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Why then do
Muslims consume non-vegetan food? ANSWER..
‘Vegetarianism’ is now a movement the world over. Many even associate it with
animal rights. Indeed, a large number of people consider the consumption of meat
and other non-vegetarian products to be a violation of animal rights.
Islaam enjoins mercy and compassion for all living creatures. At the same time Islam
maintains that Allah has created the earth and its wondrous flora and fauna for the
benefit of mankind. It is up to mankind to use every resource in this world
judiciously, as a Niyamat (Divine blessing) and Amaanat (trust) from Allaah.
"And cattle He has created for you (men): from them Ye derive warmth, and
numerous benefits, And of their (meat) ye eat." [Al-Qur'ân 16:5]
c. Again next verse of Manu Smruti, that is, chapter 5 verse 31 says : "Eating meat
is right for the sacrifice, this is traditionally known as a rule of the gods."
d. Further in Manu Smruti chapter 5 verse 39 and 40 says : "God himself created
sacrificial animals for sacrifice, ...., therefore killing in a sacrifice is not killing."
"Yudhishthira said, "O thou of great puissance, tell me what that object is which, if
dedicated to the Pitiris (dead ancestors), become inexhaustible! What Havi, again, (if
offered) lasts for all time? What, indeed, is that which (if presented) becomes
eternal?"
"Bhishma said, "Listen to me, O Yudhishthira, what those Havis are which persons
conversant with the rituals of the Shraddha (the ceremony of dead) regard as
suitable in view of Shraddha and what the fruits are that attach to each. With
sesame seeds and rice and barely and Masha and water and roots and fruits, if given
at Shraddhas, the pitris, O king, remain gratified for the period of a month. With
fishes offered at Shraddhas, the pitris remain gratified for a period of two months.
With the mutton they remain gratified for three months and with the hare for four
months, with the flesh of the goat for five months, with the bacon (meat of pig) for
six months, and with the flesh of birds for seven. With venison obtained from those
deer that are called Prishata, they remaingratified for eight months, and with that
obtained from the Ruru for nine months, and with the meat of Gavaya for ten
months, With the meat of the bufffalo their gratification lasts for eleven months.
With beef presented at the Shraddha, their gratification, it is said , lasts for a full
year. Payasa mixed with ghee is as much acceptable to the pitris as beef. With the
meat of Vadhrinasa (a large bull) the gratification of pitris lasts for twelve years. the
flesh of rhinoceros, offered to the pitris on anniversaries of the lunar days on which
they died, becomes inexhaustible. The potherb called Kalaska, the petals of
kanchana flower, and meat of (red) goat also, thus offered, prove inexhaustible.
So but natural if you want to keep your ancestors satisfied forever, you should serve
them the meat of red goat.
10. Killing a living creature with two senses less is not a lesser crime
Once a vegetarian argued his case by saying that plants only have two or three
senses while the animals have five senses. Therefore killing a plant is a lesser crime
than killing an animal. Suppose your brother is born deaf and dumb and has two
senses less as compared to other human beings. He becomes mature and someone
murders him. Would you ask the judge to give the murderer a lesser punishment
because your brother has two senses less? In fact you would say that he has killed a
masoom, an innocent person, and the judge should give the murderer a greater
punishment.
In fact the Qur'ân says: "O ye people! Eat of what is on earth, lawful and
good" [Al-Qur'ân 2:168]
I do not mind if some people are pure vegetarians. However they should not
condemn non-vegetarians as ruthless. In fact if all Indians become non-vegetarians
then the present non-vegetarians would be losers since the prices of meat would
rise.
For In-depth Analyses in to Vegetarianism
The Question of consuming meat and non-vegetarian foods has been object of much
criticism since past several centuries. Even today though quite a large number of
Hindus along with Muslims and Christians consume meat, there are large numbers of
people who prefer to be strictly vegetarian throughout their life. For some it is a
religious injunction to abstain from non-vegetarian food. Whereas some make it a
political issue saying “Garv se kaho hum shakahari hain! (i.e. say proudly we are
vegetarian). Those who insist on being pure vegetarian, feel that it is ruthless to kill
the animals for feeding ourselves.
