Is Vegetarianism Halal or Haram? 5 Must Read Answers
04/05/2020
Vegetarianism is the practice of not consuming meat due to various reasons. There is another austere form of vegetarianism called veganism and there are fundamental differences between vegetarianism and veganism. A vegetarian will consume animal based products such as eggs, milk or dairy but a vegan will completely abstain from eating any animal based products whatsoever.
As a researcher of comparative religion, I can say that only a few religions ban meat consumption and one such religion is Jainism. All the other religions allow meat consumption but it is the foolish followers of some religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and others who forbid for themselves the consumption of meat and try to force fit their opinions on to others. Some extremist religious groups such as the Gau raksha movement in India and a few other extremist terror Buddhist groups in Sri Lanka and Burma have gone over to attack Muslims and others who consume meat by using force and bullying tactics. Islam as the true religion for mankind has made lawful everything that is wholesome and vegetarianism is allowed for a Muslim as long as he does not forbid or believe that meat consumption is haram. This article will focus on the question of vegetarianism in Islam.
1. Vegetarian/Vegan Due to Upbringing
There are some Muslims who are vegetarian because of the upbringing they had while been children. There is nothing wrong in being a vegetarian due to personal reasons such as these.
Abdullah bin Abbas reported that Khalid bin Walid who is called the Sword of Allah had informed him that he visited Maimuna, the wife of Allah's Apostle (Sal), in the company of Allah's Messenger (Sal), and she was the sister of his mother (that of Khalid) and that of 'Ibn Abbas, and he found with her a roasted lizard which her sister Hufaida the daughter of al-Harith had brought from Najd, and she presented that lizard to Allah's Messenger (Sal). It was rare that some food was presented to the Prophet (Sal) and it was not mentioned or named. While Allah's Messenger (Sal) was about to stretch forth his hand towards the lizard, a woman from amongst the women present there informed the Messenger of Allah (Sal) what they had presented to him. They said:
"Messenger of Allah, it is a lizard. Allah's Messenger (Sal) withdrew his hand, whereupon Khalid bin Walid said: Messenger of Allah is a lizard forbidden? There upon he said: No, but it is not found in the land of my people, and I feel that I have no liking for it. Khalid said: I then chewed and ate it, and Allah's Messenger (Sal) was looking at me and he did not forbid (me to eat it).
(Sahih Muslim)
And in another hadith 'Umar (Rali) reported:
A person asked Allah's Messenger (Sal) about the eating of the lizard, whereupon he said. "I neither eat it, nor do I prohibit it.
(Sahih Muslim)
In these hadiths it clear explains the fact that the prophet (sal) did not want to eat lizard meat because of his personal dislike but never forbade it. Similarly there is nothing wrong in not liking to eat meat due to personal reasons without thinking that it is haram.
2. Quran and Sahih Hadith on Vegetarianism and Veganism
According to the Quran and the authentic hadiths been a vegetarian is not haram as long as you do not transgress by prohibiting meat eating or go against the teachings of Islam. Allah (swt) says,
"O you who believe! Make not unlawful the tayyibaat (all that is good) which Allaah has made lawful to you, and transgress not. Verily, Allaah does not like the transgressors"
(Al Quran-5:87)
"Say: who has forbidden the adornment with clothes given by Allaah, which He has produced for His slaves, and al-tayyibaat (all kinds of things that are good) of food? Say: they are, 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 aayat (Islamic laws) in detail for people who have knowledge."
(Al Quran-7:32)
"Say: Tell me, what provision has Allaah sent down to you! And you have made of it lawful and unlawful. Say: Has Allaah permitted you (to do so), or do you invent a lie against Allaah? "
(Al Quran-10:59)
The Quran allows eating meat and one example is the below verse of eating beef.
"And He created the cattle for you; you have in them warm clothing and (many) advantages, and of them do you eat."
(Al Quran-16:5)
It is forbidden to forbid for yourselves and others what Allah has made lawful but refraining from eating something due to personal tastes is not haram because you are not prohibiting it. Anas (Rali) reported that some of the Companions of Allah's Apostle (Sal) asked his (the Prophet's) wives about the acts that he performed in private. Someone among them (among his Companions) said:
"I will not marry women; someone among them said: I will not eat meat; and someone among them said: I will not lie down in bed. He (the Holy Prophet) praised Allah and glorified Him, and said: What has happened to these people that they say so and so, whereas I observe prayer and sleep too; I observe fast and suspend observing them; I marry women also? And he who turns away from my Sunnah, he has no relation with me"
(Sahih Muslim)
in this hadith a group of companions wanted to forbid eating meat to be more austere in worship and this was prohibited.
