What is squid?

Squids are fascinating creatures of the sea. With eight arms, two bonus tentacles, and the ability to camouflage naturally, this underwater acrobat comes equipped with built-in ink jets and can squeeze through small holes. From tiny tots the size of your thumb to deep-sea giants, these remarkable marine creatures are not only crucial for marine life but also star in many seafood dishes.

Is squid halal? 

Squids are nature's underwater artists, equipped with their own built-in ink cartridges. These fascinating creatures are considered halal in Islamic dietary laws, and here's the fun part - their famous ink is halal too! The ink, stored in a special sac, is a defence mechanism, and it's completely natural and safe to eat.

Inky dilemma – halal or not? 

When harvested, this black substance comes from the ink sac after catching the squid. It's widely used in fancy dishes like black pasta and risotto, turning ordinary meals into gothic gastronomy. 

Scholars have differing opinions about the permissibility of squid ink. Some Hanafi scholars prohibit eating squid based on two main arguments:

1. They draw an analogy between squid and rats, since both consume various items including debris from the bottom (of the sea or land). Since rats are forbidden, they argue squid should be too.
2. They consider squid's ink as unclean, making the creature impermissible to eat.

However, this view isn't universally held within the Hanafi mazhab as many Hanafi scholars permit eating squid.

In Shafi’i mazhab, squid is halal since they classify it as a sea creature, which falls under the general permissibility of seafood.

In essence, majority of the scholars from these various mazhab (school of Islamic jurisprudence) agree that squid is halal to be consumed.

Read: What is halal?

Note: While squid and its ink are generally considered halal, consumers should verify halal certification for prepared food products containing these ingredients. When purchasing pre-packed squid ink, it is essential to check that all additional ingredients and additives also meet halal requirements.

So next time you're eyeing that delicious sotong masak hitam at your favourite nasi padang stall or a squid ink pasta from your favourite Italian shop, go ahead and indulge! It's a halal, inky adventure that'll leave you with a smile - just maybe don't show that smile in public right after eating!

References

1. 22 Nov, 2016. Mufti of Federal Territory's Office. The ruling of eating squid and its ink. 

2. Egypt's Dar Al-Ifta. Is eating octopus and squid permissible?

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