Quran
Hadith
Islamic Text
No, it is Haram to buy cat food or pet food with Haram ingredients. A Muslim is not permitted to buy Haram meat or other Haram products even if they are for animals. Unless there is a necessity.
عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا، أَنَّهُ: سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، يَقُولُ عَامَ الفَتْحِ وَهُوَ بِمَكَّةَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ حَرَّمَ بَيْعَ الخَمْرِ وَالمَيْتَةِ وَالخِنْزِيرِ وَالأَصْنَامِ. فَقِيلَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَرَأَيْتَ شُحُومَ المَيْتَةِ، فَإِنَّهَا يُطْلَى بِهَا السُّفُنُ، وَيُدْهَنُ بِهَا الجُلُودُ، وَيَسْتَصْبِحُ بِهَا النَّاسُ؟ فَقَالَ: لاَ، هُوَ حَرَامٌ
(Sayidina) Jabir bin Abdillah (May Allah Most High be pleased with them both) narrated that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, in the year of the Conquest whilst he ﷺ was in Mecca, saying, ‘Indeed Allah and His Apostle declared trading in alcohol, carrion (non-slaughtered meat), swine and idols Haram.’ It was said, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, what about the fat of carrion? Indeed it is used to grease boats and hides, and people use it for illumination. He ﷺ said, ‘No, it is Haram.’ (Sahih al-Bukhari, 2236).
This Hadith is also narrated in Sahih Muslim (1581 – 71). The Hadith makes it clear that trading in Haram products is also Haram. Therefore, a person is prohibited from purchasing cat food or pet food that contains Haram ingredients. The fact that it is going to be consumed by an animal does not change this ruling.
ولا يجوز للمسلمين بيع الميتة ولا الربا ولا الخمر ولا الخنزير من أهل الحرب ولا من غيرهم. (الأَصْلُ)
And it is not permitted for a Muslim to trade in carrion (Haram meat), Riba (usuary/interest), wine, or swine, whether it be with people from non-Muslims lands or anyone else. (Imam Muhammad al-Shaybani, al-Asl).
وَلَوْ اشْتَرَى مَيْتَةً أَوْ دَمًا أَوْ بَايَعَ كَافِرًا بِرِبًا فَهُوَ بَاطِلٌ. (المبسوط)
If he purchased carrion (Haram meat), blood, or engaged in Riba (usuary/interest) then it is null and void. (Imam al-Sarakhsi, al-Mabsoot).
In the Nusoos (texts) above purchasing Haram products has been prohibited as well as selling them. Although this separation is not specifically required, since something being declared Haram to purchase necessitates it being Haram to sell. Many other Hanafi Imams clarified this issue in their works.
لم يجز بيع الميتة والدّم والخنزير والخمر. (كنز الدقائق)
And it is not permitted to sell carrion (Haram meat), blood, swine, or wine . (Imam al-Zayla’i, Kanz al-Daqaiq).
بَيْعُ الْمَيْتَةِ وَالدَّمِ، وَالْخِنْزِيرِ بَاطِلٌ. (الجوهرة النيرة)
The sale of carrion, blood and swine is null and void. (Imam Abu Bakr al-Haddadi, al-Jowharah al-Nayyirah).
فَبَيْعُ الْمَيْتَةِ وَالدَّمِ وَالْحُرِّ بَاطِلٌ. (رد المحتار على الدر المختار)
The sale of carrion, blood and a free person is null and void. (Imam Ibn Abideen, Radd al-Muhtaar).
وَلَوْ اشْتَرَى مَيْتَةً أَوْ دَمًا أَوْ بَايَعَ كَافِرًا بِرِبًا فَهُوَ بَاطِلٌ. (الفتاوى الهندية)
If he purchased carrion (Haram meat), blood, or engaged in Riba (usuary/interest) then it is null and void. (al-Fataawa al-Hindiyah).
It is abundantly clear from the Hadith and Nusoos above that purchasing cat food that contains Haram ingredients is prohibited. Therefore, Muslims must avoid it. They should look for Halal variants and speak to local Halal butchers. Until that is done they should stick to purchasing fish-based cat food.
And Allah Most High Knows Best
-Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (10.08.2022)
See also:
Is it permitted to sell cats and dogs?
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