Are Worms Halal or Haram? An Islamic Juridical Perspective

October 19, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the majority of Islamic scholars, including the Hanafi and Shafi'i schools, most worms and land insects are considered haram (forbidden). This is based on the principle that they are generally regarded as impure or repugnant. This article will examine why some worms are halal or haram and the differing scholarly perspectives.

Quick Summary

The permissibility of eating worms in Islam varies by situation and school of thought, with most scholars deeming them forbidden due to impurity, though exceptions exist for accidental consumption or medicinal use.

Key Points

Majority Opinion: Most Islamic scholars from the Hanafi and Shafi'i schools consider worms and land insects haram (forbidden) based on the principle of repugnance and impurity.
Maliki View: Some interpretations within the Maliki school view consuming worms as makrooh (disliked), not strictly forbidden, representing a difference in legal reasoning.
Worms in Food Exception: According to Shafi'i and Hanbali scholars, it is permissible to accidentally consume worms that originated within and remain inside a pure food item, like fruit or cheese, due to the difficulty of removal.
Separate Consumption is Prohibited: The exception for worms in food does not apply if the worm is intentionally separated and then eaten on its own, as it is considered impure.
Hadith Guidance: A Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) shows he removed worms from dates, indicating that removing such pests is the preferred practice, even if accidental consumption is excused.
Medicinal Use: In cases of proven medical necessity and a lack of halal alternatives, consumption of substances derived from insects or worms may be permissible, as per rulings from some Islamic bodies.
Sea Worms: The ruling on sea worms differs by madhhab; Shafi'i and Maliki scholars generally consider all sea life halal, while Hanafi scholars have a more restrictive stance.

The General Consensus: Worms are Haram

In Islam, the determination of what is lawful (halal) or unlawful (haram) for consumption is primarily guided by the Quran, the Sunnah (Prophet Muhammad's tradition), and the consensus of qualified scholars. The general ruling among the majority of scholars from the Hanafi and Shafi'i schools is that worms and other similar land pests are haram. This prohibition is based on the Islamic principle of istikhbath, which considers repulsive or disgusting creatures as unlawful. This is derived from a Quranic verse describing the Prophet's role: "He makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil and impure" (Quran 7:157). Pests such as worms, scorpions, and beetles are generally viewed as part of the impure category.

Scholarly Differences: The Maliki Perspective

While the majority of scholars view worms as haram, there are differences of opinion, particularly within the Maliki school. Some interpretations within the Maliki tradition hold that the vermin of the earth, including worms, are merely makrooh (disliked) rather than strictly forbidden. This nuanced view reflects a different approach to classification, though another report from Imam Malik suggests he also considered them haram. These differing perspectives highlight the role of analogical reasoning (qiyas) and local customs (urf) in Islamic jurisprudence when direct textual evidence is not universally agreed upon.

Exceptions: Worms in Food

An important exception exists for worms that originate within a specific food item, such as a fruit, piece of cheese, or container of vinegar. The permissibility in this specific case, according to scholars from the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools, is based on the principle of tab'an, where the worm follows the ruling of the pure food it is part of. This concession is often granted due to the difficulty of separating the worm from the food without significant hardship. However, this exception is subject to specific conditions:

The worm must be consumed together with the food it originated from. Eating it separately is prohibited.
The worm must not have been removed from the food and then returned. Once separated, it is no longer covered by the exception.
If the worm's presence (especially if it has died) changes the food's taste, color, or smell, especially in liquids like vinegar, the food becomes impure and is no longer permissible.