Lets have comparative study of concept of Ahimsa in Jainism and rationale behind
permission of non-vegetarian food in Islam,
So let us analyse this subject under the guidance of. religious scriptures and using
reason, logic and science.
But Jainism even term the possession of worldly goods as Himsa. If you earn money
by putting sincere, hard efforts and posses worldly goods, even then it is considered
as Himsa. For example, if you buy a house or a car or any other worldly goods, you
are committing Himsa, because according to Jainism one can not get Moksha or
salvation till he is free from attachment of all worldly affairs. So if you possess
worldly goods you will not get salvation. Islam does not agree with this part of Jaina
concept Of Ahimsa ISLAM IS NOT MERELY A RELIGION BUT IT IS A COMPLETE
WAY OF LIFE. ISLAM GUIDES US IN ALL ASPECTS OF DAY-TO-DAY LIFE.
BUSINESS, EDUCATIONS, AGRICUTTURE, ECONOMICS, POLITICS, ALL ARE
PARTS AND PARCEL OF ISLAM. DEALING IN THESE ACTIVITIES DOES NOT
BECOME HINDRANCE IN ACHIEVING SALVATION IN ISLAM, BUT RATHER IT
IS A MUST IN ISLAM.
In Jainism Himsa has been categorized into four kinds according to mental attitude
of the individual. These four categories are:
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in his last sermon said, "Hurt no one so that no one may
hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord and that He will indeed
reckon (take account of) your deeds".
A Muslim should be kind to all and should not hurt anyone unnecessarily.
It’s a clear cut instruction that even in war, women or children or aged: infirm
persons who are not taking part in war should not be killed. Trees should not be cut
down. Animals should not be slaughtered except for food. Islam prohibits
unnecessary killing of any creature, whether it is human being or animals or plants.
However, it permits slaughtering the animals and cutting the plants for food
Permission of having meat is mentioned in Holy Qur’ân in Surah Ma’idah chapter 5
verse 1: It says
“O you who believe! Fulfill (all) obligations Lawful unto you (for food) are
all four footed animals with the exceptions named”
Again it is mentioned in Surah Nahl chapter 16 verse 5
”And cattle He (God) has created for you from them you derive warm and
numerous benefits and of their meat you eat"
Though Islam allows consumption of meat. It is not compulsory in Islam that every
Muslim should eat non-vegetarian food A person can be a very good Muslim
even after being pure vegetarian.
Some Hindus think that it is against their religion to have non-vegetarian food But
the fact is that the Hindu scriptures permit a person to have meat The scripture
mentions sages and saints having meat. Hindu scriptures clearly mention that there
is nothing wrong in having meat.
It is mentioned in Manu Smruti, the law book of Hindus! In chapter 5 verse 30 “THE
EATER WHO EATS THE FLESH OF THOSE TO BE EATEN DOES NOTHING BAD! EVEN IF HE
DOES IT DAY AFTER DAY; FOR GOD HIMSELF CREATED SOME TO BE EATEN AND SOME TO
BE EATER”
Again next verse of Manu Smruti that is; chapter 5 verse 31 says “EATING MEAT IS
RIGHT FOR THE SACRIFICE, THIS IS TRADITIONALLY KNOWN AS A RULE OF THE GODS”
Further in Manu Smruti chapter 5 verse 39 and 40 says “GOD HIMSELF CREATED
SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS FOR SACRIFICE… THEREFORE KILLING IN A SACRIFICE IS NOT
KILLING.”
Among the Hindu scriptures Vedas are considered as most ancient and most sacred.
We find mentioning of non-vegetarian food in Vedas too it is mentioned in Rig-Veda
book 10 Hymn 27 verse 2 “Then will I, when I lead my friends to battle
against the radiant persons of godless, prepare for thee at home a VIGOROUS
BULLOCK, AND POUR FOR THEE THE FIFTEEN FOLD STRONG JUICES"
Again in RigVeda book 10 Hymn 28 verse 3 it says "0 INDRA, BULLS THEY
DRESS FOR THEE, AND OF THESE (MEAT) THOU EATEST WHEN MAGHAVAN,
WITH FOOD THOU ART INVITED".
