Eating snails or soups with wine Fatwa No: 86052
- Fatwa Date:13-7-2003
Is eating snails Halal even for certain soup which wine is one of the ingredient? What about borrowing money as a loan from the bank when there is no Islamic bank?
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
There is no objection to eating snails if they do not cause any harm. It is stated in the Mudawana that Imaam Maalik was asked about eating something found in Morocco called snails. Snails live in the Sahara and hang on trees. Imaam Malik said: “I think it takes the rule of the locust. If it is caught alive it can be boiled or grilled and I don't have any objection to eating it then. But if it is found dead, it should not be eaten.” [Extracted from the book of Dhabaaih (slaughters)]
As for your second question, know that it is unlawful to eat or drink anything that contains alcohol as one of it ingredients as it is mandatory on the Muslim to avoid the small as well as the big quantity of alcohol in obedience to the Orders of Allaah. Allaah Says (what means): {O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allaah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.}[Quran 5:90]
Alcohol is impure. So, when it is mixed with anything else it pollutes it and makes it impure. It is unlawful for the Muslim to consume it.
As regards your question about borrowing money with Riba (interest and/or usury), then this is strictly forbidden, as it is a loan that brings about an interest. We would like to draw your attention to the fact that dealing with Riba banks is forbidden except in dire necessity. Allaah Says (what means): {And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.} [Quran 5:2]
Allaah Knows best.