Vegetarianism and Islam

Is vegetarianism or even veganism allowed in Islam? There is a growing number of Muslims who do not eat meat; some even practicing vegan lifestyles. There is nothing more controversial on the internet than the idea of someone not eating meat. While I myself eat meat, I prefer a vegetarian diet.  Many people tend to slowly progress into a vegetarian diet, either because of the cost of meat or because they saw an animal being slaughtered.

I was sitting at a lecture the other Friday and someone mentioned how the Prophet ate a mostly vegetarian diet. While the prophet was known to eat mostly dates and water for weeks straight. As well, he would eat some fruits for weeks on end. He did eat meat, particularly the shoulder side of the animale and more particular he ate mutton. Aisha stated that he didn't favor the shoulder because of the taste, but mostly that it took less time to cook. There is one account that the Prophet would pick the vegetables out of a meat stew and eat them solely. It also seemed that he mainly ate meat during Eids, or during a gathering. He did not eat meat everyday or for every meal.

Some of the Sunnah foods are actually vegetarian and vegan-friendly. These include barley, melon, dates, figs, honey (not vegan), milk (not vegan), olives, mushrooms, pomegranates, vinegar, and water. Note that meat is not considered a Sunnah food. We can, however, suggest that mutton or lamb, is sunnah meat because the Prophet preferred it over any other kind of meat. Most hadiths mention him eating mutton. The Quran however, only limits Muslims from eating pork; unless of course you are dying and the only thing to eat is pork. So there is nothing un-Islamic about eating animals or un-Islamic about not eating animals.

Doctors do prescribe a semi-vegetarian diet to an almost completely vegetarian diet. The Prophet followed this by not eating meat and by fasting on Mondays and Thursday. Heck, even fasting is considered healthy by doctors, of course in reason. It might surprise some but fasting outside of Ramadan is Sunnah. Even fasting on the same days as Christians and Jews are considered Sunnah. Fasting in Islam is not allowed for people who are sick, in menstruation (this will be discussed in another post), a certain age, or other cases such as diabetes.

There are verses in the Quran and even statements by the Prophet, that can support a vegetarian lifestyle. Some of the greatest Sufi mystics followed vegetarian diets. Some Islamic scholars even limited their consumption of meat, to follow the Sunnah. One hadith by the Prophet is stated: "Do not allow your stomachs to become graveyards".

Halal meat in Islam requires that the animal is treated with respect during its lifetime. Allowed to roam and whatnot, not given a cruel life. Even the way the animal is slaughtered is more than just reciting a prayer over the body of the animal, before cutting its throat. "When describing Islamic slaughter (qurban), he said that the knife-bearer souls "...look into the animal's eyes, he has to watch the tears of the animal, and he has to watch the animal's eyes until it dies - hopefully, his heart will change." If the killer does not follow the Sunnah while slaughtering the animal than it is not Halal. Some have argued that meat from stores are not ethically produced, nor are they slaughtered in the decent way the Sunnah requires (across the throat with the sharpest knife to kill almost instantly). There is also no way to know if your local halal butcher has gained the meat or slaughtered the meat in the halal fashion. Thus following the vegetarian diet is the only way to make sure you follow sunnah. An interesting note, the animal also cannot be slaughtered in front of other animals.

Animal cruelty is also considered a terrible sin in Islam. “The Prophet(s) told his companions of a woman who would be sent to Hell for having locked up a cat; not feeding it, nor even releasing it so that it could feed herself.” Narrated by Abdullah bin ‘Omar. Bukhari, 4:337. Charity to animals is rewarded by God, narrated by Abu Huraira. Another hadith states that whoever is kind to creatures of God is kind to himself.

The Quran states that animals have their own ummas.“There is not an animal that lives on the Earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but forms part of communities like you. Nothing have we omitted from the Book, and they all shall be gathered to their Lord in the end.” The Qur’an 6:38......Along with “Seest thou not that it is Allah Whose praises are celebrated by all beings in the heavens and on earth, and by the birds with extended wings? Each one knows its prayer and psalm, and Allah is aware of what they do. Yea, to Allah, belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; and to Allah is the final goal (of all).”The Qur’an 24:41 42.

Hunting for sport and hunting animals in excess, is forbidden to Muslims. The idea of slaughter is not meant for pleasure, but just for food. This reminds me of some Native American's points of views when it comes to hunting animals. While Islam agrees humans are above animals, it does state that animals still have their own religion. I find that interesting, animals are not soulless objects, but things that have their own communities like humans. Heck, even things like Jinn have their own religion and prophets.

While Islam states eating meat is allowed Islamically, it also doesn't go against anyone who chooses a lifestyle without meat. Islam recognizes animals as believers, not human but deserving of respect like humans. One hadith even mentions not to sit on animals backs like chairs (you can ride them, but don't lounge about). If animals have rights and treating them cruelly is a sin, perhaps even slaughter can be considered unethical. On the other hand, the act of slaughter is not supposed to be a joyful occasion and you are supposed to respect the life you take. You take a life to feed your self or others, this is still respectful in Islam.

Health-wise, you probably should not eat meat with every meal. Even pork is considered bad for your heart. Red meat is bad for your heart. Chickens are cruelly kept and slaughtered inhumanly most of the time. So if you take anything from this article, perhaps you can limit your meat intake by having a meatless Monday. It'll give you a chance to experiment as well!

Random points:

“O Muslims, I see you fasting during the day,
But then to break your fast you slaughter cows at night.
At one end is devotion, at the other murder –
How can the Lord be pleased?
My friend, pray cut the throat of anger,
And slaughter the ravages of blind fury,
For he who slaughters the five passions,
Lust, anger, greed, attachment, and pride,
Will surely see the Supreme Lord face to face.”

— Kabir Sahib, 15th Century Sufi Poet ‘On Eating Meat’

The Sufi mystic Hazrat Rabia Basra often was surrounded by animals while she meditated in the woods. One day, a disciple approached her in the woods and the animals ran away. The disciple felt sad that all the animals ran away. She asked him what he had eaten that day. He revealed he ate some animal, Rabia explained that animals run away from those who eat their flesh.

Bawa Muhaiyadden says that vegetarianism is the result and natural consequence of the development of spiritual consciousness.