Hyderabad-based seminary issues fatwa against prawn consumption for Muslims

Hyderabad based Islamic seminary, Jamia Nizamia, a distinguished Islamic educational institution revered in several countries has issued a decree (fatwa) against prawn consumption for Muslims.

Issued on January 1 by Mufti Mohammad Azeemuddin, who is the chief mufti of the 142-year-old Islamic deemed university, labeled prawn under the category 'makruh tahrim' (strictly abominable) and advised Muslims against eating it.

However, several Muslim religious scholars have differred with the Jamia's ruling. According to the fatwa, prawn is an arthropod (to which insects also belong) and it does not fall under the category of fish.

Three categories of food are present in Islamic jurisprudence - lawful (halal), haram (prohibited) and makruh (abominable) with food falling under makruh sub-divided into makruh (abominable but can be eaten) and makruh tahrim (strictly abominable and should be avoided).