In The Name of Allaah, TRhe Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Gentle Reminder to The Vegetarian Who Asks Whether We Really Need Meat

Allaah said:

وَٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمَ خَلَقَهَا‌ۗ لَڪُمۡ فِيهَا دِفۡءٌ۬ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ وَمِنۡهَا تَأۡڪُلُونَ
وَلَكُمۡ فِيهَا جَمَالٌ حِينَ تُرِيحُونَ وَحِينَ تَسۡرَحُونَ
وَتَحۡمِلُ أَثۡقَالَڪُمۡ إِلَىٰ بَلَدٍ۬ لَّمۡ تَكُونُواْ بَـٰلِغِيهِ إِلَّا بِشِقِّ ٱلۡأَنفُسِ‌ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكُمۡ لَرَءُوفٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ۬

[And the cattle, He has created them for you; in them there is warmth (warm clothing), and numerous benefits, and of them you eat. And wherein is beauty for you, when you bring them home in the evening, and as you lead them forth to pasture in the morning. And they carry your loads to a land that you could not reach except with great trouble to yourselves. Truly, your Lord is full of Kindness, Most Merciful] – Meaning: Allaah created them for you – for your benefit and wellbeing. And from its great benefits is that you have warmth from them by making clothing, beddings and tents from their wool, hirsute, their hairs and skins; and you have other benefits in them and eat from their [meat]. [وَلَكُمۡ فِيهَا جَمَالٌ حِينَ تُرِيحُونَ وَحِينَ تَسۡرَحُونَ – And wherein is beauty for you, when you bring them home in the evening, and as you lead them forth to pasture in the morning] – Meaning, at the time when they are going to take a rest in the evening and when they are being taken out to graze. This is because the cattle do not [enjoy] any of that beauty [seen from them], but rather indeed you are the ones who enjoy their beauty, just as you beautify yourselves with your clothing, children and wealth, and you adore that.

[وَتَحۡمِلُ أَثۡقَالَڪُمۡ إِلَىٰ بَلَدٍ۬ لَّمۡ تَكُونُواْ بَـٰلِغِيهِ إِلَّا بِشِقِّ ٱلۡأَنفُسِ‌ۚ ۬ – And they carry your loads to a land that you could not reach except with great trouble to yourselves. Truly, your Lord is full of Kindness, Most Merciful]- Meaning, you ride on some of them and others carry what you desire of heavy loads to faraway lands and regions. [إِنَّ رَبَّكُمۡ لَرَءُوفٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ۬ – Truly, your Lord is full of Kindness, Most Merciful]- Meaning, He subjugated to you that which you need and cannot do without. [وَٱلۡخَيۡلَ وَٱلۡبِغَالَ وَٱلۡحَمِيرَ لِتَرۡڪَبُوهَا وَزِينَةً۬‌ۚ – (He has created) horses, mules and donkeys, for you to ride and as an adornment] – Meaning, sometimes you utilise them for riding and at other times for beauty and beautification. [وَيَخۡلُقُ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ – And He creates (other) things of which you have no knowledge]- Meaning, the things utilised by the people as means of transportation on land, at sea and in the air, and that which they utilise for their benefit and wellbeing after the revelation of the Qur’aan, because indeed Allaah did not mention them specifically; rather He [The Exalted] – in His Book – did not mention except what His servants knew at the time or its similarity. As for if he mentioned that which had no similarity at the time, then they would neither have known it nor understood what is intended by it; therefore he mentioned the basis [or the foundation of an affair] which included the things they knew and the things they did not know, just as Allaah mentioned the bliss in paradise and named the things we know and have seen their similarity, such as date palm trees, grapes and pomegranates, and then He mentioned in general the things whose similarity is unknown to us, as He stated in another Aayah: [فِيہِمَا مِن كُلِّ فَـٰكِهَةٍ۬ زَوۡجَانِ – In them (both) will be every kind of fruit in pairs]. Likewise, in this Aayah [i.e. An-Nahl Aayah 8], Allaah mentioned the transportation we know, such as horses, mules, donkeys, camels and ships, and mentioned in general the others, saying: [وَيَخۡلُقُ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ – And He creates (other) things of which you have no knowledge].