3. Living As a Vegetarian Due to Personal Dislikes and tastes
There is a huge difference between forbidding a Sunnah and not practising the Sunnah. Let me give examples.
Anas (Rali) reported that some of the Companions of Allah's Apostle (Sal) asked his (the Prophet's) wives about the acts that he performed in private. Someone among them (among his Companions) said:
"I will not marry women; someone among them said: I will not eat meat; and someone among them said: I will not lie down in bed. He (the Holy Prophet) praised Allah and glorified Him, and said: What has happened to these people that they say so and so, whereas I observe prayer and sleep too; I observe fast and suspend observing them; I marry women also? And he who turns away from my Sunnah, he has no relation with me"
(Sahih Muslim)
Let us take the example of getting married marriage is a Sunnah but prohibiting it is haram. The meaning of what the prophet (Sal) meant by "Marriage is my Sunnah and whoever does not follow my Sunnah is not of me" is because of the above reason. In the above hadith some of the companions tried to bring in something new to Islam by becoming extreme in worship. Islam is in the middle path. It needs to be noted that even in this scenario the prophet (Sal) only said,
"And he who turns away from my Sunnah", meaning that it was only a Sunnah.
If marriage was wajib he would have said that it's wajib but rather he said it was a Sunnah. Some of the sahaba in the above hadith said that they will not eat meat. Refraining from eating meat as a way of being austere in worship is haram because you are bringing a new thing in Islam and you are forbidding something which Allah(Swt) has has made halal. But refraining from eating meat because of personal reasons such as for an example, you were brought up in a vegetarian family before you accepted Islam and you are not used to eating meat is not a transgression because you are accepting that eating meat is allowed in Islam and you are not transgressing. It’s only a personal choice. Similarly if you say: “I don't want to get married because I fear that I won't be able to provide my wife or children” is a fair reason because there is no transgression. There were some vegetables that had a very strong odour and due to this reason the prophet (sal) disliked eating such vegetables because he spoke with the angels.
Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah:
The Prophet (sal) said, "Whoever eats garlic or onion should keep away from our mosque or should remain in his house." (Jabir bin `Abdullah, in another narration said, "Once a big pot containing cooked vegetables was brought. On finding unpleasant smell coming from it, the Prophet (sal) asked, 'What is in it?' He was told all the names of the vegetables that were in it. The Prophet (sal) ordered that it should be brought near to some of his companions who were with him. When the Prophet (sal) saw it he disliked to eat it and said, 'Eat. For I converse with those whom you don't converse with (i.e. the angels)."
(Bukhari)
In this hadith the prophet (sal) disliked eating vegetables which has a strong odour but did not forbid his companions to eat it.
Jabir bin Abdullah (rali) reported the Messenger of Allah (sal) as sayings:
He who eats garlic or onion must keep away from us. Or he said: must keep away from our mosque or must sit in his house. A dish containing green vegetables was brought to him, and noticing that it had an odour he asked (about it). He was told that it contained some vegetables. He then said: Bring it near, to one of his companion who was with him. When he saw it, he abominated eating it, and said: eat for I hold intimate converse with one with whom you do not. Ahmad bin Salih said: Ibn Wahb explained the word Badr as meaning dish."
(Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
Islam does not forbid vegetarianism
4. The Diet of the Prophet (sal)
from the authentic hadith we can see that the prophet (sal) ate various types of meat.
Narrated Umm Salamah(rali),
That she brought a side of roasted meat to the Messenger of Allah (sal), so he ate it from it and stood for Salat, and did not perform Wudu'"
(Tirmidhi graded Hasan Sahih by imam Tirmidhi)
Abu Hurayrah (rali)narrated,
"Meat was brought to the Prophet. The shoulder was handed over to him, as he liked it. He had a bite of it.”
(Bukhari, Muslim and others)
Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (rali) who said,
"I saw the Prophet (sal) eating chicken."
