What is the ruling on consuming insects and vermin?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Hunting and Slaughter
Primary text
Insects and vermin, such as worms (didān), scarabs (jalān), house flies/blowflies (banāt wardān), beetles (khanāfis), rats (fa'r), geckos (awzāgh), chameleons (harbā'), thorny shrubs/vipers (adāh), field mice (jarādhīn), scorpions (aqārib), and snakes (hayyāt), are considered among the repulsive things ('khabā'ith') and are thus forbidden. This view is held by Abu Hanifah and Ash-Shafi'i.
Supporting text
Malik, Ibn Abi Layla, and Al-Awza'i permitted the consumption of all these creatures except for geckos (awzāgh), for which Ibn 'Abd al-Barr states there is consensus on prohibition. Malik permitted snakes if properly slaughtered. The basis for prohibition is the verse 'He prohibits for them the evil things' (Quran 7:157) and the hadith enumerating five categories of noxious animals (fawāsiq) that may be killed even in Ihram, which includes the scorpion and sometimes the snake or mouse. If they were permissible game, killing them while in Ihram would not be permitted, contradicting the verses forbidding hunting while in Ihram (Quran 5:95-96).