Question:
Science tell us that whatever one eats, it has an effect on one’s behaviour.
Why then, does Islam allow Muslims to eat non-vegetarian food, since eating
of animals could make a person violent and ferocious?
Answer:
1. Only eating of herbivorous animals allowed
I agree that, what a person eats has an effect on his behaviour. This
is one of the reasons why Islam prohibits the eating of carnivorous animals
like lion, tiger, leopard, etc. who are violent and ferocious. The consumption
of the meat of such animals would probably make a person violent and ferocious.
Islam only allows the eating of herbivorous animals like cow, goat, sheep,
etc. that are peaceful and docile. We Muslims eat peaceful and docile
animals because we are peace loving and non-violent people.
2. The Qur’an says Prophet prohibits what is bad
The Qur’an says:
"The Prophet commands them what is just and prohibits
what is evil". "He allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits
them what is bad (and impure),"
[Al-Qur’an 7: 157]
"So take what the Messenger assigns to you and deny
yourselves that which he withholds from you."
[Al-Qur’an 59: 7]
For a Muslim, the Prophet’s statement is sufficient to convince him that
Allah does not wish humans to eat some kinds of meat while allowing some
other kinds.
3. Hadith of Mohammad (pbuh) prohibiting eating of
carnivorous animals
According to various authentic Ahadith narrated in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih
Muslim including hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas in Sahih Muslim, Book of
hunting and slaughter, Hadith No. 4752 and Sunan Ibn-I-Majah chapter 13
Hadith no. 3232 to 3234, the Holy Prophet (pbuh) prohibited the eating
of:
- Wild animals with canine teeth, i.e. meat eating carnivorous animals.
These are animals belonging to the cat families such as lion, tiger,
cats, dogs, wolfs, hyenas, etc.
- Certain rodents like mice, rats, rabbits with claws, etc.
- Certain reptiles like snakes, alligators, etc.
- Birds of prey with talons or claws, like vultures, eagle, crows, owl,
etc.
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