Are Muslims vegetarian?
Are Muslims vegetarian?
Living in a country with a majority of non-Muslims often makes us hesitate to buy food. In order to maintain the halal intake of food that enters the body, some people choose to become vegetarians. The reason is clear, fruit and vegetables must be halal. Whereas the halal meat is still in doubt. Even though the meat is halal, like beef or goat, we are still anxious because the slaughter process is not necessarily halal. For this reason, the choice to become a vegetarian is considered the safest for those who live in a country with a majority of non-Muslims.
However, the question that arises next, is it true that food made from fruit and vegetables is definitely halal? And what is the view of Islam about the vegetarian lifestyle which is actually more inclined to the teachings of other religions?
Get to know the vegetarian lifestyle
According to the Oxford dictionary, vegetarianism is defined as someone who does not eat meat or fish, and sometimes other animal products, especially for moral, religious or health reasons. As the vegetarian lifestyle develops, there are many types of vegetarians that emerge, such as lacto-ovo vegetarians who still want to eat milk and eggs in addition to vegetable ingredients. We also know lacto-vegetarians who only want to drink milk other than plant-based ingredients, or ovo-vegetarians who only want to eat eggs from existing animal products. There are also pesco-vegetarians who still want to eat fish.
Muslims who choose to become vegetarians may become pesco-lacto-ovo-vegetarians, which are still willing to eat fish, milk and eggs in addition to plant-based foods. They only avoid meat whose halal nature is doubtful.
The origin of vegetarianism, is there in Islam?
According to Wikipedia, the term vegetarian has been known since 1839, derived from the word Vegetus in Latin, which means whole, healthy, fresh, alive. This term originally appeared in connection with Alcott House, a place of learning located next to the center of Ham Common, London. This place publishes "The Healthian" pamphlets which use the term vegetarian.
Its own origins are more closely related to the Ancient Greeks who did know the concept of not eating meat. One of the characters is Pythagoras who lived in the late 6th century BC. He argues that animal flesh can make the human soul contaminated and become wild. The concept of vegetarianism is also known in religions such as Brahmanism, Buddhaism, and Hinduism. The advantage of being vegetarian both according to Greek philosophers and religions is more on moral and spiritual reasons. But in the late 19th century new health reasons arose over the concept of vegetarianism.
Meanwhile, in Islam itself there is no suggestion to live a vegetarian lifestyle. Even some scholars argue that the vegetarian lifestyle is prohibited in Islam because there is no argument in Islamic teachings, including acts that prohibit the lawful, and can be a form of denying the blessings of Allah SWT. Some even explicitly say that the vegetarian lifestyle makes us resemble infidels and make new things or heresy.
Launching Ummi Online, a prominent ulama from the US, Sheikh Hamza Yusuf, has another opinion. He said in a lecture that eating meat is not part of Islamic law. According to him, the Messenger of Allāh semi was semi vegetarian because in many histories he mentioned eating foods that did not contain meat.
"Umar bin Khattab RA once met a man who ate meat every day. Then he said, 'It would be better if you roll the stomach so that other people can eat.' In another part of the book of Al-Muwatta compiled by Imam Malik bin Anas it is stated that Umar once advised, 'Beware of meat because it can make someone addicted to wine (alcohol). "
Being vegetarian, safe from unclean food?
The answer is not necessarily, how can it be? Some vegetarian menus are provided in countries with the majority of non-Muslims sometimes still using additional ingredients such as broth to approach animal tastes so that the vegetarian is not bored. For this reason, restaurant or restaurant owners use food ingredients which are animal derivatives, namely microbial products with animal-based media such as IMP and GMP. The use of alcohol or alcohol is also sometimes done by food served for vegetarians. So we still have to be careful and vigilant even though we choose foods whose title is food for vegetarians. We still have to be careful with the contents of other ingredients used as a mixture of fruits and vegetables.
After reading the explanation above, what do you think about the vegetarian lifestyle while living in a country with a majority of non-Muslims? Share your opinion in the comments column!
