السبت، 24 سبتمبر 2011

Veganism and Islam, any common ground?



Dad invited the whole family today over to a 'kebab and kofta' feast at a fine restaurant. Well, before you start envying, I can acknowledge you it was one of the worst times I ever ate out. As I was enjoying the juicy succulent kebab pieces, I paused and thought to myself, "Is it good what I am doing?"," Would the Prophet be happy with my animal style of eating?"," Would I ever achieve purification of heart that way?", "Isn't this over-consumption of animal sources?"

Please don't laugh your ass out loud, this is really how I think, I even don't feel very well so far both on  psychological and  physical levels.
I hear some already argue that Islam didn't prohibit the eating of meat but I would argue it's in Islam the same case as for divorce, it's allowed, not prohibited but it's not encouraged at all. The same applies for meat-eating.

Originally, the beloved prophet Muhammed and his companions didn't eat meat that much during their lives, they were either poor or austere, they ate mostly food plant oirigin; dates, bread, oil or vinegar.

Interestingly enough, Dr. Murad Hofmann, in the great book 'Islam, Christianity and the Environment' says on page 23 :"Food in Paradise is vegetarian, and so am  I. Alas, the same cannot be said for the Islamic world. True, the Qur'an mainly praises vegetarian food like water, milk, corn, dates, grapes, olives, and pomegranates.

 The countervailing focus on meat is largely due to the fact that Prophet Ibrahim was allowed to sacrifice a ram in place of Ismael, his first born son (37:102–107).  in commemoration of this, pilgrims in Makkah each year slaughter millions of roosters, sheep, and even camels as foreseen in surah al-hajj (5:2; 22:33–37)."

I, from Sufi points of view, see that eating meat in large quantities and regularly is counter-spiritual and may form a block in your 'tareeq' to Allah, I would say.

Last word, please, take time to read on how humanity has always preferred a more vegetarian way of eating, how the disease gout was referred to as the disease of kings, how in just these modern times and due to civilization in the American way, we came to eat huge quantities of meat. I just invite you to read more, get informed and know better.

هناك 3 تعليقات:

كريم الديب يقول...

كعادتك كلامك جيد يا عمر..
انا عايز بس اوضح نقطتين..:
1- صح تماما ان الرسول (ص) والصحابة لم يثبت عنهم انهم من محبي الاكل او اكل اللحومة الدائم بالرغم من ان الرسول لو كان طلب ما كان الله حرمه او حرم اي من الصحابة.بس المعروف تماما ان الرسول كان الاكل المفضل ليه هو جزء معين من فخذ الضأن انا للاسف مش متذكره وكان يأمر انه عند ذبح الاضحيو يحتفظوا له بالجزء ده.
2- الافراط في اي حاجة غلط.وده اللي انا باتكلم عنه دائما.اكلك يوميا مش لازم يحتوي على لحوم بيضاء او حمراء ومش لازم يكون كمان معمول منهم.قدرة الانسان انه ياكل الاكل ده يوميا شبه مستحيلة وبتمثل ضغط كبير على الجهاز الهضمي.الافراط في اي حاجة غلط زي ما قلت يا عمر والاكل مش استثناء.
هايل يا عمر كالعادة وانا زعلان اني ماكنتش معزوم معاكم في تناقض واضح لكل الكلام اللي انا قلته ف الكام سطر اللي فاتوا دول..!

OmarHammam يقول...

Thanks for clarifying those two points, you are most welcome next time ya kareem :)

hope grave يقول...

Twisted