The ostrich is permissible to eat

26-3-2006 | IslamWeb

Question:

The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: "Do not eat the meat of Jallaalah (impure) animals.” So, is it permissible to eat and trade with the meat of the ostrich? I am a vet and breed ostriches, and I saw them eating their dung when it is dry. It should be noted that they also eat clover and fodder. So, is the meat of this animal lawful, and is its income lawful?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

Yes, it is permissible to eat the meat of ostrich, as Allaah Says (what means): {Say, “Lawful for you are [all] good foods.}[Quran 5:4]. Allaah further Says (what means): {…and makes lawful for them the good things.}[Quran 7:157]. So, the meat of an ostrich is good, and the companions considered the ostrich of the same value as a goat, so this is an evidence that its meat is lawful to eat. Therefore, the fact that the ostrich eats its dung does not affect the permissibility of eating its meat, and it does not render it a Jallaalah, because the dung of animals that we are allowed to eat its meat is pure and not impure. 

Allaah Knows best.