Eating and selling frogs, monitor lizards, water snakes and crabs

Question

Question: According to the Hanafis, is it permissible to eat or sell frogs, monitor lizards, water snakes, crabs and the like, or not? What is the opinion of the other mujtahid imams regarding all of these?

Answer

Eating these animals is not permissible according to the Hanafis. If, however, these things are useful for some need — for example, as a medicine for external use — or if the skin of the monitor lizard is serviceable, then buying and selling these animals alive is valid in the Sacred Law.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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