Question Summary:
I have had two Maulana (Hanafi) here in the US tell me that the only food we can consume from the sea is fish and shrimp. …

Question Detail:

I have had two Maulana (Hanafi) here in the US tell me that the only food we can consume from the sea is fish and shrimp. I have heard otherwise from other scholars who are outside the US. How do I decide what to do as I have been eating shrimp for many years now thinking that it was haraam according to the Shafi Mathab.

Answer :

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
According to the Hanafi Madhab, it is permissible to consume only fish from the sea. As for shrimps, some Ulama hold the view that it is a fish and Halal whilst some other Ulama hold a view to the contrary. Therefore, abstaining from it will be considered as an act of Taqwa and one will be rewarded accordingly. However, if one consumes it there will be some leeway.
And Allah knows best
Wassalam
Ml. Ishaq E. Moosa,
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In'aamiyyah