Anila Muhammad: Vegetarian Muslim: Turning Away From a Meat-Based Diet
Interesting article in Huff Post on Islam and vegetarian and vegan diets? Can you be Muslim and be Vegan?
Some Muslim scholars suggest that as animal are a gift from God / Allah and that humans are superior to animals and to refuse that gift by not eating it is rude.
An interesting standpoint, but then surely one you could then excuse yourself to take cocaine, drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes.
The overriding theme of Islam like most other religions is a respect for the gift of life, all life, and a responsibility as a dominant species on the planet not to abuse that position and to be wise and charitable as well as nurturing, cherishing, respecting and looking after that gift of life with due reverence.
To eat food that increases your risk of disease surely contravenes basic Muslim principles.
To eat food that ensures the destruction of our beautiful planet surely contravenes Muslim principles.
To eat food that causes suffering, torture and death to other living creatures, just for fun, is surely in breach of the basic teachings of Mohamed.
Kosher and Halal laws are there to create reverence of life and ensure the taking of life is not flippant, nor yours as an ordinary person to take. These laws stipulate that only a representative from God / Jehovah / Allah is allowed to take life in a strictly controlled way that on paper is meant to be far more civilised and respectful of the animal than a normal slaughterhouse.
With knowledge comes responsibility. Knowing that a vegan diet is healthier, more sustainable, abundantly pleasurable and avoids unnecessary harm, abuse and death of an animal leaves you with only one conclusion.
There's no excuses not to be at least mostly vegan for most of the time if not all the time.
