Al-Shafi'i said: The weasel is lawful (7), because it does not have a strong fang, so it is like the lizard (dabb). There are two views held by his companions regarding the jackal. As for us, it is a beast of prey, so it falls under the general prohibition, and it is also considered a foul thing (mustakhbath) and not pleasant; for the jackal resembles the dog, and its odor is foul, so it enters under the general meaning of His, the Almighty's, statement: "And he makes unlawful for them the foul things" (8).
Section: There is a difference of opinion regarding the fox. Most reports from Ahmad state its prohibition. This is the view of Abu Hurayrah, Malik, and Abu Hanifah, because it is a beast of prey, so it enters under the general prohibition. It was also reported from Ahmad that it is permissible, which was chosen by al-Sharif Abu Ja'far. 'Ata', Tawus, Qatadah, al-Layth, Sufyan ibn 'Uyaynah, and al-Shafi'i granted a concession regarding it because it is subject to a ransom (fidyah) if killed during Ihram or within the Haram. Ahmad and 'Ata' said: Every animal for which a ransom is required if killed by a pilgrim is eaten. There is a difference of opinion reported from Ahmad regarding the wild cat, similar to the difference of opinion regarding the fox; the ruling on it is the same as the ruling on the fox. There are two views held by al-Shafi'i regarding the wild cat. As for the domestic cat, it is prohibited according to the view of our Imam, Malik, Abu Hanifah, and al-Shafi'i. It has been narrated from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) that he forbade the eating of the cat (10).
Section: The elephant is prohibited. Ahmad said: It is not of the food of the Muslims. Al-Hasan said: It is a transformed species (maskh). Abu Hanifah and al-Shafi'i disliked it, while al-Sha'bi granted a concession in eating it. Our evidence is the prohibition by the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) against eating every beast of prey with fangs, and it has one of the greatest fangs. Furthermore, it is a foul thing (mustakhbath), so it enters under the general verse that prohibits them.
Section: As for the bear, one must look into it; if it possesses a fang with which it hunts (faras), it is prohibited, otherwise it is
Recorded by 'Abd al-Razzaq, in: The Chapter on the fox and the monkey, from the Book of Rites. al-Musannaf 4/529. And Ibn Abi Shaybah, in: The Chapter on monkey meat, from the Book of 'Aqiqa. al-Musannaf 8/324. (7) In (A), (B), and (M): "permissible". (8) Surah al-A'raf: 157. (9) Omitted from (B). It refers to the view. (10) Recorded by Abu Dawud, in: The Chapter on the price of the cat, from the Book of Transactions, and in: The Chapter on the prohibition of eating beasts of prey, from the Book of Foods. Sunan Abi Dawud 2/250, 320. And al-Tirmidhi, in: The Chapter on what has been reported regarding the dislike of the price of the dog and the cat, from the Chapters on Transactions. 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 5/280. And Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter on the cat, from the Book of Hunting. Sunan Ibn Majah 2/1082.
