Vegetarianism & Islam

[Enigma]

Some say its haram to be a muslim & a vegetarian because its denying yourself something Allah SWT granted you; a ni3ma.

Yet others say that it is allowed only if the vegetarian does NOT regard meats as prohibited.

What do you think?

[Diva]

Saying it's 7aram sounds a bit extreme. I don't see why it should be. I don't think there are many ppl in this world who eat every single edible thing around. That can't mean we're denying ourselves of ni3ma, can it? For example, I don't eat vegetables. I just don't like them. I can't imagine that that would be 7aram.

It makes more sense to say vegetarianism is 7aram if vegetarians consider meats 7aram. Cuz that would be like prohibiting something that God has made permissible. And we can't forbid something that God hasn't forbidden.

[Arabian Princess]

Well what I heared is:
- if you are a vegaterian coz you feel sorry about eating animals which Allah created to be eatable, then thats haram. Coz you are questioning why Allah allowed humans to eat animals.

- If you are a vagatrian as a life style, coz u wanna get healthier, or you want to reduce the fat intake. Then its halal coz its your choice to certain things only.

[amo_l_oman]

Nothing wrong in it, just might be seen as a sign of non moderation prefering something and leaving totally something else.
Surfing on web i found some sites of Muslim vegetarian groups justifying their choice by using the words of the prophet pbuh who stressed to be kind towards aimals, but don't think is enough as reason.

[Cerulean]

Well, I don't like chicken and meat. Lately, I've started feeling sorry for the animals especially cows. I don't know what has happened to me lol! Is this a sin as AP said?

[Arabian Princess]

its not a sin to feel sorry for them .. and its not something I said its something I heard :)

but I think it wrong to feel sorry for them and fight for them not to be eated. Its one of the "ni3am" Allah provided us. You dont want to eat its a personal choice, but what vegatarian do is that they claim its cruel to eat animals. After all even fruits are live beings, why dont you feel sorry for them ;)

[HaYa]

some of them are vegetarians due to religious reasons .. they worship cows and consider them sacred...

am Not much of beef eater but i find it healthier being moderate in everything rather than sticking to one thing .

[Najah]

Exactly Haya, moderate balance is the key word here and Cerulean you need to balance as well. If you feel sory for those cows or animals haram 3alaiki feel sorry for those lovely Living plants as welll. I mean we all breath, produce and thats how the cycle goes.

I've also heared about Arby's statment and allahu a3lam. Inama Al2a3malu bilniyat, its your intention that counts. I have an uncle who call's himself a vegetarian yet he eat sea food :D ( he is seriouse!)

[Arabian Princess]

vegatrains dont think its wrong to eat sea food I think Najah :) so I guess you uncle is following the normal style of vegetarians :p

[Cerulean]

Well, even if it was true.. I actually don't LIKE meat and chicken. So i'm safe! lol

[Najah]

vegatrains dont think its wrong to eat sea food I think Najah :) so I guess you uncle is following the normal style of vegetarians :p

oh realllyyyyyyyy, why did i always think that sea food is meat as well, i mean hmmm :confused: fish meat....etc.

Mashallah Cer, you don't eat burger king, MAc, fast food or pizza or or or. BAkhtik wallah. I can't get my hand out of meat, specially MAshakeen or shuwa and all that yummy meat.

[Haroundb]

Allah created us with the digestive system enabled to digest vegetables and meat. If you look at animals who eat only greenery, they are actually not able to digest meat.For health issue, Those who eat only vegetables are absolutely weaker than those who eat both vegetables and meat.We as humans are created to benefit from both vegetables and meat.

Vegetarians do eat eggs and milk. their babies must have milk to stay alive! I think it is not fair (from their point of view), to take the milk from the goat or the cow because it will be stolen from them.

Think of your car, if it will speak to you and tell you it will not take oil for it's engine and will only take fuel (gas). What do you think will happen to the car after sometime? It will be damaged because oil is important to the car as same as fuel. If you go the mechanic he will tell you, "if you don't change your oil regularly your car will lose performance and your engine will be damaged". Will you tell the mechanic that you are wrong, and nothing will happen?

