Fishing

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about catching fish without a mention of the name of Allah. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’”

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about catching fish without a mention of the name of Allah. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful if it is alive when he catches it.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about fish which is caught, then placed in something but it returns into the water and dies in it. He (the Imam) said, ‘Do not use it for food.”’

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who catches fish, then ties it to a string, then sends it in the water where it dies; if he can use it for food. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, he must not use it for food.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about fishing by Zoroastrian and Jews by means of fishing nets without a mention of the name of Allah. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful, fishing is to catch it alive.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the fish caught by Zoroastrians. He (the Imam) said that Ali (a.s.), would say, ‘Fish and locusts are clean (slaughtered properly).”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Ali (a.s.), about catching fish would say, ‘When a man catches fish and it struggles, hits with its fins, moves its back fins and looks with its eyes, this is its properly slaughtering.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the hunting by Zoroastrians. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful, if he gives it to you alive as well as the fish also, otherwise, their testimony is not acceptable unless you witness its being fished alive.’”

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the fishing by Zoroastrian by means of fishing nets and with a mention of the pagan consecration expressions. He (the Imam) said, ‘Their fishing is not unlawful; fishing is catching them (alive).’ I then asked about a barricade of reeds with water in it for fish. Fish enters it and certain ones of them die in it. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful; the barricade is set for fishing.’”

“It is the case of a man who sets a fishing net in water, then returns home leaving the net in water when thereafter he comes back he finds fish caught in it but they are dead. Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘It is what his hands have done. It is not unlawful and he can use what is in it for food.’”

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about a fish that jumps out of the canal and lands on the side and it then dies: if it can be used for food. He (the Imam) said, ‘If you pick it up before it dies you can use it for food but if it dies before you pick it up, then do not use it for food.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Ali (a.s.), was asked about fish inside which another fish is found. He (the Imam) said, ‘You can use both of them for food.’”

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘It is not unlawful to use for food the fish which is caught by Zoroastrians.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who catches a fish and finds another fish inside it. He (the Imam) said, ‘He can use both of them for food.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘I heard my father saying, “If a man sets a fishing net whatever is caught in it dead or alive is lawful for food, except that which does not have scales and the dead fish floating on the water.’””

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause. What do you say about a snake that has swallowed a fish then has thrown it out and it still is alive and struggling; if it can be used for food. He (the Imam) said, ‘If its scales are peeled off then do not use it for food; but if it is not peeled off you can use it for food.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin prohibited a man’s fishing on Fridays before Salat (prayer). He (a.s.), would go to the fish market on Fridays and prohibit them from fishing on Fridays before Friday Salat (prayer).”’

“Once, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), mentioned fish which floats on water and what people dislike. He (the Imam) said, ‘The fish floating on the water are disliked because their smell has changed.’”