The Muslim Vegetarian

Meat has always been an integral part of the Muslim culture, but to what extent is it an integral part of Islam? I am writing this article, not with the intent of proving anything, but with the intent of raising a few basic questions that we rarely contemplate on.

It’s true that Eid al-Adha is an important day in the Islamic calendar when meat consumption is considered holy, but what if some Muslims develop compassion towards these animals and don’t want to consume their meat? Would they still be considered as Muslims? Does the Quran say that somebody who doesn’t consume meat will not be considered as Muslim?

Why I am asking these questions is because a lot of Muslim Vegetarians are looked down upon by others in their community. As if it is a condition that to be a Muslim, you have to consume meat. I am quite sure that the title of this article must have attracted you to read it because the phrase “Muslim Vegetarian” is an oxymoron for the society at large.  Many people fall for such misconceptions and this is how being a Muslim becomes different from following Islam.  I would like to ask such people, where is it written in the Quran that a vegetarian cannot be a devout Muslim?

I myself belong to a Muslim culture in which consuming meat is an everyday affair. Up until 5 months ago, I don’t remember a single day in my life when I didn’t consume meat, apart from a 10-day Meditation retreat that I attended last year. So what happened then? Why did I turn vegetarian? Here’s a video explaining the trigger behind my transformation:

https://youtu.be/ssjWhILB_i8

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