After mentioning the tangible path and that He created for the servants that which they utilise for journeys, such as camels and other them, He then mentioned the religious path that leads to His [Pleasure]; so He said: [وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ قَصۡدُ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَمِنۡهَا جَآٮِٕرٌ۬‌ۚ – And upon Allah is the responsibility to explain the Straight Path (i.e. Islamic Monotheism for mankind i.e. to show them legal and illegal, good and evil things, etc. so, whosoever accepts the guidance, it will be for his own benefit and whosoever goes astray, it will be for his own destruction), but there are ways that turn aside (such as Paganism, distorted Judaism and Christianity after the departure of Musa and Eesaa etc.)] – Meaning, the straight path, and that is the only direct and genuine path that leads to the [pleasure] of Allaah. As for the path that turn aside in creed and deeds, it is everything that opposes the straight path, because it severs a person from the path of Allaah and leads to the destination of misery; therefore those who are rightly guided traverse the straight path by the permission of their Lord, and the deviated ones deviate from it.

[وَلَوۡ شَآءَ لَهَدَٮٰڪُمۡ أَجۡمَعِينَ – And had He willed, He would have guided you all (mankind)]- Meaning, but He guided some out of His kindness and Grace, and did not guide others based on His Perfect Wisdom and Justice. (1) This happens based on Allaah’s Perfect Wisdom and Just Decree, as recompense for one’s wickedness. (2) Such a person was not forced to go astray, rather he made a choice, even though his choice is under the Will of Allaah. We do not know what was in the hearts of those who deviated, but we know – with absolute certainty – that Allaah passes Just Judgments and He does not commit injustice against anything; rather it is the people who wrong themselves. (3)

Az-Zujaaj [rahimahullaah] said, “It is Allaah who will clarify the straight path and call to it with Hujaj [i.e. clear and overwhelming proofs that defeats all the obstinate and stubborn ones] and Burhaan [i.e. proofs that clarify and distinguish between truth and falsehood in everything]; “But there are ways that turn aside”; Ibn Abbaas [radiyallaahu-anhumaa] said, “They are the different types of desires [i.e. evil desires]”. Ibnul Mubaarak [rahimahullaah] said, “They are the (evil) desires and the innovations in religion”. (4)

Rebuke Against The One Who Forbids Meat

Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: The foundation of the religion of Islaam is that the permissible affairs are those that Allaah and His Messenger have made permissible, and the impermissible affairs are those that Allaah and His Messenger have made impermissible. It is not allowed for anyone to leave the straight path which Allaah sent His Messenger with. Allaah [The Most High] said:

[وَأَنَّ هَـٰذَا صِرَٲطِى مُسۡتَقِيمً۬ا فَٱتَّبِعُوهُ‌ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ ٱلسُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمۡ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكُمۡ وَصَّٮٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّڪُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ – And verily, this is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not [other] paths, for they will separate you away from His Path. This He has ordained for you that you may become pious].

Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ud [may Allaah be pleased with him] reported that the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] drew a line for us and said, “This is Allaah’s Straight Path”. Then he drew lines to its right and left and then said, “These are other paths. Upon every one of them there is a devil calling towards it”. Then he recited: “وَأَنَّ هَـٰذَا صِرَٲطِى مُسۡتَقِيمً۬ا فَٱتَّبِعُوهُ‌ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ ٱلسُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمۡ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ‌ – Indeed this is My Straight Path, so follow it. And do not follow other paths; they will separate you from His Path”. [Hadeeth reported by Imaam Ahmad in Al-Musnad 4437]

Indeed, Allaah mentioned – in Surah Al-An’aam, Soorah Al-A’raaf and other them – those deeds the idol worshipers were rebuked for, when they declared impermissible the things which Allaah [The Most High] did not declare impermissible, such as the Baahirah [i.e. a she-camel whose milk was spared for the idols and nobody was allowed to milk it] and the Saa’ibah [i.e. a she-camel let loose for free pasture for their false gods, e.g. idols, etc., and nothing was allowed to be carried on it]. They [also] declared permissible those [deeds] which Allaah declared impermissible, such as the killing of their children and they instituted a religion which Allaah did not allow. Allaah [The Most High] said: [أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شُرَڪَـٰٓؤُاْ شَرَعُواْ لَهُم مِّنَ ٱلدِّينِ مَا لَمۡ يَأۡذَنۢ بِهِ ٱللَّهُ‌ۚ – Or have they partners with Allah (false gods), who have instituted for them a religion which Allah has not allowed]. (5)

Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadee Al-Mad’khalee [may Allaah preserve him] stated about lies and liars: All these people carry mighty lies – which cannot be enumerated here – related to affairs of legislation and in declaring what is lawful and unlawful, such as what Allaah has stated regarding the pagan Arabs, who made judgements about the Bahirah [a she-camel whose milk was spared for the idols and that nobody was allowed to milk it] or a Sa’ibah [a she-camel let loose for free pasture for their false gods and that nothing was allowed to be carried on it], or a Wasilah [a she-camel set free for idols because it has given birth to a she-camel at its first delivery and then again gives birth to a she-camel at its second delivery]. Allaah [تعالى ] stated in declaring this a lie:

[مَا جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِنۢ بَحِيرَةٍ۬ وَلَا سَآٮِٕبَةٍ۬ وَلَا وَصِيلَةٍ۬ وَلَا حَامٍ۬‌ۙ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ يَفۡتَرُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡكَذِبَ‌ۖ وَأَكۡثَرُهُمۡ لَا يَعۡقِلُونَ – Allah has not instituted things like Bahirah (a she-camel whose milk was spared for the idols and nobody was allowed to milk it) or a Sa’ibah (a she-camel let loose for free pasture for their false gods, e.g. idols, etc., and nothing was allowed to be carried on it), or a Wasilah (a she-camel set free for idols because it has given birth to a she-camel at its first delivery and then again gives birth to a she-camel at its second delivery) or a Ham (a stallion-camel freed from work for their idols, after it had finished a number of copulations assigned for it, all these animals were liberated in honour of idols as practised by pagan Arabs in the pre-Islamic period). But those who disbelieve invent lies against Allah, and most of them have no understanding]. [Surah Al-Maa’idah. Aayah 103]

By Allaah, they are liars and they are foolish people deprived of sound intellect. Allaah said:

فَكُلُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقَڪُمُ ٱللَّهُ حَلَـٰلاً۬ طَيِّبً۬ا وَٱشۡڪُرُواْ نِعۡمَتَ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمۡ إِيَّاهُ تَعۡبُدُونَ
إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيۡڪُمُ ٱلۡمَيۡتَةَ وَٱلدَّمَ وَلَحۡمَ ٱلۡخِنزِيرِ وَمَآ أُهِلَّ لِغَيۡرِ ٱللَّهِ بِهِۦ‌ۖ فَمَنِ ٱضۡطُرَّ غَيۡرَ بَاغٍ۬ وَلَا عَادٍ۬ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ۬
وَلَا تَقُولُواْ لِمَا تَصِفُ أَلۡسِنَتُڪُمُ ٱلۡكَذِبَ هَـٰذَا حَلَـٰلٌ۬ وَهَـٰذَا حَرَامٌ۬ لِّتَفۡتَرُواْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡكَذِبَ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَفۡتَرُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡكَذِبَ لَا يُفۡلِحُونَ
مَتَـٰعٌ۬ قَلِيلٌ۬ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ۬

So eat of the lawful and good food which Allah has provided for you. And be grateful for the Graces of Allah, if it is He Whom you worship. He has forbidden you only Al-Maytatah (meat of a dead animal), blood, the flesh of swine, and any animal which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah (or has been slaughtered for idols etc. or on which Allah’s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering). But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, and not transgressing, then, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And say not concerning that which your tongues put forth falsely: “This is lawful and this is forbidden,” so as to invent lies against Allah. Verily, those who invent lies against Allah will never prosper. A passing brief enjoyment (will be theirs), but they will have a painful torment. [Surah An-Nahl. Verses114-117]

This was an address to the Arabs who instituted things like Bahirah or a Sa’ibah, and due to this Allaah declared this affair of theirs a lie, determined the unlawful things in relation to that which they stated, made it known that what they declared unlawful or lawful is tantamount to lies invented against Allaah, that the liars will not be successful, their enjoyment through lies and slanders is a brief enjoyment and an eternal punishment awaits them – a painful punishment. (6)

Indeed, the above suffices as rebuke against the one who declares that ‘Meat is Murder’ whilst intending by way of such statement that meat should be banned or that it is inhumane to slaughter those animals – for food -which Allaah has permitted. The enemies of the Prophets are well-known for portraying evil as good and good as evil.

