Islamic vegetarianism
Islamic vegetarianism and veganism is the practice of abstention from meat (and other animal products in case of vegans) among Muslims. The vast majority of Muslims eat meat; many Islamic jurists consider vegetarianism permissible but not superior to meat-eating. The religious arguments for the vegetarian diet include the requirement for compassion imposed on Muslims by Quran and sunnah and the concept of stewardship (khalifa). Modern vegetarian Muslims often encounter prejudice for their diet. A particular case is the tradition of killing an animal during the celebration of the Eid al-Adha, which many Muslims see as compulsory despite the view of most scholars; several faqih spoke in favour of replacing the slaughter with giving to charity.
Background
Vegetarianism is very rare among Muslims, but is widespread among the adherents of other religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism.[1][2][3] Many Muslims eat meat as often as they can.[4]
Although Quran and the sunnah strongly encourage Muslims to treat animals humanely and the Islamic prophet Muhammad spoke against recreational hunting, Quran explicitly permits the consumption of (halal) meat in the first ayah of the Al-Ma'idah sura.[5][1] The rules of halal ritual slaughter mention that the animal must not suffer more than needed.[1] Historically, the first Muslims, nomadic Arabs, had to eat meat to sustain themselves.[6]
Favourable views
Several Sufi, including Suhrawardi Hamiduddin Nagori from Nagaur, Bawa Muhaiyaddeen and some others in North Africa were practising a strict vegan diet.[1][7] The 9th-10th century secret society Brethren of Purity produced an epistle titled The Case of the Animals versus Man, in which they relayed a story about Rabia of Basra telling Hasan al-Basri that animals come to her but run from him because of his meat diet.[1] Basheer Ahmad Masri, a pioneer of animal welfare, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the amount of cruelty inflicted upon animals stemming from anthropocentrism and advocated for a vegetarian Muslim diet.[1][8] Some thinkers connect the topic of meat abstention with the khilāfa, duty of stewardship imposed upon humans by God.[9]
Several fatwas issued by jurists such as Ebrahim Desai, Hamza Yusuf, Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah, Muzammil H. Siddiqi, Muhammad Al-Munajjid and Ali Khamenei state that abstaining from meat is permissible for Muslims as long as they do not deem it an obligation or a way of being a better Muslim than others.[10][11] Inayat Khan concluded that not eating meat is desirable because meat "hinders spiritual progress" while the act of killing is unkind.[12] Modern proponents of Islamic veganism cite the excessive suffering of the factory-farmed animals, the environmental harms of the meat and dairy industries and the zoonotic infections as the reasons to switch to a vegan diet.[13] Vegetarian believers express their concerns about whether any meat from inhumanely raised animal can be halal, even if it has been certified as such.[14] Muslim doctors advocating for vegetarianism from the health standpoint also use the example of Muhammad as a person leading a "mostly vegetarian" lifestyle.[15] Modern Muslim academics who advocate for vegetarianism include Duke McLeod and Mohamed Ghilan.[16]
Unfavourable views
Other faqih like Mawil Izzi Dien ruled that Islamic vegetarianism is completely unacceptable.[10] Izz al-Din ibn 'Abd al-Salam: "The unbeliever who prohibits the slaughtering of an animal [for no reason but] to achieve the interest of the animal is incorrect because in so doing he gives preference to a lower, khasis, animal over a higher, nafis, animal" in "Qawa'id al-ahkam fi masalih al-anam"[1] Ibn Hazm believed that only creatures who can show an understanding of Islamic laws are subject to it.[1] Abul A'la Maududi said that Islam allows humans killing other animals for food and permits killing animals perceived as harmful because humans are the "khalifa" (deputies) of God.[17] Some scholars praise reduced meat consumption, others stress the importance of humane treatment of animals, but not support vegetarianism.[18]
Muslim vegetarians were historically often seen as heretics; examples include al-Ma'arri.[19] The view that vegetarianism is un-Islamic stems from the historic animosity between Muslims and practitioners of Buddhism and Hinduism.[1] Modern Muslim vegetarians and vegans often have to face prejudice and hostility.[11]
Eid al-Adha sacrifice
The custom of animal slaughter during the Eid al-Adha is widespread among Muslims, but most faqih rule that killing animals on that day is desired but not compulsory.[20][1] Basheer Ahmad Masri and several other faqih suggested replacing the animal sacrifice with charitable donations or fasting.[21][22] Several others voiced their opposition to the current practice of "excessive" killing of animals whose meat often stays uneaten and goes to waste.[23] Activist Shahid Ali Muttaqi wrote that the slaughter during the celebration of Eid al-Adha is performed for people's nafs.[24]
Muslims who are practising veganism either donate money to have the slaughter done in their name without participating in it, or donate to other charitable purposes.[22]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Folz 2010.
