Can Muslims eat guinea pig

Answer 1

I don't think so. They aren't related to pigs but my sister said that because they have pig in their name they can't be kept.

Answer 2

YES. Guinea pigs and capybara, although they both are referred to by the word "khanazir" (خنزير), in Arabic, meaning "pig" are rodents and there is no prohibition on eating them. (Specifically, the word for guinea pig is "khanazir ghiniya" - خنزير غينيا and the word for capybara is "khanazir al-maa2" - خنزير الماء or literally "pig of the water".) The word "pig" in the name has no bearing on whether it is permitted or forbidden.

Of course, since the guinea pig and capybara are New World animals, there are no early sources in Islam that discuss them, but they are usually compared by Faqihs (Islamic Jurists) to a common Arabian animal called a "webr" (وبر) -- usually translated as a rock hyrax -- due to the similar shape and size (even tough rock hyraxes are not taxonomically related to rodents like the guinea pig and capybara).

Islamic Jurist Ibn Qudamah al-Muqdisi explicitly permits consumption of the "webr" because of its similarity to rabbits and consumption purely of plant matter.

If you speak Arabic, you can read more about this issue at: Islam Q&A: What is the Ruling for the Consumption of the Guinea Pig?

Answer 3

Guinea Pigs are actually part of the rodent family.

Answer 4

No, Muslims may not eat guinea pigs. Although they are not actually part of the pig family, they are still rodents. It is haram to eat rodents.

Answer 5

no they are not