Question:

I heard Mawlana Shaykh Hisham’s Suhba on cruelty to animals and was greatly heartened. I have been uncomfortable with causing death where not necessary and to this end, I became a vegetarian ten years ago. I feel it is my duty to cause as little destruction in the created world as possible, that I may exit it with a light heart.  Death is a spiritual event and it seems disrespectful to me that I should consume an animal which I did not give the respect of slaughtering myself. In a conversation with a Murid of the Naqshbandi Tariqa I was informed that my view was erroneous, that I was, in fact, the perpetrator of a great disservice, as it was the highest honour for animals to be consumed by humans. I found this disconcerting. Is refraining from the consumption of meat an inferior lifestyle?

Answer:

a`udhu billah mina ‘sh-shaytani ‘r-rajeem
Bismillahi ‘r-Rahmani ‘r-Raheem

As Salaam `alaikum,

There is moderation in everything.  It is reported that the Prophet (s) did not eat meat everyday but he did not refrain from eating meat either. He (s) is also reported to have said that one should eat meat at least once in 40 days to balance one’s composition and not deteriorate.  Islamic Law forbids cruelty to animals, including during slaughter so that they do not suffer.  The Prophet (s) was the most balanced and merciful of human beings and he ate meat.

W’Allahu a`lam.

Kamau Ayyubi