Is Calamari Haraam and what are the repercussions of accidentally eating Haraam?

As-salaamu 'alaykum I am a Hanafi and I ate calamari without knowing that it is Haraam in the Hanafi madhab. Does this mean that my duas are not accepted for 40 days and I have to do tawbah? JazaakAllah Khayr

Answer: 

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله

Wa alaykumus Salaam

According to Hanafi Fiqh, only fish is permissible to consume from the sea. A detailed discussion on the issue of seafood and its status is available in books of Fiqh, Qur-an Tafseer, Hadith commentaries and Fatawa. For the sake of brevity and since you accept this general ruling, a single Hadith shall suffice:

“Two kinds of dead meat have been permitted to us: fish and locusts.” [1]

Calamari (squid) is not a fish and, therefore, not permissible.

A person is not held to account for something done by mistake or unintentionally:

"Our Lord, call us not to account if we forget or make a mistake. He the (Lord) said: I indeed did it. " [2]
"Allah has forgiven my nation for mistakes and forgetfulness, and what they are forced to do." [3]

This means that it does not require tawbah (repentance). It also does not result in your duas not being accepted for 40 days or any other time period. Incidentally, the period of 40 days is mentioned for Salaah:

"Whoever drinks wine, Salah (prayer) is not accepted from him for forty days" [4]

but there is a general non-acceptance of duas for a person intentionally eating Haraam:

"He then made a mention of a person who travels widely, his hair disheveled and covered with dust. He lifts his hand towards the sky (and thus makes the supplication): "O Lord, O Lord," whereas his diet is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, and his clothes are unlawful and his nourishment is unlawful. How can then his supplication be accepted?" [5]

It would, therefore, be prudent to seek forgiveness (istighfar).

However, it is very important to be cautious and careful in future to ensure we don't make the same mistake again:

"A believer is not stung twice from the same hole." [6]

The importance of consuming only that which is Halaal and good (wholesome/pure) has been greatly emphasised in the Qur-an and Hadith. We also find the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and the Sahabah (companions) exercising extreme caution when consuming food, therefore we should also take extra precautions to ensure we only eat of the Halaal and pure things.

And Allah knows best


[1] أُحِلَّتْ لَنَا مَيْتَتَانِ الْحُوتُ وَالْجَرَادُ (ibn Majah, Ahmad - slight variation in wording)
[2] رَبَّنَا لاَ تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِنْ نَسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا‏]‏ قَالَ قَدْ فَعَلْتُ] (al-Qur-an 2:286; Sahih Muslim 125)
[3] إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَجَاوَزَ عَنْ أُمَّتِي الْخَطَأَ وَالنِّسْيَانَ وَمَا اسْتُكْرِهُوا عَلَيْهِ (ibn Majah, Bayhaqi and others)
[4] مَنْ شَرِبَ الْخَمْرَ لَمْ يَقْبَلِ اللَّهُ لَهُ صَلاَةً أَرْبَعِينَ صَبَاحًا (Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Sunan abi Dawud, Sunan an-Nasa'i & Sunan ibn Majah with variation in wording)
[5] ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ الرَّجُلَ يُطِيلُ السَّفَرَ أَشْعَثَ أَغْبَرَ يَمُدُّ يَدَيْهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ وَمَطْعَمُهُ حَرَامٌ وَمَشْرَبُهُ حَرَامٌ وَمَلْبَسُهُ حَرَامٌ وَغُذِيَ بِالْحَرَامِ فَأَنَّى يُسْتَجَابُ لِذَلِكَ (Sahih Muslim, Jami` at-Tirmidhi)
[6] لاَ يُلْدَغُ الْمُؤْمِنُ مِنْ جُحْرٍ وَاحِدٍ مَرَّتَيْنِ (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan abi Dawud and Sunan ibn Majah with slight variations)

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