- ^ Leaman & Shaikh 2022, p. 437.
- ^ Ali 2015, p. 273.
- ^ Folz 2006, p. 105.
- ^ [Quran 5:1 (Translated by Shakir)]
- ^ Folz 2006, p. 106.
- ^ Leaman & Shaikh 2022, p. 449, 450.
- ^ Ali 2015, p. 275.
- ^ Ali 2015, p. 274.
- ^ a b Leaman & Shaikh 2022, p. 447.
- ^ a b Folz 2006, p. 108.
- ^ Keshani 2010, p. 19.
- ^ Leaman & Shaikh 2022, p. 440-445.
- ^ Folz 2006, p. 119.
- ^ Folz 2006, p. 110.
- ^ Leaman & Shaikh 2022, p. 450.
- ^ Leaman & Shaikh 2022, p. 439.
- ^ Ali 2015, p. 272, 273.
- ^ Leaman & Shaikh 2022, p. 449.
- ^ Leaman & Shaikh 2022, p. 445.
- ^ Leaman & Shaikh 2022, p. 446-447.
- ^ a b Atayee-Bennett 2023.
- ^ Folz 2006, p. 122.
- ^ Folz 2006, p. 122-123.
References
- Leaman, Oliver; Shaikh, Zinnira (2022). "Heresy or Moral Imperative? Islamic Perspectives on Veganism". Routledge handbook of Islamic ritual and practice. Routledge handbooks. Abingdon New York (N.Y.): Routledge, Taylor & Francis group. ISBN 978-0-367-49123-9.
- Ali, Kecia (2015). "Muslims and Meat-Eating: Vegetarianism, Gender, and Identity". Journal of Religious Ethics. 43 (2): 268–288. doi:10.1111/jore.12097. ISSN 0384-9694. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
- Keshani, Hussein (2010). "Engaging Islamic Views on Human-Animal Relations: Towards an Adab-centred Approach". Worldviews: Global Religions, Culture, and Ecology. 14 (1): 6–25. doi:10.1163/156853510X490003. ISSN 1363-5247. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
- Folz, Richard (2006). Animals in Islamic tradition and Muslim cultures. Oxford: Oneworld. ISBN 978-1-85168-398-7.
- Folz, Richard (2010). "Islam, Animals, and Vegetarianism". In Bron Raymond Taylor (ed.). Encyclopedia of religion and nature. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-975467-0.
