According to the consensus of Muslim scholars, it is permissible to eat rabbit meat. Anas ibn Mailk (may Allah be pleased with him) is reported to have said, “We chased a rabbit at Mar-al-Zahran and the people ran after it but were exhausted. I overpowered and caught it and gave it to Abu Talha who slaughtered it and sent its hip or two thighs to Allah’s Apostle. (The narrator confirms that he sent two thighs). The Prophet accepted that.” (The sub-narrator asked Anas, “Did the Prophet; eat from it?” Anas replied, “He ate from it.”). As for sea rabbits that have some sort of poison, it is not permissible to eat them because of the harm they cause to people.
Having clarified the above, we’d like to give you some general Islamic guidelines regarding the Halal (lawful) food.
The general principle is that any food is Halal except for the following kinds:
1. The dead animal
2. Blood
3. Pork
4. Animals that have been dedicated to anyone other than Allah, that is those which are slaughtered with the invocation of a name other than that of Allah Almighty —for example, the name of an idol.
5. The animal (or bird) that dies because of being strangled
6. The animal (or bird) that dies because of being beat with something
7. The animal (or bird) that dies because of falling down from a height
8. The animal that dies because of being gored by another animal
9. The animal (or bird) that dies because of being killed by a wild beast
10. Animals that have been immolated to idols.
So, it is permissible to eat rabbits that are slaughtered Islamically. May Allah reward you and bless your livelihood.
