isithalal.food

Is Ostrich Halal?

It depends on what the label says.

Halal if verified
Medium confidence About this ruling

About this ruling

Condition
Verify the product or supplier in hand
Evidence confidence
Medium means the sources are named, but they do not pin the evidence to a specific market or product. Use this page as orientation, then read the pack in your hand.
How we score High, Medium, and Low

Reviewed

Ostrich is a plant-eating bird with no talons, and scholars treat it as lawful.

Next step Ostrich is a lawful bird: buy ostrich meat that was slaughtered Islamically, from a Halal-certified supplier. How to verify
Scan a label

How to verify

  1. Ostrich is a lawful bird.
  2. It must be slaughtered Islamically; for a long-necked bird the cut is at the base of the neck.
  3. Buy from a Halal-certified supplier: farmed ostrich is not Halal by default.

Quick checks

  • A lawful bird.
  • Slaughtered Islamically.
  • Buy Halal-certified.

What decides the answer

  • Ostrich slaughtered Islamically

    Halal

  • Ostrich from a supplier without Halal slaughter

    not Halal

Why this ruling

Ostrich is farmed for lean red meat, sold as steaks, burgers and biltong.

Is it lawful?

Yes. IslamQA answers, "Yes, ostrich meat is halal", noting that the animals excluded are pigs, fanged carnivores, birds with talons and domesticated donkeys.[1] Mufti Ebrahim Desai rules: "It is permissible to eat ostriches provided it is slaughtered according to the Shari'ah laws of zabh."[2] Al-Nawawi lists ostriches among the birds his school's scholars "unanimously agreed" may be eaten.[3]

Slaughter

Like any bird, ostrich is Halal only when slaughtered Islamically; for a long-necked bird the cut is made where the neck meets the chest.[1] Farmed ostrich is not Halal by default, so buy from a Halal-certified supplier. For other birds, see pigeon and duck.

Where you'll find it

  • Ostrich steaks and burgers
  • Ostrich biltong

Frequently asked questions

Is ostrich meat Halal?
Yes, when the bird is slaughtered Islamically. IslamQA says 'ostrich meat is halal', and Mufti Ebrahim Desai rules it permissible with Islamic slaughter.
How is an ostrich slaughtered Islamically?
As for any animal, with the name of Allah and a cut to the throat; IslamQA notes that for long-necked animals like ostriches the cut is made where the neck meets the chest.

Scholarly view

Birds are lawful unless they are birds of prey with talons, and the ostrich is a plant-eating bird. IslamQA, the Askimam desk and al-Nawawi's record of the Shafi'i scholars all treat it as permissible. The slaughter condition applies as for any bird, and IslamQA notes that for long-necked animals like the ostrich the cut is made where the neck meets the chest.

Sources

Named Islamic, certifier, manufacturer, and regulatory sources used on this page. Inline markers like [1] jump here. Retrieval dates show when we last checked the live URL. Editorial methodology.

Islamic / scriptural

  1. Is ostrich meat halal? (10498)

    IslamQA.info Retrieved

    Jurisdiction: International

    30 March 2001: 'Yes, ostrich meat is halal.' All animals are permissible except those excluded, such as pigs, carnivores with fangs, birds with talons and domesticated donkeys; for long-necked animals like ostriches the cut is made where the neck meets the chest.

  2. Is it permissible to eat ostrich? (123774)

    Askimam (Mufti Ebrahim Desai), via IslamQA.org Retrieved

    Jurisdiction: International

    'It is permissible to eat ostriches provided it is slaughtered according to the Shari'ah laws of zabh.'

  3. Is duck halal? (169813)

    IslamQA.info Retrieved

    Jurisdiction: International

    Quotes al-Nawawi: 'Our companions unanimously agreed that it is permissible to eat [ostriches], chickens… ducks, sand grouse, sparrows, larks, francolin and pigeons.'

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