Some Ulama say that according to Hadhrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (rahmatullah alayh) prawns/shrimps are halaal.

Answer

Prawns/shrimps are not halaal according to the Hanafi Math-hab since prawns are not fish. Let us assume that Hadhrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (rahmatullah alayh) had said that prawns are halaal on the assumption that prawns are fish, then too we shall maintain that prawns are haraam, and that Hadhrat Thanvi had erred. The fact is that Hadhrat Thanvi was not aware of prawns, hence he said the issue will depend on what the experts (the zoologists) say. If prawns are fish, they are halaal, and if not fish, then haraam. This is Hadhrat Thanvi's view.