Is it halal to hunt and eat squirrels?

The Details of the Question

Is it halal to hunt and eat squirrels?

The Answer

Dear Brother / Sister,

The meat of the wild and predatory animals that grab their prey with their molar teeth and claws, tear it apart and fight is haram and inedible. Therefore, predatory animals that catch their prey with canine teeth such as pigs, wolves, bears, lions, tigers, leopards, pandas, panthers, cheetahs, jaguars, cougars, squirrels, sables, martens, skunks, gorillas, monkey species [chimpanzees, baboons, gibbons, orangutans], hyenas, elephants, dogs, cats, beavers, badgers, lynxes, jackals, foxes and weasels are inedible.

However, Shafiis stipulate for the animals that hunt with molar teeth that the molar teeth must be strong and the animal must be aggressive for their meat to be rendered haram. In this regard, Shafis consider it permissible to eat animals that have weak molar teeth, such as hyenas, foxes, sables, squirrels and weasels. (Shirbini, Mughnil-Muhtaj, 4/401)

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