Which crow is halal?

Question

Question: Is it permissible to eat what the common people in our time call a crow, or not? In al-Hidaya (vol. 4, Kitab al-Dhaba’ih, p. 425, Mujtaba’i Press) it says: [ar]ولا بأس بغراب الزرع[/ar] “There is no harm in the field crow.” Then, after the proof, (the author) writes: [ar]ولا يؤكل الأبقع الذي يأكل الجيف، وكذا الغداف. قال أبو حنيفة: ولا بأس بأكل العقعق[/ar] “And the pied (crow) that eats carrion is not eaten, nor likewise the ghudaf (the large raven). Abu Hanifa ﵀ said: there is no harm in eating the ‘aq‘aq.

Answer

The crow is of several kinds, and whether it is lawful or unlawful depends on its food. One kind is that whose food is carrion and filth; it is haram, like the kite and the vulture. The second kind is that whose food is grain and corn; it is halal, like the pigeon.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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