Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalaam- allaykum

Dear brother/sister

I had an argument with my freind a few days back. It was about whether we are allowed to eat a Bat. Are we

Hudda- Haffiz

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Answer:

Are we allowed to eat Bat?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

There is no specific injunction from either the Quran or Sunnah whether the bat is halaal or haraam as food for the believers. Allah and His Messenger (saws) have provided us with a short haram list; if the animal is not in that list, then it will be considered halaal as food.

The flesh of swine

Any animal that dies of itself.

Any animal not duly slaughtered Islamically.

Any animal which has canine-type teeth with which it hunts like tigers, lions, wolfs, etc.

Any impure animal.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraf verse 157 (part):(The Prophet) makes pure things halaal for them (the believers) and impure things haraam.

Thus, what needs to be determined is if the bat would fall in any of the above categories; and the chances are that it is closer to being an impure and creepy animal, and best abstained from as food.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan