Clarification

I had some comments on the last Stupid Fatwah noting that Jewish dietary rules also prohibit fish and shrimp and was I making fun of Jews, too. I wasn't clear, so let me clarify. What I was making fun of was not the dietary rule, but the "reasoning," such as it is, that leads to the rule.

The Jews, from what little I know, don't pretend to know why God doesn't want them to eat shrimp -- "it's just God's rule, so we do it." But the Islamic clerics -- or at least this one -- always seem to be so sure.

Here's the quote,

'Two carions are made Halaal [permissible] for us; Fish and locust.
' (Mishkaat vol.2 pg.361). Fish is classified as a Vertebra.

Shrimps and lobsters are not vertebras, hence, not permissible

Oh, "hence." Of course. Except, friends, locusts aren't vertebrates. But never mind -- hence it is.