This is in reply to the letter of Mareena Latif of Colombo 7 on the above subject. Islam has clearly laid down the law as regard foods that are permitted (HALAL) and prohibited (HARAM) in the Quran and the Sunnah (Traditions) of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa salam. Allah says in the Quran: "it is lawful for you to fish and eat the sea animals." 5: 96

The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam was asked as to whether sea water is lawful to use for wudhu, that is ablution before prayer and here is what he said: "Its water is pure and dead animal is lawful for consumption." As reported in Sahih Bukhari, Muslim, Ahmad, etc., from this, it is very clear that everything that comes out of the sea is HALAL.

I hope l have cleared the doubts of the writer and others who may have had such doubts.
Ismaeel Marikar
Colombo 6