- Ellie Atayee-Bennett (2023-06-28). "Eid-al-Adha and Sacrifice: Vegan Alternatives from Within Islam". The Vegan Society. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
- v
- t
- e
Veganism | |
---|---|
Vegetarianism | |
Lists |
Secular | |
---|---|
Religious |
and drink
- Agave syrup
- Chicken fillet roll
- Coconut burger
- Coconut milk
- Fruits
- Grains
- Gelatin substitutes
- Jambon
- Meat alternative
- Miso
- Mochi
- Mock duck
- Nutritional yeast
- Plant cream
- Plant milk
- Quinoa
- Quorn
- Seitan
- Soy yogurt
- Tempeh
- Tofu
- Tofurkey
- Cheese
- Vegepet
- Vegetables
- Hot dog
- Vegetarian mark
- Sausage
- Sausage roll
- Beer
- Wine
- Veggie burger
and events
reports,
journals
- On Abstinence from Eating Animals (3rd century)
- An Essay on Abstinence from Animal Food, as a Moral Duty (1802)
- Vegetable Cookery (1812)
- A Vindication of Natural Diet (1813)
- Reasons for not Eating Animal Food (1814)
- Moral Inquiries on the Situation of Man and of Brutes (1824)
- Nature's Own Book (1835)
- Fruits and Farinacea (1845)
- The Pleasure Boat (1845)
- The Ethics of Diet (1883)
- What is Vegetarianism? (1886)
- Shelley's Vegetarianism (1891)
- Behind the Scenes in Slaughter-Houses (1892)
- Why I Am a Vegetarian (1895)
- Figs or Pigs? (1896)
- Thirty-nine Reasons Why I Am a Vegetarian (1903)
- The Meat Fetish (1904)
- The New Ethics (1907)
- A Fleshless Diet (1910)
- The Benefits of Vegetarianism (1927)
- Living the Good Life (1954)
- Ten Talents (1968)
- Diet for a Small Planet (1971)
- The Vegetarian Epicure (1972)
- Moosewood Collective Cookbooks (1973)
- The Farm Vegetarian Cookbook (1975)
- Laurel's Kitchen (1976)
- Moosewood Cookbook (1977)
- Fit for Life (1985)
- Diet for a New America (1987)
- The Sexual Politics of Meat (1990)
- Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone (1997)
- The China Study (2005)
- Skinny Bitch (2005)
- Livestock's Long Shadow (2006)
- The Bloodless Revolution (2006)
- Eating Animals (2009)
- Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows (2009)
- The Vegan Studies Project (2015)
- Animal (De)liberation (2016)
- The End of Animal Farming (2018)
- Vegetable Kingdom (2020)
- Making a Stand for Animals (2022)
- Meat Atlas (annual)
- The Animals Film (1981)
- Diet for a New America (film) (1991)
- A Cow at My Table (1998)
- Meet Your Meat (2002)
- Post Punk Kitchen (2003–2005)
- Peaceable Kingdom (2004)
- Earthlings (2005)
- A Sacred Duty (2007)
- Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead (2010)
- Planeat (2010)
- Forks Over Knives (2011)
- Vegucated (2011)
- Live and Let Live (2013)
- Cowspiracy (2014)
- PlantPure Nation (2015)
- What the Health (2017)
- Carnage (2017)
- Dominion (2018)
- Eating You Alive (2018)
- The Game Changers (2018)
- You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment (2024)
authors,
physicians
cookbook authors
- Nava Atlas
- Mayim Bialik
- Gypsy Boots
- BOSH!
- Edward Espe Brown
- Tabitha Brown (actress)
- Suzy Amis Cameron
- Hannah Che
- Pinky Cole
- Chloe Coscarelli
- Yamuna Devi
- Sue Donaldson
- Crescent Dragonwagon
- Rose Elliot
- Rip Esselstyn
- Carol Lee Flinders
- Dick Gregory
- Richa Hingle
- Madhur Jaffrey
- Mollie Katzen
- Frances Moore Lappé
- Deborah Madison
- Linda McCartney
- Mary McCartney
- Tracye McQuirter
- Joanne Lee Molinaro
- Moosewood Collective
- Isa Chandra Moskowitz
- Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
- Gaz Oakley
- Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
- Mathew Pritchard
- Satchidananda Saraswati
- Derek Sarno
- Miyoko Schinner
- Alicia Silverstone
- Bryant Terry
- Anna Thomas
- Haile Thomas
- Lauren Toyota
- Jeeca Uy
- Umberto Veronesi
- Nisha Vora
- Alan Wakeman
- Ben & Esther's Vegan Jewish Deli
- Cinnaholic
- Crossroads Kitchen
- Greens Restaurant
- Little Pine (restaurant)
- Slutty Vegan
- Souley Vegan
- Veggie Grill