Q178: Is Eating a Lizard Sunnah

Question

Assalam Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

I have read from one of Authentic books that some of the Sahaba’s (may Allah be pleased with them all) ate lizard but the Prophet salallahu alayhi wasallam disliked to eat it but did not stop them from eating.

My Question: Is it Sunnah to eat lizard?

Answer

Eating a lizard is haram. It is regarded as a reptile (like a snake). The hadith you mentioned is regarding Iguana, which is found in the desert. Imam Shafiee rahmatullahi alayhi’s research is that it is halal, based on the hadith you have mentioned. However Imam Abu Hanifa rahmatullahi alayhi’s research is that it’s makrooh. This is due to the hadith of Abu Dawood which states its forbidence.