For Muslims (followers of Islam; Moslems) Quran or the holy book that was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is like a constitution of how to lead life in accordance with the teachings of Islam. The holy book is considered to be a direct message from Allah revealed through his Prophet. The holy book deals with the practicalities of life and tries to put things in a perspective that is both logical and scientific.
Muslims across the universe believe in the Book and going through it is one of the most important non negotiable for a Muslim woman or a man, however its understanding among muslims is quite negligible as the Quran is written in Arabic and a majority of Muslims do not understand the language.
As a result most of us are made to read it through a tutor during our childhood but many of us do not understand it for most part of our lives – that we were supposed to be leading in a way that confirms to the teachings revealed in Holy Quran……Irony isn’t it….
While Islam is in its truest of sense and spirit a very practical religion, its understanding is limited due to various interpretations that have been made by various self proclaimed Islamic scholars and caretakers of religion who manipulate and mutilate the teachings in their own might.
While I leave the politics of religion for a later discussion, I pull myself back to the topic. One of the most striking teaching that one comes across in an attempt to understand Quran is the importance that is laid upon SEEKING KNOWLEDGE and REASON… I take this as an opportunity to quote a few examples:
“And they shall say had we but listened or used reason, we would not be among the inmates of the burning fire.” (Quran, 67:10)
“Are those who have knowledge and those who have no knowledge alike? Only the men of understanding are mindful. ” (Quran, 39:9)
The Qur’an encourages people towards scientific research:
“And whoso brings the truth and believes therein such are the dutiful.” (Quran, 39:33)
Every Muslim man’s and every Muslim woman’s prayer should be:
“My Lord! Enrich me with knowledge..” (Quran, 20:114)
The importance accorded to seeking knowledge, scientific research and reasoning makes ISLAM a very dynamic religion that is not bound by the period in which it was revealed to the believers. The pursuit of knowledge and use of reason, based on sense and observation is made and considered obligatory on all believers.
The same has been reiterated by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) when he supplements the teachings of the Holy Quran in the following sayings:
“Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave”
“Ink of the scholar is more sacred than the blood of the martyr”
“To listen to the words of the learned and to instill unto others the lessons of science is better than religious exercises.”
” Seek Knowledge even though it be in China”
In this age and day there are various ills that plague our society and Muslims, being a part of it. One of the important ills of the society is eating meat of animals, which may have been a necessity a few hundred years ago but no more.
There has been a dominant thought that its compulsory for Muslims to eat meat or consume animal products which is as ignorant a thought as is the knowledge of many of my brothers and sisters about the Holy Quran. This one concept I can say with command and conviction is floated by the high and mighty businesses that thrive on killing animals.
Islam, Quran and Prophet encourages to the extent of making it obligatory for muslims to seek knowledge actively, reason and apply the learnings for the benefit and betterment of human race, however we do not want to know or completely ignore :
the cruelties through which the animals are butchered around in extremely pathetic slaughter houses
-Handicapped and infirm animals being butchered for making profit
-the pain and trauma that animals are put through during their lifetime
-the amount of forage and feed used to farm these animals for profit and consumption
-the rise in modern day diseases due to consumption of meat and dairy products
-that all the meat in the market is a result of extreme form of cruel and barbaric treatment of animals
-that the merchants of the trade are only bothered about their profits and they do not have
-inclination to make you more muslim by feeding you this extreme cruelty
-that each muslim and each meat eater is being ridiculed by them by creating this artificial and
-insane concept of humane slaughter and killing
And my sisters and brothers do very well know but tend to completely ignore that:
-Alternatives are available
-Islam does permit you to eat meat but it does not propagate so, it mentions along with all the
-vegetables and fruits certain animals are allowed for you to consume however it doesn’t anywhere -makes it obligatory to consume them and leaves it to a believers reasoning and knowledge
-that we are not living in a pre historic era where our survival is based in hunting down animals
-that we have a choice of spending money on buying cruelty and ignorance in the form of meat and -dairy or to switch to a plant based cruelty free healthy diet
-that eating meat and other animal products make us sick and diseased
-that addiction to anything is not good and we must exercise restraint for our choice will make a
-world of difference for many million living beings each second of the minute
-that we need to be conscious of all the life forms around us and live with compassion towards
-humans and animals both
We really need to shake ourselves and shun our misinformation, open our minds and awaken, come out of this “Jahiliya” (ignorance) and stop mutilating religion for our personal gains as lowly as a matter of taste of flesh of an animal.
Thats the way of Islam and Muslims to seek knowledge, reason and its appropriate application and that is the enlightenment and truth and that is what makes you a compassionate Muslim.
Meat is just not right and not Islamic in todays day and age when alternates are available aplenty and abundantly. Don’t let the animals be butchered and don’t become a part of this organised crime that brings only misery on living beings. Give it up my fellows and we will Inshallah have a better and sensible life full of health and joy without the baggage of misery and murder.
With love,
Yours
Faizan Vegan Jaleel
faizanjaleel@icloud.com
“Acquire knowledge: it enables its possessor to distinguish right from the wrong, it lights the way to heaven; it is our friend in the desert, our society in solitude, our companion when friendless – it guides us to happiness; it sustains us in misery; it is an ornament among friends and an armour against enemies.”
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