I don't like those who think that they are more clever than their creator, and do think that they are more wise and knowledgeable.

[Pineapple Thief]

Theres different types of vegetarians, from those who drink milk, eat fish and eggs, to vegans, who dont touch those. Theres even types who'll only eat nuts and the like, nothing 'killed' such as roots and such :s.

Throwing the word '7aram' into everything we dont necessarily agree with is problematic and pointless. So they feel sorry for the chickens because KFC has disgusting living conditions for them, or because they dont like the way cows are slaughtered: I fail to see how that can possibly be 7aram. Saying 'I dont think animals should have to die for me, theres another alternative' - why is that 7aram? God made certain things forbidden, such as pork and alcohol. To take them in is haram. But God didnt say that we must eat meat, etc.

Nobody says they are more wise or knowledgable than their creator, they are just choosing a different path when it comes to food. Many people dont like the 'corporate' attitidue towards food these days, and are making a moral stand. As I mentioned earlier, some just cant bear the thought of eating another (once) living creature. And, taking Cerulean's case, some dont even like the taste.
Ultimately, Islam gives us a lot of choice in matters such as this. As long as we keep away from certain things which are harmful to us, then are we not alright? Maybe its mista7ab to eat meat, etc. because God has provided us with them, but 7aram? Thats going to extremes.

[Haroundb]

OK..

1-Someone doesn't eat meat because he doesn't like the taste of meat. OK

2-Someone doesn't eat meat because he saw a cow slaughtered while he was a kid, and since then he had a problem, but he eats chicken. OK

3-Someone doesn't eat meat because his father/mother used not to cook meat at home. OK

4-Someone doesn't eat meat because he was born in non Islamic countries that prohibit eating meat.(Saving themselves the trouble) OK

5-Someone doesn't eat meat because he read a book that says meat will harm his health, and he is convinced that it is true. OK

6-Someone who doesn't eat meat because he has a belief. **NOT OK**

(Muslims has no beliefs against meat "Animals", and shouldn't have one.)

For us, animals are just like plants "Vegetables", just a type of food. They are all creatures that Allah has created for us to help us live in this world.

We as Muslims, don't eat animals that eat meat, or donkeys, pigs, pray birds,….etc, which our prophet Mohammed -PBUH- stated in his Hadeeth, which I really don't know how to translate into English.)

(Muslims are not allowed to prohibited any thing on themselves that Allah didn't prohibit on them).

[Persian Queen]

Well what I heared is:
- if you are a vegaterian coz you feel sorry about eating animals which Allah created to be eatable, then thats haram. Coz you are questioning why Allah allowed humans to eat animals.

- If you are a vagatrian as a life style, coz u wanna get healthier, or you want to reduce the fat intake. Then its halal coz its your choice to certain things only.


araby i have a story to say and i don't know maybe i did something haram too .IT happend in eid we have to slot goat as we all know but the animal was crying the whole night near my room and i really felt sorry when the day time came my famillty sloted it and i did'nt even touch the meat coz i felt sorry. :blush:

[Arabian Princess]

I cant say it was haram hess of the dragon .. but I dont think so .. I personaly cant eat the meat that I saw was slaughtered infront of me .. it achs my heart.. but generally I eat meat .. so that doesnt make me a vegetarian :)

[Persian Queen]

when it comes for that yes i do eat meat .So i guess iam not a vegetarian after all :shy:

[NaBHaN]

Well what I heared is:
- if you are a vegaterian coz you feel sorry about eating animals which Allah created to be eatable, then thats haram. Coz you are questioning why Allah allowed humans to eat animals.

- If you are a vagatrian as a life style, coz u wanna get healthier, or you want to reduce the fat intake. Then its halal coz its your choice to certain things only.

I think this explanation is fair enough and i totaly agree with it. :)

[Dr N]

I don't think it's 7aram if you don't eat meat. Maybe like Arby said, if you go to such an extreme where you don't eat it just because you think we're not supposed to and because it's cruel to kill them for our own good.

There are a lot of people who just don't eat meat, each for different reasons. I see nothing wrong with it. It's a matter of choice, and I don't think there are any questions regarding this issue, because you're just choosing not to eat something which was made 7alal for you. It's your choice among many others.