Comparison of Rulings by Madhhabs


Aspect	Hanafi	Shafi'i	Maliki	Hanbali
General Ruling	Haram	Haram	Makrooh/Haram (differing reports)	Haram
Basis for Ruling	Impure (Khaba'ith)	Impure (Khaba'ith)	Repugnance (Istikhbath)	Impure (Khaba'ith)
Worms in Fruit/Food	Prohibited	Permissible (with conditions)	Permissible (with conditions)	Permissible (with conditions)
Condition for Exception	N/A	Must be eaten with the food it originated from; difficult to separate	Permissible if killed according to Maliki slaughter rules (some interpretations)	Must be eaten with the food it originated from; difficult to separate

Rationale Behind the Rulings

One of the key pieces of evidence cited by scholars concerning worms and similar pests is a Hadith from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The Prophet was brought some old dates and was seen inspecting them, removing any worms before eating. This action is understood by many scholars as an indication that, whenever possible, one should remove such creatures from their food. This aligns with the principle of consuming only that which is pure and good (tayyib). The allowance for consuming worms incidentally with food is a mercy (rukhsah) due to the hardship of complete removal, but the preferred action is to remove them.

Modern Applications and Medicinal Use

Contemporary discussions arise regarding ingredients derived from insects, such as cochineal (carmine) used as a food coloring, or the use of worms for medicinal purposes. Several Islamic bodies have issued rulings on these matters.

Food Additives: Ingredients like carmine, derived from insects, are subject to scholarly debate. Many Islamic organizations and scholars deem them haram based on the general prohibition of insects, while others argue that the processed form, used in minute quantities, can be overlooked based on the principle of necessity or insignificance. It is best for a Muslim to check with reliable halal certifiers or their local scholarly body for guidance.
Medicinal Use: When a proven medical benefit exists, and no halal alternative is available, the use of substances derived from insects or worms may be permitted. Egypt's Dar Al-Ifta has ruled that consuming substances manufactured from insects for medicinal purposes is permissible if it is proven to treat disease without harmful side effects, aligning with the Islamic legal maxim that necessity can make the forbidden permissible.

The Ruling on Sea Worms

The permissibility of aquatic creatures, including sea worms, also depends on the school of thought. The majority of Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanbali scholars consider all sea animals, regardless of their form, to be halal based on the Quranic verse (5:96) and a Hadith mentioning fish and locusts. However, the Hanafi school maintains a stricter view, generally permitting only fish-like creatures from the sea, and thus considering other sea animals, including sea worms, as haram.

Conclusion The question of whether worms are halal or haram is addressed differently across Islamic schools of jurisprudence. The majority view, held by the Hanafi and Shafi'i schools, is that worms are generally haram due to their classification as impure creatures. Exceptions are made for worms that are accidentally consumed while still inside the food they originated from, provided certain conditions are met, a position held by Shafi'i and Hanbali scholars. Conversely, some Maliki perspectives consider them merely disliked, not forbidden. For modern issues like food additives and medicinal uses, rulings often depend on the nature of the substance and the presence of necessity. A Muslim should always seek clarification from knowledgeable sources and err on the side of caution. For more information, one can consult resources like Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah.

Frequently Asked Questions

Worms are generally considered haram by the majority of scholars because they fall under the category of khaba'ith (impure or repugnant things), which are prohibited for consumption in Islam, as mentioned in the Quran.

According to the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools, if a worm originates within a fruit and is eaten unintentionally with the fruit because it's difficult to separate, it is permissible. However, it is preferable to remove the worm if possible.

The ruling varies by insect. Some insects, like locusts, are explicitly mentioned as halal. However, many land insects, including worms, beetles, and scorpions, are generally considered haram.

Yes, some Islamic bodies allow for the use of insect or worm-derived products for medical treatment, provided there is a proven benefit, no harmful side effects, and no viable halal alternative exists.

The Hanafi school generally holds a stricter position, deeming most worms and similar land pests haram without the exceptions granted by other schools for accidental consumption with food.

The permissibility of sea worms depends on the school of thought. The Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanbali schools generally consider all sea creatures halal, while the Hanafi school is more restrictive and may view them as haram.

The basis is found in the Quranic verse that states the Prophet forbids impure things. Islamic jurisprudence uses the principle of istikhbath (regarding something as repugnant) to determine the permissibility of creatures not explicitly mentioned in texts.