Neelam نیلم
Blackspotted croaker, mid grade · Sciaenidae (core); Ariidae (Khagga rung)
How this verdict was reached
FAO Species Identification Sheets for Fishery Purposes, Fishing Area 51 (Western Indian Ocean), 1983
whole head and body scaled except at extreme tip of snout... Scales cycloid (smooth to touch) on head and ctenoid (rough to touch) on body.
https://www.fao.org/docrep/pdf/009/ad468e/ad468eKD.pdf
Fiqh basis: Sistani (only scaled fish + shrimp); Khamenei ('only scaled fish, shrimp and some sea birds are Halal. The rest are Haram'); Khomeini (partial scales suffice)
Neelam at a glance
| English name | Blackspotted croaker, mid grade |
|---|---|
| Urdu name | نیلم |
| Scientific family | Sciaenidae (core); Ariidae (Khagga rung) |
| Scales | True scales |
| Bones | Low bones |
| Taste | Good, depending on grade |
| Typical weight | top grade 8–10 kg |
| Best for | Finger/Biscuit |
| Also sold as | Nilam |
Common questions
Is Neelam halal?
Under Ja'fari (Shia) fiqh, Neelam is halal. True scales. Ja'fari fiqh requires a fish to have true scales; most Sunni schools do not, so this verdict is specific to Ja'fari fiqh.
What is Neelam called in English?
Neelam (نیلم) is called Blackspotted croaker, mid grade in English. It is also sold as Nilam.
What is the price of Neelam in Karachi?
No rate on record for this fish yet.
Does Neelam have a lot of bones?
Low bones.