List of halal and kosher fish Facts for Kids

This article lists fish that are considered acceptable to eat by both Muslims (called halal) and Jews (called kosher). These rules come from their religious laws, known as halakha for Jews and Sharia for Muslims.

What Makes a Fish Halal or Kosher?
- Halal Fish Rules
  - Sunni Muslim Fish Rules
    - Hanafi School Rules
  - Shia Muslim Fish Rules
- Kosher Fish Rules
  - Fish and Dairy Products
List of Permitted Fish

What Makes a Fish Halal or Kosher?

Halal Fish Rules

In Islam, halal means "permissible" or "lawful." Haram means "forbidden." Different groups of Muslims have slightly different rules for what fish are halal.

Sunni Muslim Fish Rules

Most Sunni Muslims believe that all "sea game" (animals from the sea) are allowed to eat. This means many kinds of seafood are okay.

Hanafi School Rules

However, the Hanafi school, which many Sunni Muslims follow, is stricter. They believe only true "fish" are allowed. This means creatures like prawns, lobsters, crabs, octopus, and squid are generally not allowed because they are not considered fish. Animals that breathe air, like sea turtles or dolphins, are also not allowed.

Shia Muslim Fish Rules

Shia Muslims also have specific rules. They say that only fish with scales are halal. Fish without scales are haram (forbidden). Some Shia scholars also allow shrimps because they have a soft outer shell that is sometimes seen as a type of scale.

Kosher Fish Rules

For Jews, kosher means "fit" or "proper" to eat. According to Jewish law, a fish must have two things to be kosher:

Scales: The scales must be visible and easy to remove from the fish's skin.
Fins: The fish must also have fins.

For example, salmon and carp are kosher because they have visible, removable scales and fins. But a shark is not kosher because its "scales" are tiny and not easily removed. A swordfish is also not kosher because it loses its scales when it grows up.

When a kosher fish is caught, it is considered ready to eat. There is no special ritual needed to kill it like with other kosher animals. However, it is forbidden to eat a fish while it is still alive.

Fish and Dairy Products

For a long time, some Jewish communities have wondered if it's okay to eat fish with dairy products like milk or cheese. Most Jewish leaders today agree that it is perfectly fine to eat fish and dairy together. However, some communities still choose not to mix them, following older traditions. For example, the Chabad group allows fish with other dairy products like butter or cream, but not with plain milk.