In Islam, certain substances, like blood, are considered forbidden to consume. However, many Muslims wonder whether small amounts of blood that remain stuck to meat after washing and cooking fall into this category. Is blood residue on meat haram, or is it excused?
The Prohibition of Blood in Islam
Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “I do not find in what has been revealed to me anything forbidden to eat except carrion, running blood, swine—which is impure—or a sinful offering in the name of any other than Allah. But if someone is compelled by necessity—neither driven by desire nor exceeding immediate need—then surely your Lord is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Surah Al-An’am: 145)
What is Spilled Blood?
Spilled blood refers to the blood that exits the body of an animal while it is still alive or just after it is slaughtered. For example, this would be the blood that gushes out when the animal’s throat is cut during the Islamic method of slaughtering.
However, blood that sticks to meat and does not flow is a different matter. Many scholars have discussed this in-depth, offering a clear ruling.
The Ruling on Blood Residue in Meat
According to Islamic scholars, residual blood that remains on the meat after slaughtering and cleaning is considered excused or forgiven. It is not practical to expect all blood to be removed from the meat, so small amounts that are left behind after a good effort to clean the meat are not considered haram.
Some scholarly opinions on this matter include:
- Abu Ishaq Ats-Tsa’labi, an expert in tafsir, explained that blood residue is excused because it is difficult to remove completely.
- Imam Ahmad and other scholars have stated that blood which sticks to the meat is considered ma’fu (excused), even if it remains visible.
- Sayyidah Aisha reported that blood residue on meat falls into the category of impurities that are forgiven.
What About Fish Blood?
The ruling on fish blood differs from that of land animals. According to several Islamic scholars, fish blood does not fall under the same prohibition:
- LPPOM MUI considers fish blood that flows to be haram and impure.
- Scholars like Imam Malik, Imam Ahmad, and Daud Dhahiri also consider fish blood impure.Scholars from the Hanafi school of thought believe that fish blood is pure and is treated the same as fish meat.
- The Hanbali argues that fish do not have “real” blood, and what remains is more like water mixed with blood, which is not considered impure.
Conclusion
Based on scholarly opinions, blood residue left on meat after washing is excused, and the meat remains halal for consumption. It is recommended to clean the meat as thoroughly as possible, but if some blood remains despite best efforts, it is not considered an issue in Islam.
For fish, there are different opinions, but many scholars consider its blood to be pure, especially since fish do not have flowing blood like land animals.