[IceTea]

We as Muslims, don't eat animals that eat meat

I don't think this is fully right because for example chicken can eat small pices of cooked meat or eat worms (deedan) which can be considerd as meat. But I believe you mean eating wild animals (7ayawanat muftarisah).

Regarding the topic as far as the muslim believes the meat is halal and doesn't eat it for personal reasons then it's ok in my opinion.

[amo_l_oman]

But I believe you mean eating wild animals (7ayawanat muftarisah).
Can you tell more about this, thx.

[IceTea]

Can you tell more about this, thx.

I was refering to animals which have fangs and hunt other animals so it's haram to eat such wild animals.

[amo_l_oman]

Is it valid also for animals eaten from the wild ones and for animals in custody dead for accidents? I read they're haram to remind to the owner of his forgetfullness in caring of them since God assigned them to man.

[IceTea]

Is it valid also for animals eaten from the wild ones and for animals in custody dead for accidents? I read they're haram to remind to the owner of his forgetfullness in caring of them since God assigned them to man.

Amo,

Below verse state what is haram to eat:


حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةُ وَالدَّمُ وَلَحْمُ الْخِنْزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ بِهِ وَالْمُنْخَنِقَةُ وَالْمَوْقُوذَةُ وَالْمُتَرَدِّيَةُ وَالنَّطِيحَةُ وَمَا أَكَلَ السَّبُعُ إِلَّا مَا ذَكَّيْتُمْ وَمَا ذُبِحَ عَلَى النُّصُبِ وَأَنْ تَسْتَقْسِمُوا بِالْأَزْلَامِ ذَلِكُمْ فِسْقٌ الْيَوْمَ يَئِسَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ دِينِكُمْ فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَاخْشَوْنِ الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ فِي مَخْمَصَةٍ غَيْرَ مُتَجَانِفٍ لِإِثْمٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ


Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah; that which hath been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death; that which hath been (partly) eaten by a wild animal; unless ye are able to slaughter it (in due form); that which is sacrificed on stone (altars); (forbidden) also is the division (of meat) by raffling with arrows: that is impiety. This day have those who reject faith given up all hope of your religion: yet fear them not but fear Me. This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But if any is forced by hunger, with no inclination to transgression, Allah is indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

[Amir]

How come Vegetrianism is Haram now? I don't understand, I think there is nothing bad in having veggies and that is really good food as well very healthy. Maybe eating of excess of meats could be considered makrooh or something, because the excess in meat eating could genrerate so much of diseases, I think either thugy or Dr N would be able to explain to us how is that possible?


However, Icey just a question... So does that mean we can't eat something we hunt down from the wild? Like those which we have shot to death?

[IceTea]

However, Icey just a question... So does that mean we can't eat something we hunt down from the wild? Like those which we have shot to death?

If the animal which you are hunting is considered halal in Islam like 'gazal' and after shotting it you was able to slaughter the animal before death as per the Islamic way then it's ok to eat.

[fatamooo]

I dont think vegetarianism is haram at all. any rule that humans make for themselves can be broken in necessity, so even a vegetarian would eat meat if they had no other choice and they were in unhospitable conditions, and very hungry. im very much against the fact that sometimes people are very wasteful and buy a whole goat and slaughter it and then the family ends up eating a small fraction of the meat, the rest going in the bin usually. also those big meat industries who slaughter animals by the thousands to sell them at incredibly cheap prices all around the world... i feel like theres something wrong with that. but i still eat meat - its ok with me.
i went veggie once last year for a month or so... just to see what it felt like and if i would be healthier ... it was very hard to resist meat, but i did feel healthier, my skin complexion improved, i even cut down on unhealthy food that vegetarians are allowed to eat, like fizzy drinks and candy because when you eat light food like veggies and then you eat something that bloats you like chocolate and chips, i could really feel the difference. not saying that meat made my health worse, its just that when i dont allow myself to eat meat, im not eating fast foods and lots of rice (which i have to eat with meat) and so i turned to much healthier alternatives.
so maybe thats whats behind vegetarianism.