Can a muslim be vegetarian?
If you search the net, whether it is allowed for muslims to be vegetarian or not you will come across a lot of articles and statements where people advocate and promote vegetarianism and claim, that it is conform with Islam. Like so often in our days and especially on the internet, these people do not include any evidences for their claims and even worse, they don’t know what they are talking about.
“Here you are – those who have argued about that of which you have [some] knowledge, but why do you argue about that of which you have no knowledge?“ (Qur’an, Sura Al-i Imran 3/66)
The goal of this article is to proof, that vegetarianism is not compatible with Islam.
The roots of vegetarianism
The earliest records about vegetarianism can be tracked down to 8th century BC. The Jains, members of the Jainist religion, practiced ahimsa, which means “not to injure” and therefore includes abstaining from meat as a form of worship. Ahimsa also is the key “virtue” in Hinduism.
About 2 centuries later a religious sect in ancient Greece called the “Orphics” practiced vegetarianism.
Short after Jesus, the son of Mary (alayi sallam), a judeo-christian sect known as the Ebionites have practiced vegetarianism.
During history there has been a few other christian sects who have practiced vegetarianism. The most famous amongst them is the Bible Christian Church, which was founded in 1809 by William Cowherd. In order to join this sect, members had to sign a pledge which committed them to be vegetarians. The same Bible Christian Church is linked to the Vegetarian Society, which was founded in 1847.
So one can easily see, that vegetarianism has its roots in religious beliefs or at least is deeply linked to religious practices.
Eating meat in Islam
Eating meat is one of the lawful things in Islam, if certain conditions are met. E.g. the animal must be an animal whose meat is allowed, the animal must be slaughtered in a certain way and it must be slaughtered either by a muslim or a member of the people of the scriptures; etc.
Allah, the most high, says:
“So eat of that (meat) on which Allah’s Name has been pronounced (while slaughtering the animal), if you are believers in His Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.).
And why should you not eat of that (meat) on which Allah’s Name has been pronounced (at the time of slaughtering the animal), while He has explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you, except under compulsion of necessity? And surely, many do lead (mankind) astray by their own desires through lack of knowledge. Certainly your Lord knows best the transgressors.” (Qur’an, Sura al An’aam 6/118-119)
And He, praise to Him, says:
“And the grazing livestock He has created for you; in them is warmth and [numerous] benefits, and from them you eat.” (Qur’an, Sura an Nahl 16/5)
It was narrated from Abu Darda’ that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “The best food of the people of this world and the people of Paradise is meat.” (Sunan Ibn Majah HadithNo. 3305)
It was narrated that Abu Darda’ said: “The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was never invited to eat meat but he would respond, and he was never offered meat as a gift but he would accept it.” (Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith No. 3306)
Narrated by Anas bin Malik: Allah’s Apostle said, “Whoever prays like us and faces our Qibla and eats our slaughtered animals is a Muslim and is under Allah’s and His Apostle’s protection. So do not betray Allah by betraying those who are in His protection.” (Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 8, Number 386)
Imitating other religions
As we have seen, eating meat is lawful in Islam, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) ate meat, and so did the muslims who followed him. On the other side, abstaining from meat is a practice which was invented and practiced by Jainists, Hindus, Christians and pagan Greeks as an act of worship. So whoever practices vegetarianism does not follow the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), but imitates the non-believers.
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘Whoever imitates a people is one of them.’” (Abu Dawood, al-Libaas, 3512)
Imam Ahmad and others quoted this hadeeth as evidence. This at the very least indicates that it is haram to imitate them, although the apparent meaning is that the one who imitates them is a kafir (disbeliever), as Allah says: “…Andifanyamongstyoutakesthem[JewsandChristians]asAwliyaa’[friends, helpers]), then surely, he is one of them…” (Qur’an, al-Maa’idah 5/51) (see Iqtida’ al-Siraat al-Mustaqeem, 237)
Making unlawful what Allah has made lawful
Making unlawful what Allah has made lawful is considered as an act of transgression and disbelief in Islam. Whoever makes allows something, which Allah has prohibited, or prohibits something which Allah has allowed is a transgressor and a disbeliever. Making something lawful unlawful or something unlawful lawful can be done with words (e.g. if someone says or writes: “I allow/prohibit this and that.”), by creed (e.g. if someone beliefs something) and it can be done with actions (e.g. if someone does a certain action ongoing). Vegetarians, although most of them maybe don’t believe, that meat is haram and don’t say, that meat is haram, show with there ongoing action of not eating meat, which Allah has made lawful for them, that they made it unlawful upon themselves.
Allah, the most high says:
“O you who believe! Make not unlawful the tayyibaat (all that is good as regards foods, things,deeds,beliefs,persons,etc.)whichAllahhasmadelawfultoyou,andtransgressnot. Verily, Allah does not like the transgressors.” (Qur’an, Sura al-Maaidah 5/87)
And He says:
„Say: who has forbidden the adornment with clothes given by Allah, which He has producedforHisslaves,andal-tayyibaat[allkindsoflawfulthings]offood?Say:theyare, in the life of this world, for those who believe, (and) exclusively for them (believers) on the Day of Resurrection (the disbelievers will not share them). Thus We explain the ayat (Islamic laws) in detail for people who have knowledge.” (Qur’an, Sura al-Araaf 7/32)
And Allah, praise to Him says:
“Say: Tell me, what provision has Allah sent down to you! And you have made of it lawful and unlawful. Say: Has Allah permitted you (to do so), or do you invent a lie against Allah?” (Qur’an, Yoonus 10/59)
And His words:
“He has forbidden you only the Maytah (dead animals), and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah (or has been slaughtered for idols, on which Allah’s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering). But if one is forced by necessity without willful disobedience nor transgressing due limits, then there is no sin on him. Truly, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Qur’an, al-Baqarah 2/173)
Conclusion
From all the above mentioned it is very obvious, that being vegetarian has no roots in Islam, is not compatible with Islam, is imitating the disbelievers, is an act of making things, which Allah has made lawful unlawful and therefore a muslim can’t be a vegetarian. If for one reason or another a person can’t eat meat or is not able to digest meat, or if a person dislikes meat, of course he doesn’t have to eat meat, as “there is no compulsion in the religion” (Qur’an, Sura al Baqara 2/256), but as such, such a person should not refer to himself as a vegetarian, because being a vegetarian implies all the above mentioned meanings (e.g. imitating the disbelievers, making something which Allah has made lawful unlawful, etc.), but he rather should say, that he can’t digest meat or that he doesn’t like meat.
So, “O ye who believe! Eat of the good things wherewith We have provided you, and render thanks to Allah if it is (indeed) He whom ye worship!” (Qur’an, Sura al Baqara 2/172)