In Rig veda Book 10 Hymn 86 verse 13 says “INDRA WILL EAT THY BULLS, THY
DEAR OBLATION THAT EFFECTETH MUCH. SUPREME IS INDRA OVER ALL"
These verses indicates that Indra, a god of vedic age, used to eat meat.
Also another god of vedic age, Agni, is referred to as "flesh-eater' in vedas.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN RIG VEDA BOCK 10 HYMN 16 VERSE 10 IT IS SAID I CHOOSE AS GOD
FOR FATHER-WORSHIP AGNI, FLESH EATER, WHO HATH PAST WITHIN YOUR
DWELLINGS".
In RigVeda Vivah sukta book 10 Hymn 85 verse 13, it mentions that during
marriage ceremony the guests were fed with the meat. it says “IN MAGHA DAYS
ARE OXEN SLAIN, IN ARJUNIS THEY WED THE BRIDE"
Atherva veda book 9 Hymn 4 verses 37-38-39 gives expression that cow's milk
and cow's meat are most tasty among all other foods. It says "THE MAN
SHOULD NOT EAT BEFORE THE GUEST WHO IS BRAHMIN VERSED IN HOLY LORE WHEN
THE GUEST HATH EATEN HE SHOULD EAT. NOW THE SWEETEST PORTION, THE
PRODUCE OF COW, MILK OR FLESH, THAT VERILY HE SHOULD NOT EAT (BEFORE
THE GUEST)"
If you read Mahabharata Shanti Parva chapter 29, a story of greatness of a king
called Rantideva is described It is said that he was very rich and generous, and
used to feed thousands of guests. The paragraph reads as follows “ALL THE
VESSELS AND THE PLATES, IN RANTIDEVA'S PALACE, FOR HOLDING FOOD AND OTHER
ARTICLES, ALL THE JUGS AND OTHER POTS, THE PAN AND PLATES AND CUPS, WERE OF
GOLD. ON THOSE NIGHTS DURING WHICH THE GUESTS USED TO LIVE IN RANTIDEVA'S
ABODE, TWENTY THOUSAND AND ONE HUNDRED KINE {COWS} HAD TO BE
SLAUGHTERED. YET EVEN ON SUCH OCCASIONS, THE COOKS, DECKED IN EAR-RINGS,
USED TO PROCLAIM (AMONGST THOSE THAT SAT FOR SUPPER) “THERE IS ABUNDANT
OF SOUP, TAKE AS MUCH AS YOU WISH, BUT OF FLESH WE HAVE NOT AS MUCH TODAY
AS ON FORMER OCCASIONS" This shows that even after slaughtering 20,100 cows,
meat used to fall short on some occasions.
Many more quotations can be given where non-vegetarian food is given preference
compared to vegetarian food. For example,
Mahabharata Anushashan Parva chapter 88 narrates the discussion between
Dharmaraj Yudhishthira and Pitamah Bhishma about what food one should offer to
Piths (ancestors) during the Shraddha (ceremony of dead) to keep them satisfied
Paragraph reads as follows "Yudhishthirn said, "0 thou of great puissance,
tell me what that object is which, if dedicated to the pitris (dead
ancestors), become inexhaustible! What Havi, again, (if offered) lasts for
all time? What, indeed, is that which (if presented) becomes eternal?”
"Bhisma said, Listen to me, 0 Yudhishthira, what those Havis are which persons
conversant with the rituals of the Shraddha (the ceremony of dead) regard as
suitable in view of Shraddha and what the fruits are that attach to each. With
sesame seeds and rice and barley and Masha and water and roots and fruits, if
given at Shraddhas, the pitris, 0 king, remain gratified for the period of a month.
