Is Ostrich Halal?

The short answer

Ostrich is halal. The birds that are forbidden are those that hunt with talons, such as hawks and eagles (Sahih Muslim 1934). Ostriches eat plants and do not hunt, so they are permitted. Scholars of several schools allow ostrich, and the Shafi'i scholar Ibn Hajar described it as agreed.

Does ostrich need halal slaughter?

Yes. Like other birds and animals, an ostrich must be slaughtered the Islamic way for its meat to be halal.

What about emu?

Emu is a large flightless bird from Australia, similar to the ostrich. It has no talons and does not hunt, so scholars apply the same test and treat it like ostrich. We found no separate fatwa on emu meat, so confirm with a scholar if you are unsure. Emu oil, used in skin products, follows the same rule as the bird.

Where can you buy ostrich?

Ostrich farms in the USA sell steaks and ground meat online, and some halal butchers carry it. Most ostrich meat sold in the USA is not halal-slaughtered, so look for a halal mark or ask.

Common questions

Are ostrich eggs halal?

Yes. Eggs from halal birds are halal.

Is ostrich red meat or poultry?

It looks and tastes like lean red meat, but it is a bird. The halal rule is the same either way.

The bottom line

Ostrich is a halal bird, and emu is treated the same way. Choose halal-slaughtered meat.