Most-asked question

Is crab or lobster halaal?

41 fatawa in the archive answer questions on this, from 4 South African Darul Iftas (AskImam, Mufti Online, Azaadville, Ibn Masood). Below, each Darul Ifta’s answer is quoted word for word from the opening of one of its fatawa.

Based on the fatawa linked below. Please read the sources and double-check with a Darul Ifta for your situation.

Consult a mufti for your situation. Fatawa SA is a read-only archive and issues no rulings of its own.

What the Darul Iftas say

“It is permissible for a Hanafi to buy and sell crabs and lobsters. However, a Hanafi cannot consume crabs and lobsters.”

AskImam — Can a Hanafi sell lobsters and crabs? · 29 Nov 2016

“It is not permissible to consume anything from the ocean besides fish, according to the Hanafi Mazhab. Hence, consuming crabs is Haraam since they are not part of the fish family.”

Ibn Masood — Consuming Crabs · 5 Oct 2023

“In the Hanafi Mazhab, from the sea creatures, whatever enters under the category of fish are permissible to consume. Since calamari, lobsters, crayfish and crabs do not enter under the category of fish, it will not be permissible for one to consume these creatures.”

Mufti Online — Selling Calamari, Lobsters, Crayfish and Crabs · 22 Jan 2020

Quotes are the opening words of each answer as published; the full answer, its conditions and references are on the fatwa page. Answers depend on the exact details of each question.

Read the fatawa

  1. Consuming Crabs Ibn Masood · 5 Oct 2023
  2. Consuming Squid, Prawns, Crayfish, Calamari And Crabs Azaadville · 25 Oct 2021
  3. What is the ruling on eating Crabs & Turtles? AskImam · 27 Jan 2020
  4. Selling Calamari, Lobsters, Crayfish and Crabs Mufti Online · 22 Jan 2020
  5. Imitation crab and seaweed Ibn Masood · 5 Sep 2023
  6. Eating Lobster Azaadville · 23 Jun 2021
  7. Is it permissible to consume imitation crab? AskImam · 24 Jan 2020
  8. Eating crabs in the Hanafi mazhab Mufti Online · 27 Nov 2025
  9. Can a Hanafi sell lobsters and crabs? AskImam · 29 Nov 2016
  10. Calamari, prawns, shell fish, lobster, etc. Mufti Online · 5 Oct 2016
  11. Is crab Halaal? AskImam · 2 Sep 2014
  12. Prawns, crab and octopus Mufti Online · 21 Aug 2016
  13. what is the hanafi ruling with regards to the consumption of Prawns, shrimps, crabs, shark, oysters, octopus, scampi,whale? AskImam · 9 Oct 2013
  14. Eating crab, calamari and lobster Mufti Online · 6 Feb 2016
  15. Is it permissible for one to eat crabs? AskImam · 7 Sep 2012

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