessity, not desiring, nor exceeding the limit, no sin shall be upon him; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”
It clearly states a simple rule that dead animals, those who die before one slaughtered them, it’s haram. Similarly, one can’t drink the blood of animals and eat pork. Moreover, only that meat is permissible that has been slaughtered in the name of Allah. Apart from those things specifically mentioned as haram in the Quran and Hadiths, all other foods are halal.
Allah is the Most Merciful and has allowed consuming the prohibited only in a dilemma, such as in extreme hunger when you have no other choice available than these to save your life. In such a case, it’s not a sin.
Which Other Animals Are Halal or Haram in Islam?
The Haram meat is specified by Quran and Sunnah, while all others are considered halal.
For instance: The meat of any carnivore is haram. In this context, meat of the lion, tiger, jackal, wolf, bear dog, cat, etc., are haram.
Pig is haram and totally forbidden. In fact, the prohibition of pig’s meat is addressed multiple times in the Quran.
Poisonous animals that can harm humans are haram, such as snakes, scorpion, lizards, etc.
Domesticated donkeys and mules are harams.
All predator carnivorous birds with talons are haram, for example, eagles, hawks, owls, and vultures.
Whereas the herbivores and grazers are halal. Goat, sheep, buffalo, cow, camel, etc., are halal.
Wild donkeys and horses are halal.
Seafood is totally halal.
Shrimps and locusts are halal as well.
Why Do Muslims Slaughter Animals?
On the 9th of the Islamic month Dhul Hijjah, Muslims all around the world sacrifice the following grass-eaters: goats, sheep, camels, and cows. Some people might wonder why Muslims involve themselves in such a practice? Well, it’s a commandment from Allah Almighty, as well as it reminds them of their beloved Prophet Ibrahim and his sacrifice.
If you are curious about what happened with Prophet Ibrahim and why Allah commands it, the following incident will give the answer:
Prophet Ibrahim dreamt of sacrificing his beloved son Ismael. A Prophet’s dream is a revelation from Allah. He discussed his dream with his son. Being a son of a Prophet, Ismael knew it was a revelation from Allah and also knew that Allah wants both the father and son to do it practically.
Both of them knew it was a test from Allah Almighty. Therefore, Ismael asked his father to sacrifice him for the sake of Allah.
Both of them agreed to this sacrifice. Prophet Ibrahim laid his son upon his head so that he won’t be able to see his innocent face, and fatherly love won’t be able to stop him from doing this. Right at the moment when Prophet Ibrahim was about to slay his son, Allah Almighty said to his beloved Prophet that he had passed a harsh test and that He (Allah Almighty) is pleased with him.
When Prophet Ibrahim opened his eyes, a ram, which Allah sent from Jannah, had been sacrificed instead of his son.
That’s the reason Muslims sacrifice animals each year to remind themselves and their next generations of the great willingness to sacrifice Prophet Ibrahim and the great courage of his son Ismael.
Moreover, the meat Muslims get is more than they can eat, so they share it with the poor and needy people.
What Are the Islamic Rulings Regarding Hunting Animals?
One can hunt animals for meat, and rabbits are no exception. But whether they need to be slaughtered or not is the primary concern of hunters who follow Islamic law. A hadith regarding this issue gives a vivid answer that you can hunt an animal with your tamed dog or other predatory animals with Allah’s name.
If the animal died while your dog caught it, it’s still permissible. If it’s injured but not dead yet, you may slaughter the injured animal.
Moreover, make sure your dog doesn’t eat the animal, as it will make the animal haram for you. Similarly, if there’s another dog with your dog, the prey is haram for you, as you are unsure who the predator was.
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