Do any schools consider eel haram, and why?
The permissibility of eating eel varies among different Islamic schools of thought. According to Shia scholarship, as reflected in Al-Kafi, Abu Ja'far (peace be upon him) stated: Eat whatever has scales from the fish, and do not eat that which has no scales.
Al-Kafi 4:89 This suggests that eels, which do not have scales, may be considered haram by some Shia scholars.
On the other hand, Sunni scholars tend to have a more permissive view of sea creatures. The majority opinion among Sunni scholars, as noted in Tafsir Ibn Kathir, is that seafood including eels can be eaten unless explicitly prohibited. This view is based on the general permissibility of consuming sea life, as long as it is not harmful or specifically forbidden.
In summary, while some Shia scholars view eel as haram due to its lack of scales, the majority of Sunni scholars permit its consumption, emphasizing the broader allowance for seafood. For a ruling that applies to your specific situation, consult a qualified local scholar.
Sources
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Al-Kafi 4:89
Al-Kafi · Book 4, Hadith 89
I asked Abu Ja'far about the words of Allah, the Exalted: 'And believe in Allah and His Messenger and the Light We have sent down.' He said: O Abu Khalid, the Light, by Allah, are the Imams (peace be upon them). O Abu Khalid, the Light of the Imam in the hearts of the believers is brighter than the shining sun during the day. They are the ones who illuminate the hearts of the believers, and Allah conceals their light from whom He wills, so their hearts become darkened and enveloped by it. — OR — Sneezing is a good thing; it benefits the body and makes one remember Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. I said: We have some people among us who say that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) did not have any share in sneezing. He said: If they are liars, then the intercession of Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) will not reach them. — OR — The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) prayed Zuhr and Asr together in congregation when the sun was declining without any apparent reason, and he led them in Maghrib and the final Isha prayer before the twilight disappeared, also without any apparent reason and in congregation. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) did this to make the time more spacious for his community. — OR — Abu Ja'far (peace be upon him) read to me something from the book of Ali (peace be upon him) in which he forbids us from the "jiri", "zimir", "marmahi", the stray fish, and "tihal". I said to him: O son of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah have mercy on you, we are given fish that have no scales. He said: Eat whatever has scales from the fish, and do not eat that which has no scales. — OR — He was asked about a man who killed another intentionally but no hadd punishment was established upon him and the testimony against him was invalid until he became mentally disturbed; then other people testified that he had killed him. He said: If they testify he killed him while he was sane and without mental defect, he should be executed because of it. If they testify to that but he had wealth known, the blood-money is paid from the killer’s property to the heirs of the killed. If he leaves no wealth, the blood-money is taken from the public treasury. The life of a Muslim does not become nullified (unprotected).
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