Thursday, August 27, 2009

Surah Al Maida (5:1) – Why Muslims eat non-vegetarian food


 


 

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَوْفُوا بِالْعُقُودِ أُحِلَّتْ لَكُم بَهِيمَةُ الْأَنْعَامِ إِلَّا مَا يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ غَيْرَ مُحِلِّي الصَّيْدِ وَأَنتُمْ حُرُمٌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَحْكُمُ مَا يُرِيدُ

O you who believe! Fulfill the obligations. The cattle quadrupeds are allowed to you except that which is recited to you, not violating the prohibition against game when you are entering upon the performance of the pilgrimage; surely Allah orders what He desires.

M Shakir's Quran Translation

Non Vegetarian food permitted to Muslims

When a vegetarian read this verse than he might get furious on the commandment of Allah that He is allowing the sacrifice and eating of cattle, hence it becomes important to clarify whether there is any harm in being a non vegetarian or not. There are many books written on the topic and many debates have taken place on the topic hence it is difficult to abridge all the arguments in a couple of pages. Allah says in the Quran, "The good things are allowed to you" (Surah Maida 5:4), indicating that whatever is permitted for us is beneficial for us in normal circumstances. Many vegetarians claim that 'Non vegetarian should be prohibited for human beings'. By the grace of Allah Almighty I'll try to answer their arguments in a nut shell here.

Allah says in another verse, "And He created the cattle for you; you have in them warm clothing and (many) advantages, and of them do you eat"
(Surah Nahl 16:5)

You are what you eat

Allah says "The cattle quadrupeds are allowed to you except that which is recited to you", meaning that all cattle (four footed animals) are allowed to you except whose prohibition is told to you. Allah mentions the prohibited animals in the third verse of this Surah in detail. Islamic diet is the perfect diet for a human being, and the prohibition told to us is purely for our benefit (See Surah Baqarah 2:173).

Sayyidina Jabir (RA) reported that Allah's Messenger forbade on the day of Khaybar domestic asses, flesh of mules, every carnivorous beast with a fang and every bird with a talon (that hunt with their claws).

(Bukhari Hadith 4219, Muslim Hadith 1941, Tirmidhi Hadith 1483)

This clarification has been mentioned for those who think that "you are what you eat". As the French writer said

"Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are."

Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755 - 1826)


 

We Muslims eat animals that are peace loving and docile and those which are flesh eating animals are prohibited for us and hence we Muslims are peace loving and docile. Islam comes from the root word سلم meaning peace.

Who is a non Vegetarian

Vegetarians have written many books telling us the importance of plants for the development of a human body. Non-Vegetarian, by definition means -'A person who has food of animal origin'. It does not mean 'A person who does not have Vegetarian food. A more technical and a scientific word is, 'an Omnivorous diet'. Hence a non vegetarian benefits from food both of animal and plant origin.

Killing a Living Creature

The main argument of vegetarians is that by eating animals we are killing innocent living creatures. This argument might have been suitable in the past but now it carries no weight because modern science has told us that plants also have life. They also feel pain and hence killing a plant as much 'brutal' as killing any other living creature.

Set of teeth in a human body

Herbivorous animals, those who only have plants, have a flat set of teeth. Carnivorous animals, who only have animal flesh, have pointed teeth. Human beings, have got flat teeth, as well as pointed teeth. Hence by our structure, we are omnivorous; we are designed in such a way that we can have both plants and animals as food. Also we humans possess a digestive system which can digest both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.

Ayaats having the similar message

Surah Nahl 16:5, Surah Nahl 16:66, Surah Taha 20:54, Surah Hajj 22:28, Surah Hajj 22:30, Surah Hajj 22:34, Surah Mominun 23:21, Surah Shua'ra 26:133, Surah Yaaseen 36:71, Surah Zumar 39:6, Surah Ghafir 40:79, Surah Shura 42:11, Surah Zukhruf 43:12.


 


 


 

See the complete list of Scientific Miracles in Surah Al Maida here


 

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14 comments:

Unknown said...

Thanks for d information i hope i could help me to explain non Muslims ..when questioned about why we eat non veg food as well

Unknown said...

Thanks for d information i hope i could help me to explain non Muslims ..when questioned about why we eat non veg food as well

Unknown said...

It's "of them do u eat" not "eat them of".. It implies heard them, n sell there milk products.. Earn money and then eat.. Like Krishna.. It doesn't mean eat cattle.. It means make cattle ur source of income, not source of food

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Anonymous said...

We have sharp teeth as well as flat? Sharp? Please refer to pictures of meat consuming animals and compare to human teeth, you will clearly see the difference. Also, the point about modern science proving that plants have feelings the same way animals do therefore its just as "brutal" to kill them, thats brutally absurd! Please check your statements before you spread these lies.

Anonymous said...

Plants have life...thats true..but they do not have nervous system which is responsible for pain....and animals cry..and scream.when we cut them.....also,if meat is allowed in islam,than why dont u eat human flesh...stop giving such comments othervise demons will fuck you in hell.

Anonymous said...

Killing innocent animals in the name of god is indeed a sin, May god bless these Muslim people's brain.

Anonymous said...

Dear Islamic brother learn something from Jainism.

Vedant said...

Dear Islam peoples... KURAN never said you kill the innocent lives and eat them.. Human digestive system is not made for that..

Anonymous said...

Perhaps the Quran has been misunderstood, If God is Merciful, it is imposible that He let us kill and eat animals.

Unknown said...

I think the verse of eat animals refer to the past when no option for food was there . and it remains open to be used any time if there is no options of food available . since we have enough of options I don't think we should indulge in meat eating every single day.

Anonymous said...

Plants also screams but a human can't hear it as it is less than certain limit of hearing things. And in Islam it has only said what is given to your benefits do consume it. We are eating meat and you all are using leather products how does it justifies your relegion.

Anonymous said...

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Krishna said...

Most Muslims eat all kinds of meat. even though the Holy Prophet was a vegetarian. However, many Muslims blindly follow and never see the pain which the animal goes through. This is not for just muslims, it is applicable to people all over the world across all countries who eat fish also

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