Why being Vegan is not Haram in Islam: 3 Explanations
C J. Ahmed-09.03.2023
Being Vegan is not haram in Islam. A Vegan is a person who abstains from eating any food that is produced from animals such as meat, milk, eggs etc 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. Being 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 Veganism
According to the Quran and the authentic hadiths been a vegetarianism 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 Vegan 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 veganism.
Being Vegan is not haram in Islam. A Vegan is a person who abstains from eating any food that is produced from animals such as meat, milk, eggs etc 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. Being 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 Veganism
According to the Quran and the authentic hadiths been a vegetarianism 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 Vegan 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 veganism.