What Does Islam Say About Wasting Food?

Question: When breeding fish, can I kill ones that are not genetically sought after?

Answer:

Wa alaykum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your important question.

Yes, it would be permissible to kill fish that you do not want. However, they should not just be thrown away, rather they could be given to cats and the like to eat. Throwing them away would be being wasteful.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “If a morsel of food falls on the floor, then wipe off any filth and eat it. Do not leave it for the Devil.” [Muslim] This hadith tells us that we should not follow the footsteps of the Devil and waste food, and it applies to dead fish too.

I pray this helps.

[Ustadh] Farid Dingle

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language.