Concerning prohibited meat. Is duck meat even Makruh? How can we distinguish Halal and Haram meat or food? Like let's say a cat, dog, donkey, etc. Please throw some light on this subject, as I am not certain.

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The first principle established by Islam is that the things which Allah has Created and the benefits derived from them are lawful except what is prohibited explicitly in the Quran or the authentic Sunnah.

Allah Says (what means): {Say, “I do not find within that which was revealed to me [anything] forbidden to one who would eat it unless it be a dead animal or blood spilled out or the flesh of swine - for indeed, it is impure - or it be [that slaughtered in] disobedience, dedicated to other than Allah. But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], then indeed, your Lord is Forgiving and Merciful.”} [Quran 6:145]

This verse reaffirms what we have stated above. Thus, we state that every animal is lawful except what is clearly prohibited in the Quran or the Sunnah.

Here is an explanation:

1) It is proved in a sound Hadeeth that Ibn ‘Abbas narrated that “the Prophet prohibited to eat every beast of prey that has a canine tooth and every bird that has a claw.” [Muslim]

2) Prohibited are animals that have a noxious taste such as a pig and dead animals, as well as those called al-Jallaalah (the animal which eats dung, feces and so on) although they were lawful before eating such food.

Allah Says (what means): {…who enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them.} [Quran 7:157]

3) Prohibited are animals that are ordered to be killed. ‘Aa’ishah narrated that the Prophet said: “There are five vicious animals that are desirable to kill in the area of Haram or outside it. They are: a mouse, scorpion, kite and a rapacious dog.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

4) Prohibited animals from being killed as recorded in a Hadeeth in al-Musnad of Imam Ahmad from Ibn ‘Abbaas that “the Prophet prohibited the killing of four animals. They are: the ant, the bee, the hoopoe and the shrike.”

As for the meat of duck, it is proved in al-Musnad of Imam Ahmad that the Prophet said:

“Whoever goes early (i.e. during the first hour of the due time) to al-Jumu'ah prayer, it will be as if he had sacrificed a camel. If he goes after that (e.g. second hour), it will be as if he had sacrificed a cow. If he goes after that (e.g. third hour), it will be as if he had sacrificed a sheep. If he goes after that (e.g. fourth hour), it will be as if he had sacrificed a duck, then like sacrificing a hen, after that like sacrificing an egg.”

But, it is detestable to eat the meat of duck if it eats impurities. So, we have to prevent it from eating impurities, and then, to feed it with pure and clean fodder so that it will have good meat.

As for cats, dogs and donkeys, it is unlawful to eat their meat according to the dominant opinion.

Jabir narrated that “the Prophet prohibited the eating of the cat.” [Ibn Maajah and At-Tirmithi]

Another Hadeeth from Abu Tha'labah reads: “The Prophet prohibited the meat of donkeys.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

As for a dog, it is impure according to the view of the majority of the scholars. Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said: “Purifying a container that a dog has licked is done by washing it seven times.” [Muslim]

Allah knows best.