With FISHES offered at Shraddha, the pitris remain gratified for a period of two
months. With the MUFLON they remain gratified for three months and with the
HARE for four months, with the FLESH OF THE GOAT FOR FIVE MONTHS, with the
BACON (MEAT OF PIG) for six months, and with the FLESH OF BIRDS for seven. With
venison obtained from those DEER that are called Prishata, they remain gratified
for eight months, and with that obtained form the Ruru for nine months, and with
the meat of GAVAYA for ten months. With the meat of the BUFFALO their
gratification lasts for eleven months. With BEEF presented at the Shraddha, their
gratification, it is said, lasts for a full year. Payesa mixed with ghee is as much
acceptable to the pitris as BEEF. With the MEAT OF VADHRINASA (A LARGE BULL)
the gratification of pitris lasts for twelve years. THE FLESH OF RHINOCEROS, offered
to the pitris on anniversaries of the lunar days on which they died, becomes
inexhaustible. The potherb called Kalaska, the petals of Kanchana flower, and
MEAT OF (RED) GOAT also, thus offered, prove inexhaustible
So but natural if you want to keep your ancestors satisfied forever, you should
serve them the meat of red goat.
Same message is repeated in MANU SMRUTI CHAPTER 3 VERSES 266 TO 272.
In Shraddha (ceremony of dead) even Brahmjn priests are expected to eat meat.
Manu Smruti instructs Hindus to serve non-vegetarian food to priests i.e.
Brahmins. It says in CHAPTER 3 VERSES 226 AND 227 “Purified and with a
concentrated mind, he should put down on the ground before (THOSE PRIESTS)
seasoned foods like soups and vegetables and also milk, yogurt, clarified butter,
honey and various foods that are eaten and enjoyed, roots and fruits, TASTY
MEATS, and fragrant water
verse 35 it says
LOGICAL ARGUMENTS
In spite of all these references from Hindu scriptures some still may argue that it is
better not to kill any living creature. They forget that even after being pure
vegetarian, we have to kill living creatures, to get vegetarian food; we have to kill
plants and fruits, which are living creatures. In the past people thought that plants
are lifeless but today we know that plants too have life. Some further argue that
though! Plants have life it cannot feel pain, therefore killing a plant is a lesser crime
as compared to killing an animal. Today science tells us that even plants can feel the
pain But the cry of plant cannot be heard by the human being This is Hertz to 20,000
Hertz We cannot hear the infrasonic sound whose frequency is below 20 Hertz and
we cannot hear ultrasonic sound whose frequency is above 20,000 Hertz. There was
a research done by a farmer who invented an instrument, which converted the cry of
the plant so that it could be heard by human beings He was able to realize
immediately when the plant itself cried for water. Latest research shows that, the
plants even feel happy and sad it can also cry. Plants and fruits have got sexes -
male and female.
Some further argue saying, “We agree that plants have life and they also feel pain.
But plants only have two or three senses while the animals have five senses.
Therefore killing a plant is lesser crime than killing an animal”. Suppose your brother
is born deaf and dumb and has got two senses less as compared to other human
beings He becomes mature and someone murders him. Will you ask the law to give
murderer a lesser punishment because your brother has two senses less? In fact you
would say that he has killed a masoom!!, an innocent person and you should give
the murderer a greater punishment.
Having both vegetarian and non-vegetarian diet i.e. omnivorous diet is quite
natural for human beings considering our body structure. If we observe the teeth of
herbivorous animal like cow, goat and sheep, we will find something strikingly similar
in all of them. All these animals have a set of flat teeth i.e. suited for herbivorous
diet If we observe the set of teeth of carnivorous animals like the lion, tiger, or
leopard, they all have a set of pointed teeth i.e suited for carnivorous diet. If you
analyse the set of teeth of we humans, you will find that we have flat teeth as well
as pointed teeth. Thus we have teeth suited for both herbivorous as well as
carnivorous diet. We may ask ourselves, if Almighty God wanted humans to have
only vegetables, then why did He provide us with pointed teeth? It is logical that He
expected us to need and to have both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.
Digestive system of herbivorous animals can digest only vegetables. The digestive
system of carnivorous animals can digest only meat. But the digestive system of
humans can digest both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. If Almighty God wanted
us to have only vegetables then why did he give us digestive system that can digest
both vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian food?
1 HUMANE REASONS
Some ideological vegetarians put forth so called 'humane' reasons for the
prohibition of the eating of animal flesh. They argue that we should be kind and
compassionate to the living creatures and should not inflict pain nor kill them.
