Thought experiment: vegetarianism

[Joshimitsu]

Salam,

If we imagine a small town or city which consists of vegetarians, what would the ruling for eid ul adha be - in terms of sacrificing animals? Given that they won't eat the meat, would the sacrifice need to change?

[maneatinglizard]

:salam:

Why would they not eat the meat?

That's probably a sin right there.

[Joshimitsu]

Salam.

Some people don't like meat. Why is it a sin to not eat meat?

[ssjkakarot]

Wa alaykum salam,

It would be a sin to think of eating meat to be something haraam or detestable, like some vegetarians tend to do. Allah has allowed it and even promoted it, so it can't be detestable.

"given that they won't eat the meat, would the sacrifice need to change?"

If people won't pray 5 times a day, should that be changed too? o_O Allah has made doing qurbani wajib upon us, at least according to the Hanafi madhab, so no, we can't change the rules.

[muminah]

What is the ruling? If they believe it is cruel to kill animals, are they sinful?

[Joshimitsu]

Salam,


Wa alaykum salam,

It would be a sin to think of eating meat to be something haraam or detestable, like some vegetarians tend to do. Allah has allowed it and even promoted it, so it can't be detestable.

Yes, I wasn't suggesting eating meat is haram or detestable.


If people won't pray 5 times a day, should that be changed too? o_O Allah has made doing qurbani wajib upon us, at least according to the Hanafi madhab, so no, we can't change the rules.

I'm not sure your analogy has much reference here. I was wondering about the waste of the meat. Given that wasting food and sustenance from Allah is haram, would the ruling change in this instance? I'm wondering how rigid the sacrifice of animals is for eid ul adha when considering the circumstances of a particular community.

This is probably a question for a scholar, and probably one with a lot of time on his/her hands, given that this is a question based purely on hypothetical conditions and not on reality!

Thanks for the response though.

[sudoku]

:salam:

If a Muslim considers slaughtering an animal as cruel, it would mean that he/she deem Rasulullah :saw: as cruel since he slaughtered many animals.

In any case, if a vegetarian doesn't want to eat meat, but get the reward for slaughtering, couldn't he just get someone else to slaughter the meat and distribute it amongst the needy?

[Joshimitsu]

Salam,


:salam:

In any case, if a vegetarian doesn't want to eat meat, but get the reward for slaughtering, couldn't he just get someone else to slaughter the meat and distribute it amongst the needy?

Yes, that's what most vegetarian Muslims do. But this is a thought experiment.

The (imaginary) town consists only of vegetarians. The needy do not eat the meat either, so the meat will be wasted.

[xs11ax]

they can do it online through ummah welfare trust who will distribute the meat to the needy.

problem solved.

[sudoku]

they can do it online through ummah welfare trust who will distribute the meat to the needy.

problem solved.

:salam:

Yup. Like how many people in Canada etc get their cows etc slaughtered back home ie Pakistan/India etc and have the meat given to madrassahs etc.

Hm, these needy people can't be too needy if they're so picky!

ps. sorry for all the etcs.

[Joshimitsu]

Salam,


they can do it online through ummah welfare trust who will distribute the meat to the needy.

problem solved.

Lol okay, let's say they have no access to internet. They don't have modern technology and they live on very dangerous terrain where travelling to the nearest town with bags of meat would be life-threatening. They have cows for milk and sheep for cotton. They don't eat meat as they've become accustomed to veg and over the generations the texture of meat is no longer agreeable with the people.

Every year they remember the sacrifice of Ibrahim as for eid ul adha and carry out their duty and sacrifice animals for the pleasure of Allah swt. The meat then gets wasted and thrown down the mountain side where wolves and other wild animals feed on them.

Being that this is a thought experiment, please try not to create another get-out clause for the people of this imaginary town!

[xs11ax]

hmmm...but sacrificing broccoli just doesnt sound right :rolleyes:

[sudoku]

:salam:

Well if we look at it in the way of sacrifice, well eating the meat would be considered a sacrifice on their part as well, wouldn't it.

However, if it's that detestable, why don't they instead spend Eed in the next town and slaughter the meat there, let those town dwellers eat, and then come back.