Allaah [The Exalted] said:

وَكَذَٲلِكَ جَعَلۡنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِىٍّ عَدُوًّ۬ا شَيَـٰطِينَ ٱلۡإِنسِ وَٱلۡجِنِّ يُوحِى بَعۡضُهُمۡ إِلَىٰ بَعۡضٍ۬ زُخۡرُفَ ٱلۡقَوۡلِ غُرُورً۬ا‌ۚ وَلَوۡ شَآءَ رَبُّكَ مَا فَعَلُوهُ‌ۖ فَذَرۡهُمۡ وَمَا يَفۡتَرُونَ

And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies – Shayaateen (devils) among mankind and jinns, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion (or by way of deception). If your Lord had so willed, they would not have done it, so leave them alone with their fabrications.” [Surah Al-An’aam: Ayah 112]

Allaah [Glorified be He] stated that they aid one another in opposing the command of the Prophets with what some of them inspire others of adorned speech, so that the gullible and feeble minded people are misled by it. He [The Most High] stated the reason behind a perpetrator’s [adorned speech] and the reason why it is accepted by the people; then He [The Most High] mentioned [in ayah 113 Al-An’aam] the effects it has on those ignorant souls. When those souls incline towards such adorned speech and become pleased with it, they carry out what it calls them to do -in speech and action. Therefore, ponder upon these verses and the sublime meanings they convey, for they clarify the roots of false principles and alert a person against them. And if you ponder upon the statements of the people of falsehood, you will indeed find them clothed with expressions and presented in a good light with sophisticated terms, which are quickly accepted by those deprived of sound discernment-to the extent that the wicked sinners would give [good] names to the greatest types of wicked deeds. (7)

Benefit from this clarification by Shaikh Abu Khadeejah [may Allaah preserve him]:  https://www.abukhadeejah.com/does-islam-permit-a-muslim-to-be-a-vegan-or-vegetarian/

Finally, instead of forbidding that which Allaah has made lawful, they should disapprove of that which Allaah has also disapprove, such as the vices mentioned in the following links:

Belief In Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is Kufr That Will Remove a Person From The Fold of Islaam After The Proofs Are Established Against Him By The Upright Scholars

True Shyness And Some Deeds In Opposition to It- [Shirk, Pride, Unlawful Earnings, Turned Away From The Hereafter, Unlawful (and Harmful) Sexual Activity, Private Parts Exposed, Women Portrayed as Sexual Objects, Some Women Dressed but Naked]

The Evil Effects of Pornography, Fornication and Adultery on the Family Unit and Society (Short pdf Booklet)

The Most Comprehensive Work On The Subject of Homosexuality In Islam, The Ruling On Anal Sex In Islam, The Homophobe And Violence Against Homosexuals

Do Not Approach Women [i.e. Wives] In Their Back Passages

Alcohol Consumption, Smoking, Unhealthy Food Production, Carb-infested Processed Food etc: [Lockdown and Social Distancing Urgently Needed]

Three Ahaadeeth Regarding Women at The End of Time and Some Plots Against Methodology of The Prophets Through Women Issues!

Ref 1: Tafseer As-Sadi. Slightly paraphrased
Ref 2: Tafseer As-Sadi. Surah Israa. Aayah 5. Slightly paraphrased
Ref 3: Sharh Al-Arba’een pages 55-56- 1st edition 1428 (2007)-by Shaikh Saaleh Aala Ash-Shaikh
Ref 4: Zaadul Maseer’ by Imaam Ibnul Jawzi. Slightly paraphrased
[Ref 5: An Excerpt from ‘Al-Ibaadaat Ash-Shar-iyyah Wal-Farqu Baynahaa Wa Baynal Bid’ah page: 7-9]
[Ref 6: https://youtu.be/c0BMdgvMDBI ]
[Ref 7: An Excerpt from As-Sawaa-iq al-Mursalah of Imaam Ibnul Qayyim: 2/438). Slightly paraphrased]