What is the ruling on eating artificial crab sticks, which are reported to be made from processed fish meat similar to how meat from livestock is treated to make mortadella, with artificial crab flavoring and other ingredients? It is unclear whether the fish used has scales or whether it has been properly slaughtered.
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1 Answer
Peace be upon you. According to Grand Ayatollah Khamenei and Grand Ayatollah Sistani (may Allah protect them): There are two conditions for the permissibility of eating fish: First, it must have scales according to common understanding. Second, it must be caught alive by the fisherman or die in the fishing net or pen. It is not a condition for the fisherman to be Muslim, nor is it necessary to mention the name of Allah during the slaughtering of the fish. If a non-Muslim catches the fish and takes it out of the water alive, or it dies in the net or pen, and it has scales, it is permissible to eat it. If one doubts whether this fish has scales or not: Grand Ayatollah Khamenei (may Allah protect him) rules it permissible. Grand Ayatollah Sistani (may Allah protect him) rules it as impermissible. May you be successful in all good deeds.