(Bukhari)
Jabir bin ‘Abdullah (rali) reported:
"When the ditch was dug, I saw Allah's Messenger (may peace he upon him) feeling very hungry. I came to my wife and said to her: Is there anything with you? I have seen Allah's Messenger (sal) feeling extremely hungry. She brought out a bag of provisions which contained a sa', of barley. We had also with us a lamb. I slaughtered it. She ground the flour. She finished (this work) along with me. I cut it into pieces and put it in the earthen pot and then returned to Allah's Apostle (sal) (for inviting him). She said: Do not humiliate me in the presence of Allah's Messenger (sal) and those who are with him. When I came to him I whispered to him saying: Allah's Messenger, we have slaughtered a lamb for you and she has ground a sa' of barley which we had with us. So you come along with a group of people with you. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (sal) said loudly: O people of the ditch, Jabir has arranged a feast for you, so (come along). Allah's Messenger (sal) said: Do not remove your earthen pot from the hearth and do not bake the bread from the kneaded flour until I come. So I came and Allah's Messenger (sal) came and he was ahead of the people; and I came to my wife and she said (to me): You will be humbled. I said: I did what you had asked me to do. She (his wife) said: I brought out the kneaded flour and Allah's Messenger (sal) put some saliva of his in that and blessed it. He then put saliva in the earthen pot and blessed it and then said. Call another baker who can bake with you. And bring out the soup from it, but do not remove it from the hearth, and the guests were one thousand. (Jabir said): I take an oath by Allah that all of them ate (the food to their fill) until they left it and went away and our earthen pot was brimming over as before, and so was the case with our flour, or as Dahhak (another narrator) said: It (the flour) was in the same condition and loaves had been prepared from that."
(Muslim)
Jabir bin 'Abdullah (rali) narrated,
Allah's Messenger (sal) bought a camel from me for two 'uqiyas and a dirham or two dirhams. As he reached Sirar (a village near Medina), he commanded a cow to be slaughtered and it was slaughtered, and they ate of that, and as he (the Holy Prophet) reached Medina he ordered me to go to the mosque and offer two rak'ahs of prayer, and he measured for me the price of the camel and even made an excess payment to me."
(Sahih Muslim-Book 10-Hadith number-3893)
Narrated Muharib bin Dithar (rali):
Jabir bin `Abdullah said, "When Allah's Messenger (sal) arrived at Medina, he slaughtered a camel or a cow." Jabir added, "The Prophet (sal) bought a camel from me for two Uqiyas (of gold) and one or two Dirhams. When he reached Sirar, he ordered that a cow be slaughtered and they ate its meat. When he arrived at Medina, he ordered me to go to the Mosque and offer two rak`at, and weighed (and gave) me the price of the camel."
(Sahih al Bukhari-hadith number- 3089)
Some foolish Muslims try to argue that the prophet did not eat beef but the above hadiths in sahih Muslim and Bukhari proves that he ate beef.
Ibn 'Abbas (rali) said:
"The Prophet (sal) ate a little meat from a (goat's) shoulder. He then offered prayer and did not perform ablution."
(Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
Muhammad bin al-Munkadir said:
"I heard Jabir bin 'Abd Allah say: I presented bread and meat to the Prophet (sal). He ate them and called for ablution water. He performed ablution and offered the noon (Luhar) prayer. He then called for the remaining food and ate it. He then got up and prayed and did not perform ablution."
(Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
Narrated `Abdullah bin Abi Qatadah (rali),
(from his father) Abu Qatadah went out (on a journey) with Allah's Messenger (sal) but he was left behind with some of his companions who were in the state of Ihram. He himself was not in the state of Ihram. They saw an opener before he could see it. When they saw the opener, they did not speak anything till Abu Qatadah saw it. So, he rode over his horse called Al-Jarada and requested them to give him his lash, but they refused. So, he himself took it and then attacked the opener and slaughtered it. He ate of its meat and his companions ate, too, but they regretted their eating. When they met the Prophet (they asked him about it) and he asked, "Have you some of its meat (left) with you?" Abu Qatadah replied, "Yes, we have its leg with us." So, the Prophet (sal) took and ate it."
(Bukhari)
Jabir (rali) narrated in a long hadith and in it he mentioned the prophet (sal) eating camel meat. He mentioned,
"I saw how we extracted pitcher after pitcher full of fat from the cavity of its eye, and sliced from it compact piece of meat equal to a bull or like a bull. Abu 'Ubaida called forth thirteen men from us and he made them sit in the cavity of its eye, and he took hold of one of the ribs of its chest and made it stand and then saddled the biggest of the camels we had with us and it passed under it (the arched rib), and we provided ourselves with pieces of boiled meat (especially for use in our journey). When we came back to Medina, we went to Allah's Messenger (sal) and made a mention of that to him, whereupon he said: That was a provision which Allah had brought forth for you. Is there any piece of meat (left) with you, so that you give to us that? He (Jabir) said: We sent to Allah's Messenger (dal) tome of that (a piece of meat) and he ate it."
