Is it permissible to eat mynah birds?

Question

Praise be to Allah.

Mynah is the name of several types of birds
of the zarzoor (starling) type which are native to India, Burma and other
parts of Asia. These birds feed on plants, insects and worms.
Al-Mawsoo’ah al-Arabiyyah al-‘Aalamiyyah.

It is permissible to eat this kind of bird
because there is nothing to indicate that it is haraam. That is because the
basic principle is that all birds are halaal, because Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):

“Say (O Muhammad

صلى الله عليه وسلم): I find not in
that which has been revealed to me anything forbidden to be eaten by one who
wishes to eat it, unless it be Maytah (a dead animal) or blood poured forth
(by slaughtering or the like), or the flesh of swine (pork); for that
surely, is impure or impious (unlawful) meat (of an animal) which is
slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allaah (or has been slaughtered
for idols, or on which Allaah’s Name has not been mentioned while
slaughtering). But whosoever is forced by necessity without wilful
disobedience, nor transgressing due limits; (for him) certainly, your Lord
is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful”

[al-An’aam 6:145].

Excluded from that is that for which there
is evidence that it is haraam; and based on the evidence there are four such
types:

(i)

Birds which have talons with which they
catch prey, because of the report narrated by Muslim (1934) from Ibn ‘Abbaas
(may Allaah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade every wild animal with
fangs and every bird with talons.

It says in Zaad al-Mustaqni’: That
which has talons with which it catches prey.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy
on him) said: What is meant by talons here is not the thing [spur] that
protrudes from the leg of the rooster; that is a talon but it does not catch
prey with it. End quote from al-Sharh al-Mumti’ (15/20).

(ii)

That which eats carrion, such as vultures
and speckled crows.

It says in al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah
al-Kuwaitiyyah (5/135): The Hanafis, Shaafa’is and Hanbalis are agreed
that it is haraam to eat large black crows and speckled crows, which are
both types that usually eat only carrion, so they are abhorrent to those of
a sound nature. This type also include vultures, because they only eat
carrion, even though they do not have talons with which they catch prey. End
quote.

(iii)

That which is off-putting, such as bats.
There is a difference of opinion among the scholars as to what constitutes
off-putting, which there is no room to discuss here.

(iv)

That which it is forbidden to kill, such as
hoopoes, because of the report narrated by Abu Dawood (5267) and Ibn Majaah
(3224) from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: The
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade
killing four kinds of animals: ants, bees, hoopoes and sparrow-hawks.
Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.

Everything apart from that is permissible in
principle.

The fact that this bird is sometimes called
a crow does not matter. Many of the fuqaha’ regarded farm crows as
permissible, and gave as the reason for that the fact that they do not eat
carrion.

It says in al-Majmoo’ (9/26): We have
mentioned our view concerning farm crows and ravens. Maalik, Abu Haneefah
and Ahmad (may Allaah have mercy on them) stated that they are permissible.
End quote.

Al-Mardaawi said in al-Insaaf
(9/364): His words “and farm crows” mean that they are permissible. This is
our view and the view of our companions.

Note; farm crows have red beaks and feet. Or
it was said that farm crows are large and black. End quote.

Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah be pleased with
him) indicated the guideline on this issue by saying: Everything that does
not catch prey with its talons and does not eat carrion and is not
off-putting, is halaal. End quote from al-Mughni (9/329).

Thus it is clear that Mynah birds are among
those that it is permissible to eat.

And Allaah knows best.