in the sea, such as fish and similar creatures; for one is not able to perform its slaughter (dhakah), as it cannot be slaughtered except after removing it from the water, and once it is removed, it dies.
Section: As for that which does not live except in the water, such as fish and similar creatures, it is permissible without slaughter. We know of no disagreement regarding this, due to the reports we have mentioned. It has been narrated from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he said: "Two types of dead creatures and two types of blood have been made lawful for us; as for the two dead creatures, they are fish and locusts." It is authentically established that Abu Ubaydah and his companions found on the seashore a creature called al-'anbar (ambergris/sperm whale) that was dead, and they ate from it for a month until they became fat and used it as an ointment. When they came to the Prophet (peace be upon him), they informed him, and he said: "It is a provision that Allah has brought out for you; do you have any of its meat with you to feed us?" This is agreed upon (muttafaq 'alayhi).
Section: All game of the sea is permissible, except for the frog. This is the opinion of al-Shafi'i. Al-Sha'bi said: If my family were to eat frogs, I would feed them. It is narrated from Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: Everything in the sea has been slaughtered for you by Allah. The generality of the statement of Allah Almighty: {Lawful to you is the game of the sea and its food} indicates the permissibility of all its game. 'Ata' and 'Amr ibn Dinar narrated that they were told on the authority of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he said: "Indeed, Allah has slaughtered everything in the sea for the son of Adam." As for the frog, the Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade killing it. Narrated by al-Nasa'i. This indicates
(8) Its documentation was previously mentioned on page 298. (9) Narrated by al-Bukhari, in: Chapter on the Expedition of Sayf al-Bahr, from the Book of Military Expeditions; and in: Chapter on His saying Almighty: {Lawful to you is the game of the sea}, from the Book of Slaughter and Hunting. Sahih al-Bukhari 5/211, 212; 7/116. And Muslim, in: Chapter on the permissibility of dead creatures of the sea, from the Book of Hunting and Slaughter. Sahih Muslim 3/1535, 1536. It was also narrated by Abu Dawud, in: Chapter on sea creatures, from the Book of Food. Sunan Abi Dawud 2/327. And al-Nasa'i, in: Chapter on the dead creatures of the sea, from the Book of Hunting and Slaughter. Al-Mujtaba 7/184, 185. And Imam Ahmad, in: al-Musnad 3/311. And al-Bayhaqi, in: Chapter on fish and the dead creatures of the sea, and Chapter on what the sea ejects and casts out of dead creatures, from the Book of Hunting and Slaughter. Al-Sunan al-Kubra 9/251, 253. (10) In [B] and [M] there is an addition: "in". (11) Surah al-Ma'idah: 96. (12) In: Chapter on the frog, from the Book of Hunting and Slaughter. Al-Mujtaba 7/185. It was also narrated by Abu Dawud, in: Chapter on disliked medicines, from the Book of Medicine. Sunan Abi Dawud 2/334, and Ibn Majah, in:
