Vegetarian Muslim Society!

[Venugopal & Padmini]

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Islam,

Assalam-e-aliekum!

Islam teaches us compassion and mercy. When we take the name of Allah, we end it with “compassionate and merciful”.

A man of any religion, not only Islam, does not remain a human being, unless he has compassion, mercy and love for other living beings; men and animals alike.

Among many teachings religious in Islam, one of the things we have deviated ourselves from, is compassion and mercy, to mankind, as well as to other sentient fellow beings( animals).

Today we muslims are referred to as a meat eating community. What does our religious belief and “ iman” has to do with eating meat? Nothing, if you see it from religious point of view, but much ,if you see it from the community practice point of view.

Today almost every muslim household, all over the world, has at least one meat diet a day. Things have come to such a pass, even during a small celebration, a cow or a goat/sheep or a few hens are slaughtered for the celebration,mostly in the name of religion.

This was not the original commandment given in the Holy Quran. The four legged(quadrupeds) were allowed only to Muslims provided they did their duty towards Islam. Please read 5:1. Eating meat was given as a concession and not a compulsory food for muslims.

During Eid-e- Adha , the cow, sheep or camel are procured instantly and slaughtered the next day. When someone has to flaunt his wealth within the community, he makes it a point to sacrifice several such animals .
The pinning down of the animal on the ground with a “ thud” is applauded by those standing by, before the knife of sacrifice runs over the throat of the animal.

Must we make meat our staple diet and must we sacrifice animals during Eid-e-Adha? As a muslim, we need to see these two questions from a different perspective, instead of deviating from the principles of Islam. My way of thinking and why I have embraced and practice vegetarianism, have no honey or on less than a glass of milk a day, is given below:

1. Islam was introduced to us by our Holy Prophet Mohammed(peace will always be upon him). He was a hardcore vegetarian. Even small children who read the life history of the Prophet knows , when the Holy Prophet moved away from Mecca to Medina, he did this under great hardship for several days through the dessert and the jungles and on the way he lived on cooked leaves. He never slaughtered any animals during this transit period. He cautioned everyone that meat of animals are intoxicating like wine and also told his followers that they should not turn their stomach into a grave of dead animals.

2. Islam started as a religion giving equal rights to the animals and all living beings. Islam is vocal in animal rights throughout the Holy Quran. This is why the colour of Islam is green( colour of vegetarianism) and not red, yellow or black. Please read 6:38. Translation by Mohsin Khan: “There is not a moving (living) creature on earth, nor a bird that flies with its two wings, but are communities like you. We have neglected nothing in the Book, then unto their Lord they (all) shall be gathered”.

3. As I said, Islam started as a vegetarian religion, but Arabs were hardcore meat eaters and could not refrain themselves from eating meat of any kind. Many of the Arabs were reluctant to convert to Islam. Many who did convert, did not follow Islam religiously and showed resentment against living on vegetarian diet. To motivate them, their request were honoured, and hence the sura 5:1 was revealed. Please read 5:1. Translation by Shakir: “O you who believe! fulfil the obligations. The cattle quadrupeds are allowed to you except that which is recited to you, not violating the prohibition against game (hunting) when you are entering upon the performance of the pilgrimage; surely Allah orders what He desires”. This surah may have been revealed between 5th and 10th year of Hijrah. Many authority regard this as the last surah. Rodwell placed this surah chronologically as last in the line. The significant part of this surah is, it talks about making cattle lawful for Muslims. It does not say that rice, potato or vegetables have been made lawful or allowed to Muslims, which clearly means that in earlier times Islam did not encourage the eating of animal flesh, only later it was allowed to please the followers. In addition, the surah begins with a pre-condition for Muslims to fulfil their obligations, meaning following the Islamic laws strictly.

4. The Sura Ibrahim has 52 verses non of which suggests sacrificing any animal in rememberence of Issac and Ibraham. The Holy Quran does not suggest any sacrifice by Muslims on Eid-ul-Adha, except during Hajj.

5. You put in much of your valuable time in accusing me of spreading vegetarianism among Muslim people. You also show great anguish and resentment against my little suggestion to honour and respect the lives of innocent creatures. Did you, in your entire lifetime, spend even a fraction of that time objecting against Muslim brothers and sisters who are into gambling, drugs, prostitution, dancing and singing, smuggling, theft, dacoity and looting, murder, rape and other sins of the highest order? Yet, you are so overwhelmed by my request to spare the lives of innocent creatures, instead, provide those monies to deserving Muslim brothers and sisters around the world. My suggestion to contribute that money to deserving Muslims does not suit you, as the intoxication of flesh eating has entered your blood stream, rightly said by our Holy Prophet.

6. Tell me brothers and sisters in Islam, how many of us are Muslims today?. When it comes to slaughtering and eating the flesh of animals, you quickly and promptly put the words of your Lord about the permission to slaughter and eat the flesh of animals. Keeping friendship with Christians and Jews, encouraging any interaction with Christians and Jews are strictly prohibited in Islam. Yet, most Muslims can do anything to live and die in the lands of the Christians and Jews. Most Muslims can do anything to let their children study in Christian schools and most Muslims are all out to negotiate business worldwide, with Jews and Christians. Islam clearly warns all Muslims about being “One of them” if they interact with Jews or Christians. Yet we feel proud to be in Christian countries, study in Christian/Jews schools and negotiate business as exporters with Christian and Jewish people. Do we still call ourselves Muslims? Perhaps you do not agree. No, it is your poor knowledge of Islam that you frown upon my argument. Please read the Holy Quran 5:51 ,translation by Mohsin Khan-“ O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as Auliya' (friends, protectors, helpers, etc.), they are but Auliya' to one another. And if any amongst you takes them as Auliya', then surely he is one of them. Verily, Allah guides not those people who are the Zalimun (polytheists and wrongdoers and unjust).”

7. We are aggressive about slaughtering animals as a ritual or even in our day to day eating. Why are we not so aggressive in bringing the Islamic law of cutting off the right hand from the wrist joint of the thief? This is more important to build the character of Muslims than eating flesh. Holy Quran 5:38, translation by Mohsin Khan: Cut off (from the wrist joint) the (right) hand of the thief, male or female, as a recompense for that which they committed, a punishment by way of example from Allah. And Allah is AllPowerful, AllWise.

8. You perform Hajj, slaughter animals to please God, yet you are ignorant about the fact that your pilgrimage is not at all correct and acceptable by your Lord. Your travelling by ship, train or air to perform Hajj is totally unacceptable to Allah. Only when you travel to perform the Hajj on foot or on a lean camel is your Hajj valid and in keeping with the laws of Islam. Please read Holy Quran 22:27, a translation by Mohsin Khan: And proclaim to mankind the Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway (to perform Hajj).

9. Finally, Allah, in his Holy Quran, from cover to cover, has only shown us the positive side of all gifts on this earth to be used by mankind. In surah Al-Rahman(55) or in surah (5) Al-Maidah, Allah has nowhere told the Muslims about the snakes, scorpions and other beasts that may bite or endanger Muslims also. Allah has nowhere mention about flood, lightning, earthquake or any other natural calamity that may befall Muslims and their innocent children. In the same way, Allah in Sura 5:4, translation byYusuf Ali: They ask thee what is lawful to them (as food). Say: lawful unto you are (all) things good and pure: and what ye have taught your trained hunting animals (to catch) in the manner directed to you by Allah: eat what they catch for you, but pronounce the name of Allah over it: and fear Allah; for Allah is swift in taking account.