There are various societies that have emerged to protect 'animal rights'. As long
as these are logical and scientific, one could agree with them.
Once an ideological vegetarian argued his case by saying that plants only have two
or three senses while the animals have five senses. Therefore he stated that
killing a plant is a lesser crime than killing an animal. Suppose your brother is
born deaf and dumb and has two senses less as compared to other human
beings. He becomes an adult and later someone murders him. Would you ask
the judge to give the murderer a lesser punishment simply because your brother
had two senses less?
On the contrary you would say that he has killed a “Masoom” an innocent person and
insist that the judge should give the murderer a greater punishment for his
cruelty.
In Islam killing any living creature. (Who is a non-human being). Unnecessarily or for
Sport, or for fun is prohibited, but if it is required for security, safety and
sustenance, it is permitted. Thus killing any lawful living creature for food is
permitted.
The first time when the cattle is milked, she resists due to pain but later she gets
conditioned and may not resist.
14 IF PLANTS AND CROPS CAN BE GROWN FOR FOOD THEN WHY CAN'T ANIMALS
BE RAISED FOR FOOD?
The ideological vegetarians promote their view by the negative images of exploiting
animals and of killing them for meat. If plants and crops can be grown and
cultivated for selfish reasons, then why can't animals be raised for food? In fact
children should be introduced at an early age to the concept that animals are
raised to produce food.
STATEMENT OF AMERICAN COUNCIL ON SCIENCE AND HEALTH
I. According to the American Council on Science and Health "it is not necessary
to give up meat and become a vegetarian to enjoy the benefits of a healthy diet.
ii. Young people who become vegetarian for ethical or environmental reasons may
also be placing their health at risk. Often, these young vegetarians lack the
knowledge and motivation needed to plan healthful vegetarian meals.
iii. According to Worslay "Healthy eating requires moderation and informed choice.
It should not be necessary to totally eliminate a particular food group to sustain good
health. Human kind has survived on an omnivorous diet since its origin and
premature death is more closely linked to accidental death than to eating meat".
Dr. William T. Jarvis is the advisor to the American council on Science and Health
(ACSH). He is a professor of public health and preventive medicine at Loma Linda
University, and the Founder and President of National Council Against Health Fraud.
He is also the Co-editor of "The Health Robbers: A Close look at Quackery in
America." His Classification of a Vegetarian
Dr. William T. Jarvis categorises vegetarians into two categories based on their
behavioral standpoint: -
A pragmatic vegetarian is one whose dietary behavior stems from objective health
consideration. He is rational rather than an emotional in his approach.
According to Dr. William T. Jarvis: "One can spot ideological vegetarian by the
exaggeration of the benefits of the vegetarianism, their lack of skepticism, and their
failure to recognize (or their glossing over of) the potential risks even of extreme
vegetarian diets. Ideologic Vegetarian makes a pretense of being scientific, but they
approach the subject of vegetarianism more like lawyers than scientists. Promoters
of vegetarianism gather data selectively and gear their arguments toward
discrediting information that is contrary to their dogma. This approach to defending
a position is suitable for a debate, but it cannot engender scientific understanding."
WE MUSLIMS DO NOT MIND IF SOME PEOPLE ARE PURE VEGETARIANS. HOWEVER THEY
SHOULD NOT CONDEMN NON-VEGETARIANS AS RUTHLESS. IN FACT IF ALL INDIANS
BECOME NON-VEGETARIANS THEN WE MUSLIMS WILL BE LOSERS SINCE THE PRICES OF
MEAT WOULD RISE.
CONCLUSIONS
1. If by Ahimsa it means that one should not harm or injure any creature
unnecessarily, then we agree with this concept of Ahimsa. But there is no harm in
slaughtering the ANIMALS and cutting the PLANTS for our food.
3. Consumption of non-vegetarian food is quite natural and helpful for our body
and not harmful.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
6. MAHABHARAT
7. THE HOLY QUR'ÂN- Translation by Abdullah Vusuf Ali
8. SAHEEH AL-BUKHAAREE- By Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan
9, MUWATTA 'IMAAM! MALIK- By. Muhammad Rahimuddin