Liaison office of Grand Ayatullah Sayyid Ali Al Sistani (L.M.H.L) in London, Europe, North and South America.
2624. If a fish with scales is caught alive from water, and it dies
thereafter, it is Pak and it is halal to eat it, even if the scales are shed off
later due to some reasons. And if it dies in the water, it is Pak, but it is
haraam to eat it. However, it is lawful to eat it if it dies in the net of the
fisherman. A fish which has no scales is haraam even if it is brought alive from
water and dies out of water.
2625. If a fish falls out of water or a wave throws it out, or the
water recedes and the fish remains on dry ground, if some one catches it with
his hand or by some other means before it dies, it will be halal to eat it after
it dies.
2626. It is not necessary that a person catching a fish should be a
Muslim or should utter the name of Allah while catching it. It is, however,
necessary that a Muslim should have seen or ascertained that the fish was
brought alive from the water, or that it died in the net in water.
2627. If a dead fish about which it is not known whether it was caught
from water alive or dead, is bought of a Muslim, it is halal, but if it is
bought of a non-Muslim it is haraam even if he claims that he has brought it
alive from the water; except when a man feels satisfied that the fish was
brought alive from the water or that it died in the net in the water.
2628. It is halal to eat a live fish but it is better to avoid eating
it.
2629. If a fish is roasted alive, or is killed out of water before it
died itself, it is halal to eat it, but it is better to avoid eating it.
2630. If a fish is cut into two parts out of water, and one part of it
falls into water while it is alive, it is halal to eat the part which has
remained out of water, and the recommended precaution is that one should refrain
from eating it.
2631. If a locust is caught alive by hand or by any other contrivance,
it will be halal after it dies, and it is not necessary that the person catching
it should be a Muslim, or should have uttered the name of Allah while catching
it. But, if a non-Muslim is holding a dead locust in his hand, and it is not
known whether or not he caught it alive, it will be haraam even if he claims
that he had caught it alive.
2632. To eat the locust which has not yet developed its wings and
cannot fly, is haraam.