AN ANALYSIS OF THE FATWA REGARDING FISH WHOSE INTERNAL IMPURITIES ARE NOT REMOVED

The issue of the ruling on consuming fish without removing its entrails, particularly when it involves the presence of impurities in the fish’s stomach, has sparked various debates among scholars and the Muslim community. This study aims to analyze the Shafi‘i school’s view regarding the ruling on fish that are not gutted, as well as to assess the implementation of contemporary fatwas in Malaysia concerning this issue. The study also seeks to evaluate how fiqh principles such as masyaqqah (hardship), maslahah (public interest), and maqasid al-shariah (higher objectives of Islamic law) are applied in determining rulings on contemporary food processing matters. This research employs a qualitative method through document analysis of official fatwas issued by national and state fatwa institutions. The findings indicate that rulings vary depending on the size of the fish, and that there is flexibility in determining rulings based on context and industrial needs. Hence, a responsive fiqh approach grounded in maqasid al-shariah is seen as essential to ensure that food-related rulings remain relevant, practical, and rooted in the principles of halal and tayyib (wholesome).AbstrakIsu hukum memakan ikan yang tidak dibuang isi perutnya, khususnya apabila melibatkan najis di dalam perut ikan, telah menimbulkan pelbagai perbahasan dalam kalangan fuqaha dan masyarakat Islam. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis pandangan mazhab Shafi‘i berkenaan hukum ikan yang tidak dibersihkan perutnya serta menilai pelaksanaan fatwa-fatwa semasa di Malaysia berkaitan isu ini. Kajian ini juga ingin menilai bagaimana prinsip-prinsip fiqh seperti masyaqqah, maslahah, dan maqasid syariah digunakan dalam menetapkan hukum terhadap isu semasa yang melibatkan pemprosesan makanan. Kajian ini menggunakan kaedah kualitatif melalui pendekatan analisis dokumen terhadap fatwa-fatwa rasmi dari institusi fatwa negeri dan kebangsaan. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan terdapat perbezaan hukum berdasarkan saiz ikan, serta fleksibiliti dalam penetapan hukum berdasarkan konteks dan keperluan industri. Justeru, pendekatan fiqh yang responsif dan berteraskan maqasid syariah dilihat penting dalam memastikan hukum makanan kekal relevan, praktikal, dan berpaksikan kepada prinsip halal dan tayyib.