Another surah I-an-Am 6:142 translation by Yusuf Ali: Of the cattle are some for burden and some for meat: eat what Allah hath provided for you, and follow not the footsteps of Satan: for he is to you and avowed enemy. Yet another surah Ghafir 40:79 translated by Mohsin Khan: Allah, it is He Who has made cattle for you, that you may ride on some of them and of some you eat.
Allah in all these verses never mentioned the benefits of eating meat. It has only said it is lawful and may be had as food. Even in verse 5:4 it is mentioned “Lawful unto you are(all) things good and pure” after a break it says “and what ye have taught............taking account” (please see above) In the adjective “good and pure”-- meat does not appear. It has been used in the next sentence. Eating meat, therefore, has been made lawful, but neither with pure and with goodness, nor compulsory.

10. Finally, sacrificing of animals, you take it strongly and argue that the words of the Holy Quran cannot be changed and all Muslims are free to follow the commandments of eating meat. My Borthers and Sisters in Islam, the following commandments of the Holy Quran have been flouted in most Muslim countries:

Keeping of concubines(Harems)permitted by the Holy Quran, is now banned
Slavery, permitted by the Holy Quran, is now banned
Dealing with and befriending Jews and Christians,totally against the Holy Quran, is freely practiced today.
Hajj can be performed only by foot or on lean camel, is now changed to air, water and road.
Several such commandments of the Holy Quran are being flouted by Muslims all over the world.

From the foregoing you can understand that so many commandments of Allah are being restricted by Muslim countries themselves, then why we cannot stop sacrificing of the animals which runs into crores of rupees. As on 2012 over 8 lakh lambs are sacrified in Mecca during the Hajj, valued in Indian money, over Rs 800 crores. Besides, thousands of Butchers from all over the world are flown into Mecca for slaughtering and dismembering the animals, which could be a whooping sum of money by any standard. In India itself, about 33% Muslim populations perform ritual sacrifice during the Idd-ul Adha valued at Rs. 150000 crores each year alone. ( Indian population is 150 crores out of which 30% being Muslims = 45 crores Muslims. If 33% of this population or 15 crore Muslims sacrifice animals x Rs.10,000 per animal, the total sacrifice value is Rs. 1,50,000 crores. ). Such a sum of money could turn the face and fortune of the Muslim population in India. There would be no asking for Government aids and grants.

Muslims should in any case avoid the eating of flesh. Meat, like wine, as told by our Prophet, is habit forming and dangerous for the health. The after effect in old age is pathetic. Most of us blame it on ageing process. This is not so, meat causes arthritis, uric acid accumulation in the joints, cancer, kidney, liver, heart and other terminal illnesses are caused due to consuming meat in any form. Allah has made our body to remain young for at least a 100 year. We can live up to 150 year if we do not get angry all for nothing, eat in moderation, consume pure, clean and wholesome food, refrain from meat, wine and other vices. Think pure, eat pure and be of service to mankind.

