Former Religious Affairs Minister Answers M’sian’s Question on Whether It’s Halal to Eat Tapir

Former Religious Affairs Minister and Mufti of the Federal Territories, Dato’ Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri recently answered a rather random question posted by a Malaysian.

Taking to Twitter, Dr Zulkifli joked that Malaysians have “all kinds of appetites” during this fasting month after the individual asked whether Tapir meat is halal to eat.

Quote tweeting a tweet from Maktabah Al-Bakri, the former Religious Affairs Minister was responding to an article on the website in which he answered this query from a Malaysian:

“I have uncertainties up until today, whereby I haven’t gotten an answer from any religious teachers. What’s the Islamic jurisprudence on eating the animal we call tapir or tenuk?”

Based on the replies to the tweet, it seems that many Malaysians were intrigued by this question as well and wanted to know whether Tapir is indeed Halal to eat.

Well, according to the answer in the Maktabah Al-Bakri article, Dr Zulkifli clarified that Tapir is indeed Halal to eat because it’s not a predator but a herbivore which only eats grass and small trees.

However, given that Tapir is an endangered animal in our country and is protected under Malaysian law, Dr Zulkifli strongly advised against the act of hunting, catching or eating the animal.

He added that from an Islamic jurisprudence point of view, the government has the right to decide and enforce something for the greater good.

Hence, it is our responsibility to protect the species so that conservation efforts can ensure its survival so that our future generation can see and get to know the Tapir.

Interestingly, this is not the first time that Malaysians are asking about the Halal status of certain animals to the former Religious Affairs Minister.

Previously, a Malaysian asked Dr Zulkifli whether penguins are Halal to eat, to which he replied that the animal is cute and Halal but given that certain species are endangered, we should protect them.

Also read: WATCH: Viral Lost Tapir Who “Toured” Entire Dungun District Before Falling Into Drain, Rescued