200303 - Veganism and the Quran

Peace Hadi. I've known both vegans and vegetarians. Like Ali mentioned, vegans eat exclusively plants. Vegetarians sometimes eat eggs, drink milk, eat honey, etc. Vegans don't.

Haraam means forbidden. Certainly, God has not forbidden the consumption of meat, but for some restrictions.

If a person is say guilt tripping you into never eating meat again, then yes, I'd support Ali in saying that they are making haraam what our creator has allowed.

I'm with brother Sadiq if they opt to remain vegan or vegetarian, because 2:256 and the lesson in sura 109. To each their way. Ultimately, there is one final destination no matter which path.

If my daughter came to me one day and said, daddy I'm going to be a vegan and killing animals for food is evil, etc. I might say

1. Eating meat isn't forbidden by our creator

2. There are humane ways of raising and slaughtering animals (this is the most important thing)

3. Meat is healthy [an exclusively vegan diet, and non ovo (eggs) lacto (milk) vegetarian diet is not balanced generally]

4. It's super tasty. It's a mercy from God, we must be grateful for.

[36:71] Did they not see that We created for them with Our own hands livestock which they own?

[36:72] And they were subdued by Us for them. So some they ride, and some they eat.

[36:73] And they have benefits in them, and to drink. Would they not be thankful?

In other words, God is saying, these docile and generally easy to herd and slaughter animals could have not been so subdued. If you see these existing domesticated cattle in their mating season, you'd know. They can be dangerous. Imagine that being the case all the time, from the sheep right to the camels.

Point "0", the leading point is to inform the vegan, and perhaps the to-be vegan that "The Quran is a book of guidance that I believe is filled with wisdom, and I apply it to my life..., I would invite you to investigate the claims and see for yourself".

My dad was a veterinarian by God's grace. He informed me that shocking (tazer) animals to death is not good. Beating them on the head to kill them is not good, and etc. Industrial factory farming is cruel.

"Halal" branding you see everywhere is supposed to be "jugular vein slicing" + "humane raising".

When you slice the jugular, the animal has a much more humane death, I was told by my dad. The animal does not experience sudden shock, the blood flows out, and the animal looses consciousness, before dying. Plus, the added prayer before killing the animal is frankly nice I would think.

Raising animals humanely is simply not done in factory farms. Vegans usually respond to this. And halal branding also never talks about this part.

Like brother Sadiq said, the food supply is very complex territory. GMO foods, my mum who studied microbiology said that they use pig cells in genetic splicing (combining materials from different sources, to produce new kinds of things) for lots of everyday veggies you might take for granted.

In other words, God knows best. Ultimately, the advice is

[2:168] O people, eat from what is on the earth as good and permissible, and do not follow in the footsteps of the devil. He is to you a clear enemy.

Sharing tips and practices to make this the norm in our own lives is a challenge depending on where you live and how much you can afford.

[16:115] He has only forbidden for you that which is already dead, and blood, and the meat of pig, and what was sacrificed with to other than God. But whoever is forced to, without seeking disobedience or transgression, then God is Forgiver, Merciful.

My two cents. This ayat is a clear boundary. For example, it does not forbid vegan or vegetarian diet. To force people to eat meat is also not right.

I'll end on something I found entertaining about what brother Ali said. I find it funny, I don't know if you folks do.

Overconsumption propaganda is an Agenda 21 tool.

Scientifically speaking is an appeal to authority.

Hmm... the irony. Tell me you don't find this funny. So much to unpack here, maybe another day.