Is it permissible to eat the meat of animals such as buffalo, giraffe, zebra, kangaroo, pony, and ostrich?

Dear Brother / Sister,

In the Quran and the hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), there are some explanations regarding what meats are permissible (halal) or forbidden (haram) to eat. When these explanations are considered as a whole, it can be seen that a list of animals whose meat can be eaten is not given but only certain principles and guidelines have been established.

Acting upon the purposes and principles mentioned in the Quran and the hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Islamic scholars have made ijtihad to determine which animals' meat is permissible or forbidden, either individually or in groups.

Accordingly, the meat of animals such as deer, gazelle, ibex, wild cattle, ostrich, chicken, goose, duck, giraffe, pigeon, quail, sheep, goat, camel, cattle, water buffalo, rook, peacock, swallow, rabbit, and crane can be eaten.

The meat of the buffalo, which is a ruminant herbivore like wild animals, can also be eaten.

The kangaroo, which is a non-aggressive, ruminant herbivore, is among the animals whose meat is eaten, and those who wish can consume its meat.

The zebra is a type of wild ass. It is permissible to eat the meat of both.

As for horse meat:

According to a narration from Shafi'i and Hanbali schools as well as a narration from Malikis, eating horse meat is permissible (there is no objection). They accept the following  hadith reported by Jabir ibn Abdullah as evidence regarding the issue: "The Messenger of Allah prohibited the meat of domesticated donkeys on the day of Khaybar and permitted the meat of horses." (Bukhari, "Dhabaih", 27; Muslim, "Sayd", 36, 37, 38). Abu Yusuf and Muhammad from Hanafi school also adopt this view.

According to a preferred view in Hanafi school and a second narration from Malikis, eating horse meat is considered makruh tanzihi (is not welcomed). There are scholars who even say that horse meat is makruh tahrimi or even haram. Undoubtedly, the fact that horses were intensively used for both military and civilian services during that period had an impact on reaching this decree.

Therefore, it can be said that there is no prohibition on eating horse meat today. It is also possible to put the pony, which is a kind of horse, in this category.

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