Is Alligator Halal? Scholars' Views on Gator Meat

Alligators and crocodiles live in water and on land. They also have sharp teeth and hunt other animals. That puts them between two sets of rules.

On one side, the Qur'an makes the game of the sea lawful ^[1]. Some scholars treat animals that live in water as covered by this. On the other side, a hadith in Sahih Muslim forbids beasts that have fangs ^[7]. Scholars who stress this rule see the alligator as a predator.

Egypt's Dar al-Ifta lays out both sides in a fatwa on alligators and crocodiles. One view compares them to fish and points to the verses on sea game and on the limited list of forbidden foods. The other view forbids them because they have fangs and because they are seen as repulsive, since they can eat people ^[2]. The fatwa reports the difference without settling it.

Maliki. The Board of Iftaa' in Jordan issued a resolution in 2010 on a supplement made from crocodile bones. It allowed the product, based on the Maliki school, which permits eating crocodiles ^[3].

Shafi'i. Malaysia's Federal Territory Mufti office says the Shafi'i school prohibits animals that live on both land and water, and it names crocodiles and frogs as examples ^[4]. The Jordanian resolution notes one narration in the Shafi'i school that permits crocodile ^[3].

Hanbali. The same Jordanian resolution cites one narration in the Hanbali school that permits crocodile ^[3].

Hanafi. SeekersGuidance lists crocodile among the animals that are forbidden in the Hanafi school. The school also allows only fish from the water ^[5]. The Malaysian fatwa adds that Hanafi sources prohibit land-and-water animals ^[4].

Alligators are close relatives of crocodiles, and Dar al-Ifta addresses both in one ruling ^[2].

Rulings from the office of Ayatollah Sistani allow only fish with scales and shrimp from the water. Other water animals are not allowed ^[6]. An alligator is not a fish, so it falls outside these rulings. Followers of other Shia scholars should check their own marja's rulings.

Alligator shows up mostly in Louisiana and Florida. You will see fried alligator bites, gator tail, alligator sausage and gumbo on menus. Some stores also sell frozen alligator meat.

If you follow a view that allows alligator, there are still questions to ask:

• How the animal was killed. Alligators live on land as well as in water, so ask a scholar you trust whether slaughter is required under the view you follow.
• Sausage and gumbo. These dishes can mix alligator with pork, such as andouille sausage. Read the label or ask.
• Fryers and batter. Fried gator bites may share oil with pork items, or use beer batter.

If a product carries a halal symbol, check which certifier issued it and contact them to confirm.