2. Al-Husayn from Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah , saying, ’I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, of fish which kind is edible?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘The kind of fish that has scales is edible.’ I then asked, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, what do you say about al-Kan‘at (a kind of fish with very little scales). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful to use it for food.’ I then said, ‘It does not have scales?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it has scales but it is a bad mannered fish and it sticks to everything. If you look at the base of its ears you can find scales.’”

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad from Hariz from those whom he has mentioned who has said the following: “One of the two Imam, (abu Ja’far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said that ’Amir al- Mu’minin , disliked eel. He (the Imam) had said, ‘Do not use for food the kind of fish which has no scales’ and he (the Imam) disliked al-Mar Mahi (catfish).”’

4. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Sama‘ah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah , has said, ‘Do not use for food eel, al-Mar Mahi, the dead fish floating on water and the spleen because it is the home of blood and a morsel of Satan.’”

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim from ‘Umar ibn Hanzalah who said: “Dried up rabitha (a type of fish) was sent to me in a sack and I visited Abu ‘Abdillah , and asked him about it. He (the Imam) said, ‘You can eat it; it has scales.’”

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mughirah from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah , has stated this Hadith. ’Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali Ibn Abu Talib in al-Kufah would ride the mule of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ then pass by the fish market and say, ‘Do not use for food and do not sell of fish whatever has no scales.’”

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hanan ibn Sadir who has said the following: “Al-‘Ala’ ibn Kamil asked abu ‘Abd Allah , when I was present, about eel. He (the Imam) said, ‘We have found in the book of Ali , of fish certain varities are unlawful for food so do not go close to them.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah , then said, ‘Of fish those which have no scales, do not go close to them.’”

8. Hanan ibn Sadir has the following: “Once, al-Fayd ibn al-Mukhtar sent rabitha as gift to abu ‘Abd Allah . It was brought for him when I was present. He (the Imam) looked at it and said, ‘This has scales.’ He (the Imam) ate thereof and we saw him eating.”’

9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated [from his father] from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas’adah ibn Sadaqah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah , has stated this Hadith. ’Amir al-Mu’minin would ride the mule of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. He (the Imam) then would pass by the fish market and say, ‘You must not use for food and must not sell whatever does not have scales.’”

10. Abu Ali al-Ash‘ariy has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Ali from his uncle Muhammad ibn Sulayman ibn Ja‘far who has said the following: “Ishaq, fisherman, narrated to me the following, ‘Once we went out with fish to meet abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ . We went out of al-Madinah and he (the Imam) was coming from his journey and he (the Imam) said, ‘Fie upon, you O so and so, perhaps you have fish with you.’ I replied, ‘Yes, O my master, I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Bring them down.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Perhaps it is Zahw.’ I replied, ‘Yes, it is and I showed him (the Imam) Zahw ’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Ride your stumpers; we cannot use them for food.’ Al- Zahw is a fish that has no scales.’”

11. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from al-‘Amrakiy from Ali ibn Ja‘far from his brother abu al-Hassan , who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan , has said, ‘It is not lawful to use eel, turtle and crab for food.’ I then asked him (the Imam) about the shellfish of the ocean and al-Furat: if they could be used for food. He (the Imam) said, ‘That is the flesh of frogs and it is not lawful to use it for food.’”

12. Al-Husayn from Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Ali al-Hamadaniy from Sama‘ah ibn Mehran from al-Kalbiy al-Nassabah who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah , about eel. He (the Imam) said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, metamorphosed a group of banu Israelites, those of them who went to the sea are eels, al-Zimir and al-Mar Mahi and others, and those who remained on land are apes, pigs, wild cats and lizards and others.’”

13. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Salih al-Sindiy from Yunus who has said the following: “I once wrote to abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ , and asked if fish which has no scales can be used for food. He (the Imam) said, ‘Of fish there are those which have bad manners and they rub against everything and its scales go away, but if its two ends are different, its tail and head, then you can use it for food.’”