(Sahih Muslim)
5. Vegetarianism and Science
The concept of vegetarianism been an ideal diet is a myth in science because the human body is made to digest both meat and herbivorous diets. The concept of vegetarianism and its extreme form known as veganism is so impractical, an interesting study found that 84% of vegetarians and vegans return to eating meat. Below is an excerpt of the article published on Psychologytoday.com,
"The Humane Research Council, now known as Faunalytics, is a non-profit that uses market research techniques to assess public opinions related to animal issues. Their mission is to provide information animal protection organizations can use to more effectively spread their messages. And for this study, they recruited a group of top-flight social scientists to design a survey to examine differences between current and ex-vegetarians and vegans.
The study sample was unique for a couple of reasons. First, it was huge – 11,399 adults of all dietary stripes were recruited from a representative group of Americans maintained by Harris Interactive (part of the company that conducts the highly respected Harris Poll). Second, while not perfectly representative of the American public, it is a much closer representation of the population of the United States than other studies of our collective dietary choices."
(Psychologytoday.com-December 02, 2014-Link-https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/animals-and-us/201412/84-vegetarians-and-vegans-return-meat-why%3famp)
People living only on plant based meals cannot supplement their bodies with vitamin B12 or enough creatinine. The other important issue of going especially vegan or vegetation is that your body will not get the enough protein needed for your body through a vegetarian diet. Animal protein is complete sources of protein as compared to plant protein. A study published in sciencedaily.com dated-March 16, 2016 mentioned that vegans may lack important nutrient intakes to their body. Below is an excerpt of the study,
"According to a 2012 Gallup poll, two percent of the U.S. population follows a vegan diet, which is a strict plant-based diet that excludes all animal-derived foods. Increasingly, people are choosing to follow this diet for ethical, environmental, religious and health concerns. With the growing popularity of plant-based diets, the Mayo Clinic team compiled a review of recent literature to monitor and advise vegans to ensure proper nutritional intake. Nutrients of concern are vitamin B-12, iron, calcium, vitamin D, protein and omega-3 fatty acids.
"We found that some of these nutrients, which can have implications in neurologic disorders, anaemia, bone strength and other health concerns, can be deficient in poorly planned vegan diets," says Heather Fields, M.D., Community and Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. Contrary to popular belief, "Vegans have not been shown to be deficient in protein intake or in any specific amino acids." The study points out that some vegans rely heavily on processed foods and may not eat a sufficient variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. A whole food, plant-based diet is commendable, and a well-planned vegan diet can be adequate to achieve proper nutrition, but requires some education."
(Sciencedaily.com-16/03/2016-Link-https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/03/160316194551.htm)
The human body and teeth structure clearly indicate that the human being is created to be an omnivore not an herbivore. There is also evidence to prove the goodness of a vegetarian diet. Non conclusive studies have shown that a plant based diet can fight off a third of all cancers. The article appeared in www.mayoclinic.org and below is an excerpt of the article,
"Many experts recommend filling your plate with foods that grow from the ground. Decades of research suggests that the best diet for cancer prevention is all about plants. That means lots of fruits, vegetables and legumes, and little to no meat or other animal products. Yet a recent series of articles in the Annals of Internal medicine calls that into question, claiming that there isn't enough evidence that less meat improves health. The backlash from the nutrition community has been swift, calling the studies flawed, and even requesting that the journal retract them.
While the new studies have grabbed headlines, the bulk of the research still supports eating less meat, says Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program dietician Angie Murad, RDN, LD. "There is a lot more evidence to move towards a plant based diet," she says."
(www.mayoclinic.org-30/10/2019-Link-https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/how-plant-based-food-helps-fight-cancer/art-20457590)
Conclusion
Islam has not made meat eating an obligation for a Muslim but Allah azza wa jal has made the human being to be omnivorous. A Muslim can be a vegetarian without thinking that eating meat is forbidden. The prophet (sal) and his companions ate meat and the best diet is the diet given in the Quran and the authentic Sunnah and that is that you can eat both meat and vegetarian food. We have seen some Muslims criticizing the eating of meat due to their ignorance and arrogance and doing doing so is a transgression in Islam. A Muslim should not go in to extremes by either forbidding plant or meat because both of them are allowed to be eaten.
C.J Ahmed