What is the ruling on eating shark meat?

Scholars differ on the ruling concerning eating shark meat, holding two views. The first view is that it is forbidden because it is a predatory animal. They base this on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) prohibition of "every beast of prey with fangs and every bird with talons." The second view is that it is permissible to eat it, based on the general permissibility of consuming sea game, as stated in Allah's (the Most High) words: "Permitted for you is game from the sea and its food as provision for you" [Quran 5:96], and the Prophet's (peace be upon him) statement regarding the sea: "Its water is purifying, and its dead are lawful." This second view is the more preponderant one.