FatwaFederal TerritoriesPurification (Taharah)
IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-474 : HUKUM MENYENTUH ATAU MEMEGANG BABI AIR (CAPYBARA)
Is the capybara (water pig) ruled to be impure like the ordinary pig, and may it be touched or handled?
Short answer
The capybara does not belong to the same family as the pig, as it is of the family Hydrochoeridae while the pig is of the family Suidae.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Irsyad al-Hukum (Umum)
- Topic
- Purification (Taharah)
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
The capybara does not belong to the same family as the pig, as it is of the family Hydrochoeridae while the pig is of the family Suidae. This ruling leans towards the view that the capybara is pure and its carcass falls under moderate impurity, not severe impurity like the pig. Animals are originally pure except dogs, pigs and their offspring, and the name pig attached to the capybara carries no ruling of the pig, since rulings follow the reality of a thing and not its name.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Oleh itu, kami cenderung kepada pendapat bahawa capybara adalah suci serta bangkainya tergolong dalam najis sederhana dan bukannya seperti babi yang mana dihukumkan sebagai najis berat sama ada ketika masih hidup ataupun setelah mati.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-474 : HUKUM MENYENTUH ATAU MEMEGANG BABI AIR (CAPYBARA)”, 27 March 2020. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/irsyad-hukum/umum/4386-irsyad-al-fatwa-siri-ke-474-hukum-menyentuh-atau-memegang-babi-air-capybara. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-on-touching-capybara-water-pig/