Question:
I love to go into the woods and forests for fruits, harvest and produce. I want to ask, is it true that it is permissible to eat all types of eggs without considering the type of animal in Islam, such as snake eggs?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
First, regarding food, Islam has ruled it permissible for its followers to eat all kinds of food, with just a few exceptions. Hence, it is prohibited for us to claim something is prohibited when it is not. This is in accordance with the statement of Allah SWT:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُحَرِّمُوا طَيِّبَاتِ مَا أَحَلَّ اللَّـهُ لَكُمْ وَلَا تَعْتَدُوا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ
“O you who have believed, do not prohibit the good things which Allah has made lawful to you and do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors.”
Surah al-Maidah (87)
In regards to the issue of eating eggs of animals, scholars of madhab Syafie basically ruled it permissible to eat them. See: al-Mu’tamad (2/588). However, in this issue, it should be considered whether it is harmful to be eaten. This is in line with the hadith of the Prophet PBUH:
لَا ضَرَرَ وَلا ضِرَار
“There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm.”
Sunan Ibn Majah (2341)
This issue is also discussed by several jurists of madhab Syafie, where they concluded:
سَائِرُ الْبُيُوضِ طَاهِرَةٌ وَلَوْ مِنْ غَيْرِ مَأْكُولٍ وَإِنْ اسْتَحَالَتْ دَمًا بِحَيْثُ لَوْ حُضِنَتْ لَفَرَّخَتْ، وَلَكِنْ يَحْرُمُ أَكْلُ مَا يَضُرُّ كَبَيْضِ الْحَيَّاتِ
“All types of eggs are pure and permissible even if it is from [animal] inedible [flesh/meat], even if it has changed [become] blood where if it is incubated it would be able to hatch. However, it is prohibited to eat anything that is harmful, such as snake eggs.” See: Qalyubi wa Umairah (1/82)
Imam al-Suyuthi stated the ruling of eating the eggs of animals and snake as the following:
لَيْسَ لنا بَيْضٌ يُحَرِّم أَكْلَهُ وَاِسْتَثْنَى بَعْضَهُمْ بَيَّضَ الحَيَّاتِ وَالحَشَرَاتِ وَ لَا شَكَّ فِيهُ
There are no eggs that is impermissible to be eaten for us to eat. Some of the scholars of madhab al-Syafie exempt the eggs of snakes and insects. There is no doubt in it (the exception).” See: al-Asybah wa al-Nazoir (1/695).
Conclusion
According to the above evidences, it is clear that snake and insect eggs are prohibited to be eaten. While other animal eggs are permissible on the condition that it is not harmful.
May Allah SWT give us guidance and understanding in His religion. Amin.