Is hunting sea creatures permissible for a person in the state of Ihram (sanctified state for Hajj/Umrah)?
Chapter on What the Muhrim Must Avoid and What is Permissible for Him
Al-Mughni
Book of Hajj
Primary text
Hunting sea creatures is permissible for the one in Ihram. This permissibility is established by the statement of the Almighty: "Lawful for you is the game of the sea and its food as provision for you and the wayfarer" (Quran 5:96). The consensus of the people of knowledge confirms that hunting sea creatures is permitted for the one in Ihram to hunt, eat, sell, and purchase. Sea creatures include animals that live, lay eggs, and hatch in the water, such as fish, turtles, and crabs.
Supporting text
The interpretation of the term 'its food' (ta'amuhu) varies among the Companions; Ibn Abbas and Ibn Umar held that 'its food' refers to what the sea casts ashore, while Ibn Abbas also reported that it refers to salt. Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib and Sa'id ibn Jubayr stated that 'its food' is salt, and what they hunted separately is permissible.