1. When Allah himself is “compassionate and merciful” then why do not we look up to his example and spare the lives of the poor animals and instead use that money to help Muslim brothers and sisters in distress . There are so many brothers and sisters who need financial assistance. Better still would be, with so much money each year, factories and businesses would be set up giving employment to so many people each year.
2. Sacrificing animal is not a “Farz” or compulsory on the day of Eid-e-Adha. It is not suggested, in the first place.
3. Avoid ye the seven obnoxious things {deadly sins}: polytheism; magic; the killing of breathing beings(humans and animals! Which God has forbidden except for rightful reason. (Narrated by Abu Huraira. Sahih Mulim - Kitab-ul-Imam [Ref. No. 46]; Chapt. XXXIX, Vol.I; p. 52. Bukhari, 4:23. Also Awn [Ref. No. 32]; Hadith No. 2857)
4. Being merciful to all creatures, the Prophet of Islam (the religion of mercy) has shown us through his commandments and teachings, how to tend and care for these creatures. Thus he said, “The merciful are shown mercy by the All-Merciful. Show mercy to those on earth, and He Who is in heaven will show mercy unto you.”
5. [6:38] All the creatures on earth, and all the birds that fly with wings, are communities like you. We did not leave anything out of this book(Quran). To their Lord, all these creatures will be summoned. The Quran tells us that animals are communities and nations unto their own and that they are more than mere resources. However, animals are treated as nothing but machines on today's "factory farms." Not only are these factory farms found all over the world, they are also becoming the dominant means of meat, egg, and milk production throughout the world. More than 20 billion animals are slaughtered for food each year worldwide. These billions of animals are confined to extremely small spaces so that producers can raise as many animals as possible. Ninety percent of U.S. eggs come from chickens who are crammed together up to five to a cage the size of a record album cover, and this method of egg production is spreading throughout the globe.
6. Muslims are exhorted to eat good, pure, and wholesome food. But we now know that eating animal products is implicated with a host of diseases. People who consume animal products are 10 times more susceptible to heart disease, 40 percent more susceptible to cancer, and at increased risk for many other illnesses, including stroke, obesity, appendicitis, osteoporosis, arthritis, diabetes, and food poisoning. Additionally, meat contains accumulations of pesticides and other chemicals up to 14 times more concentrated than those found in plant foods.When the animal is being slaughtered it is frightened and in pain, it then releases poisonous glandular secretions such as adrenalin which is extremely harmful to us. We also consume the blood of such animals with a completely different DNA which is processed in our liver. Our intestine is longer than carnivores animals , as such, it takes a long time for protein food such as meat to expel from our system . This allows the meat to be lodged for a very long time in our intestine which is the cause for cancer and other diseases in humans ,besides, it is responsible for quick ageing and age related diseases.
7. The habitat of animals are always smelling foul and obnoxious and one cannot stand at that place for a long time , also the raw meat of the animals have obnoxious odour ,which sends an alarm to our brain that these are unclean and should not be consumed. Even after this we consume it camouflaging the bad odour with spices and aromatics. The ultimate result is Mad cow disease, Foot and mouth disease, Swine flue and bird flue, to name a few.
8. Bury a handful of beans in the ground it will give you small plants to eat. Bury a handful of meat it will give you foul smell of carcass and maggots(worms). Then should we muslims eat of such unclean foods?
9. When you slaughter the animal,bacteria immediately start multiplying within it. Even when you freeze the meat the bacteria is alive and when you eat it you eat the bacteria too.
10. "O Believers! Eat of the good and pure (lawful) that We have provided you with and be grateful to Allah, if you truly worshipHim."[surah al-Baqarah; 2:172] Muslims are exhorted to eat good, pure, and wholesome food.
11. Meat eating is not a criteria to be a Muslim, a pure veg. eating person also can be a good muslim. For any person to be a good muslim he/she must have strong faith on Allah and follow the commandments of Allah. There are 6 Pillars of iman (faith) to be a good Muslim:
1) believing in Allah, the creator of this universe.
2) believing in his Angels
3) believe in his books The Torah, Bible and the Holy Quran,
4) Believe in his messengers, Jesus, Abraham, Moses, And the last and final messenger Mohammed, peace be upon them all,
5) Believing in destiny.
6) believe in the here-after, (day of judgment, Heaven Hell etc,)

With this, my brothers and sisters in Islam, we request you to educate yourselves as well as others in the ills of slaughtering animals in the name of food and religion, in the same way the olden days of slavery and harem are now completely abolished from the face of this earth. If slavery and harem(concubines) which are permitted in Islam and discussed in details in the Holy Quran, can be wiped out and made illegal in Muslim countries, then why animal sacrifice cannot be banned totally from Muslim world and globally in every country around the world.
Let all of we Muslims unite and convert this huge sum of money into something useful for the community worldwide. Allah will be happier to see his people shine and prosper with wisdom, knowledge and health all over the world.

Those of you who agree or disagree with this site, please write to: vegetari...@gmail.com, so that individual answer could be given to each one of you.

Ershad Hossain
Founder
Kolkata.