The Use of Edible Insects in Food Production and the Halal-Tayyib Pers-pective: A Study on Tenebrıo Molitor

Yenilebilir Böceklerin Gıda Üretiminde Kullanımı ve Helal-Tayyib Perspektifi: Tenebrıo Molitor Üzerine Bir İnceleme

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https://doi.org/10.56720/mevzu.1798906
Global debates on food security and sustainability have brought alter-native protein sources to the forefront. In this context, Tenebrio molitor (yel-low mealworm) has emerged as a novel ingredient in the food industry due to its high nutritional value and functional properties. However, from an Islamic perspective, the issue is not limited to technological dimensions but requires a joint evaluation of the principles of halal and tayyib. In classical Islamic jurisprudence, most insects have been classified as khabāʾith (repul-sive), with locusts being the only exception. In the Hanafi and Shafi‘i schools, insect consumption is considered impermissible, while the Maliki school adopts a more flexible stance under certain conditions. Nevertheless, when the principle of tayyib is examined alongside societal acceptance and the perception of repulsiveness, the use of T. molitor for food purposes be-comes problematic. This study analyzes the juridical status of T. molitor within the framework of scriptural sources (nass), devotional rulings (ta‘abbudiyyāt), tayyib criteria, and transformation (istihalah), and con-cludes that under current circumstances, it is not deemed suitable from a halal–tayyib perspective. Ultimately, in light of the growing prevalence of insect-based foods, the study emphasizes the need for new interpretations and evaluations through collaboration between Islamic jurists, food scien-tists, and halal certification authorities.
Küresel gıda güvenliği ve sürdürülebilirlik tartışmaları, alternatif pro-tein kaynaklarının gündeme gelmesine yol açmıştır. Bu çerçevede Tenebrio molitor (sarı un kurdu), yüksek besin değeri ve işlevsel özellikleri nedeniyle gıda endüstrisinde yeni bir bileşen olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Ancak İslâmi açıdan mesele yalnızca teknolojik boyutlarla sınırlı olmayıp helâl ve tayyib ilkelerinin birlikte değerlendirilmesini gerektirmektedir. Klasik fıkıh literatü-ründe böceklerin büyük kısmı habâis kategorisinde görülmüş, sadece çekirgeye istisna tanınmıştır. Hanefî ve Şâfiî mezheplerinde böceklerin tüketimi câiz kabul edilmezken, Mâlikî mezhebinde belirli şartlarda daha esnek gö-rüşler bulunmaktadır. Bununla birlikte tayyiblik ilkesi, toplumun genel kabul ve tiksinti algısıyla birlikte ele alındığında T. molitor’un gıda amaçlı kulla-nımını problemli kılmaktadır. Bu çalışma, T. molitor’un fıkhî statüsünü nass, taabbudîlik, tayyiblik ve istihale kriterleri çerçevesinde analiz etmekte ve mevcut şartlarda helâl-tayyib bütünlüğü açısından uygun görülmediğini ortaya koymaktadır. Sonuçta, böcek bazlı gıdaların artan yaygınlığı karşı-sında fıkıh âlimleri, gıda bilimcileri ve helâl sertifikasyon otoritelerinin ortak çalışmaları ile yeni içtihat ve değerlendirmelere ihtiyaç olduğu vurgulan-maktadır.

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Karataş, Nizamettin - Guner, Cihat. “The Use of Edible Insects in Food Production and the Halal-Tayyib Pers-Pective: A Study on Tenebrıo Molitor”. Mevzu - Journal of Social Sciences 15 (February 15, 2026), 57-85. https://doi.org/10.56720/mevzu.1798906

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  • Article Type Makaleler
  • Submitted February 15, 2026
  • Published February 15, 2026
  • Issue No. 15 (2026): Sayı 15
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