Is the capybara considered permissible to eat based on Fatwa No. 114162, which stated that everything in water is permissible to eat, knowing that it is an amphibian and does not live in water?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
We have been asked for a regarding the permissibility of the capybara (water pig), which lives only in water, eats plants, and does not have fangs. This is based on the general texts indicating the permissibility of what lives in water. The consideration here is based on realities, not names, because the name "pig" (khinzir) in language and common usage refers to the land pig, and if anything else is intended, it is qualified with "water pig."
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/189306
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- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 189306
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy