5 Points of Islamic Perspective about Veganism Diet

Nowadays, people become more concerned about their health. That is why some people go on a diet such as living like vegetarianism and veganism. The behavior claims can make healthier life significantly. But, why people become willing to living like that? And how this veganism life in Islam perspective?

Veganism or Vegetarianism?

Did you know that veganism is different from vegetarianism? Both veganism and vegetarianism are to avoid every product comes from animals. They eat only fruits and vegetables.

On the other hand, the truth is there is a huge difference between them. While vegetarianism still consumes anything that comes from animals such as egg and milk, veganism 100% avoid them.

Veganism avoids every product comes from animals, while from the processed products or its meat. They claim the product as the form of exploitation of animals. That is why veganism avoids consuming any products from any kind of animal.

For some people, being veganism sometimes hard to follow. That is why not everyone is willing to be veganism. As we know, balancing what we consume is the better thing we should do. So, how Islam perceived in veganism?

1.Consuming Animal Product Are Permissible

In Islam, consuming animal products such as meat, milk, or egg are halal. As long as the animals have lawful to consume, there is no prohibition for it. As mention in the Quran surah Al Maidah verse 1

يٰٓاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْٓا اَوْفُوْا بِالْعُقُوْدِۗ اُحِلَّتْ لَكُمْ بَهِيْمَةُ الْاَنْعَامِ اِلَّا مَا يُتْلٰى عَلَيْكُمْ غَيْرَ مُحِلِّى الصَّيْدِ وَاَنْتُمْ حُرُمٌۗ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَحْكُمُ مَا يُرِيْدُ – ١

“O, believers! Keep promises. Livestock is permissible for you, except what will be mentioned to you, by not justifying hunting when you are on ihram (hajj or umrah). Indeed, Allah establishes the law according to what He wills.”

Based on the verse above, we know that consuming animals is permissible as long as not consuming the forbidden ones. People know that consuming meat has so many benefits. Calcium, Omega 3, and other minerals come from the animal which good for health.

2. Animals are Human                                     

Being veganism in Islam still be a controversial diet to follow. As mention in the Quran surah Al An’am verse 38

وَمَا مِنْ دَاۤبَّةٍ فِى الْاَرْضِ وَلَا طٰۤىِٕرٍ يَّطِيْرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ اِلَّآ اُمَمٌ اَمْثَالُكُمْ ۗ

“And there is not one animal on earth and the birds that fly with their wings, all are people (also) like you..”

Yes, it is confusing refers to consuming a portion of good food. But if we look at the verse above, we should consider animals such as human beings. That is why veganism is more caring for animals and not consuming them.

They believe if consuming animal products will harm the animal. The verse becomes the guidance on how to overcome self-doubt in Islam.

3. Animal Cruelty is Not in Islam Rule

Veganism is well known for its high sense of avoiding animal cruelty. Such as mention in the Quran that we should eat animal products if they slaughter properly.

Veganism believes, that nowadays sometimes they can’t guarantee that the meat that they consume is slaughter properly. There are things that are sunnah when slaughtering sacrificial animals and their verses must obey by every Muslim.

Besides, the animals that we consume should be raised as a human. They have to feed in a good environment and not be stressed while they will slaughter. To think about that, we should not harm the environment to slaughter the animal.  We should protect the animal because it is our job to protect them and the whole of the earth.

As mention in the Quran surah Al An’am verse 165

وَهُوَ الَّذِيْ جَعَلَكُمْ خَلٰۤىِٕفَ الْاَرْضِ

“And it is He (Allah) has made you a successor upon the earth …”

From that verse, we should conceive the meaning that we are responsible for the wellbeing of the earth. It includes protecting animals.

4. The Effect of Production Meat

Scientist claims that the environment becomes worst when people try to produce meats for consumption. The grass emission comes from them are large effects on the environment. Even though in the Quran surah Al Araf verse 7 mention that we should not harm the earth. The fact is, when we eat meat, the production behind it harms the earth the most.

وَلَا تُفْسِدُوْا فِى الْاَرْضِ بَعْدَ اِصْلَاحِهَا وَادْعُوْهُ خَوْفًا وَّطَمَعًاۗ 

“Do not harm the earth after it has been (so) wholesomely (set in order)…”

Allah provides everything and we know that is one of the benefits of being grateful. Based on that verse we should more grateful and do not make any harm to the earth.

5. Veganism is One of Way to be Closer to Allah

Being veganism may be too complicated for Muslims. It happens such as the Eid Al-Adha are happen once a year to remember Prophet Ibrahim. There are some conditions of sacrifice in Islam and its verses include guidance to eat meat. But the thing is we should not eat meat every day.

The prophet Muhammad’s eating habits in Islam are 90% consuming his plants. He ate less meat that is why he becomes healthier than any other Muslims that consume meats over and over.

Copying the prophet Muhammad’s habit is sunnah to do. That is why being veganism is not forbidden to follow. As we do more sunnah as we become closer to Allah. For example, keep the environment from the damage by what we consume. It is also mention in the Quran surah Al Baqarah verse 60

كُلُوْا وَاشْرَبُوْا مِنْ رِّزْقِ اللّٰهِ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا فِى الْاَرْضِ مُفْسِدِيْنَ – ٦٠

“…eat and drink from the provision of Allah, and do not commit abuse on earth.”

So, there is an Islamic perspective on veganism. But, should we do avoid consuming meat? If we consuming it over and over, it may harm you. So, it better to consume less meat and be more vegan like the prophet Muhammad do.