Living in a country with a majority of non-Muslims often makes us hesitate to buy food. In order to maintain the halal intake of food that enters the body, some people choose to become vegetarians. The reason is clear, fruit and vegetables must be halal. Whereas the halal meat is still in doubt. Even though the meat is halal, like beef or goat, we are still anxious because the slaughter process is not necessarily halal. For this reason, the choice to become a vegetarian is considered the safest for those who live in a country with a majority of non-Muslims.
However, the question that arises next, is it true that food made from fruit and vegetables is definitely halal? And what is the view of Islam about the vegetarian lifestyle which is actually more inclined to the teachings of other religions?
Get to know the vegetarian lifestyle
According to the Oxford dictionary, vegetarianism is defined as someone who does not eat meat or fish, and sometimes other animal products, especially for moral, religious or health reasons. As the vegetarian lifestyle develops, there are many types of vegetarians that emerge, such as lacto-ovo vegetarians who still want to eat milk and eggs in addition to vegetable ingredients. We also know lacto-vegetarians who only want to drink milk other than plant-based ingredients, or ovo-vegetarians who only want to eat eggs from existing animal products. There are also pesco-vegetarians who still want to eat fish.
Muslims who choose to become vegetarians may become pesco-lacto-ovo-vegetarians, which are still willing to eat fish, milk and eggs in addition to plant-based foods. They only avoid meat whose halal nature is doubtful.
The origin of vegetarianism, is there in Islam?
According to Wikipedia, the term vegetarian has been known since 1839, derived from the word Vegetus in Latin, which means whole, healthy, fresh, alive. This term originally appeared in connection with Alcott House, a place of learning located next to the center of Ham Common, London. This place publishes "The Healthian" pamphlets which use the term vegetarian.
Its own origins are more closely related to the Ancient Greeks who did know the concept of not eating meat. One of the characters is Pythagoras who lived in the late 6th century BC. He argues that animal flesh can make the human soul contaminated and become wild. The concept of vegetarianism is also known in religions such as Brahmanism, Buddhaism, and Hinduism. The advantage of being vegetarian both according to Greek philosophers and religions is more on moral and spiritual reasons. But in the late 19th century new health reasons arose over the concept of vegetarianism.
Meanwhile, in Islam itself there is no suggestion to live a vegetarian lifestyle. Even some scholars argue that the vegetarian lifestyle is prohibited in Islam because there is no argument in Islamic teachings, including acts that prohibit the lawful, and can be a form of denying the blessings of Allah SWT. Some even explicitly say that the vegetarian lifestyle makes us resemble infidels and make new things or heresy.
Launching Ummi Online, a prominent ulama from the US, Sheikh Hamza Yusuf, has another opinion. He said in a lecture that eating meat is not part of Islamic law. According to him, the Messenger of Allāh semi was semi vegetarian because in many histories he mentioned eating foods that did not contain meat.
"Umar bin Khattab RA once met a man who ate meat every day. Then he said, 'It would be better if you roll the stomach so that other people can eat.' In another part of the book of Al-Muwatta compiled by Imam Malik bin Anas it is stated that Umar once advised, 'Beware of meat because it can make someone addicted to wine (alcohol). "
Being vegetarian, safe from unclean food?
The answer is not necessarily, how can it be? Some vegetarian menus are provided in countries with the majority of non-Muslims sometimes still using additional ingredients such as broth to approach animal tastes so that the vegetarian is not bored. For this reason, restaurant or restaurant owners use food ingredients which are animal derivatives, namely microbial products with animal-based media such as IMP and GMP. The use of alcohol or alcohol is also sometimes done by food served for vegetarians. So we still have to be careful and vigilant even though we choose foods whose title is food for vegetarians. We still have to be careful with the contents of other ingredients used as a mixture of fruits and vegetables.
After reading the explanation above, what do you think about the vegetarian lifestyle while living in a country with a majority of non-Muslims? Share your opinion in the comments column!
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