Written by: Fauzia Jogan
✿ Khala Hameedan’s Concerns and Objections
Today, as I was returning from school, I noticed Khala Hameedan looking distressed in the fields. Seeing her in such a state saddened me as well. I approached her and asked what was troubling her. She anxiously said that Muslims mercilessly slaughter animals merely to indulge their taste. She questioned whether a merciful God could allow such cruelty.
❀ The Reality of Meat Consumption in Islam
In response, I explained that it is incorrect to assume Muslims eat meat solely for pleasure. In truth, Muslims follow the divine commands of what is lawful (halal) and unlawful (haram). Animals like pigs and dogs are completely avoided because Allah has prohibited them. As for mercy in the act of slaughtering and consuming meat — even in nature, carnivorous plants and animals prey on others. Are they not also created by God?
❀ Animal Rights and the Question of Spirituality
Khala Hameedan insisted that killing animals is against spirituality. I explained that if this logic were to be accepted, even eating vegetables would become questionable since plants are also living beings. What about regions where agriculture is not possible — what should people eat there? In places like Japan, seafood is a staple, and the Inuit of the Arctic rely on seal and reindeer meat for survival.
❀ Meat Consumption Across the Globe
If meat consumption were banned worldwide, it would lead to severe food shortages and soaring prices of other goods. Eating meat is not against spirituality — nearly every major religion permits it. Even Hindu scriptures, such as the Manusmriti, mention meat consumption. The Ramayana narrates Lord Rama hunting a deer and consuming its meat.
❀ Islamic Guidance on Slaughtering
Khala Hameedan then objected that slaughtering causes pain to animals and feels cruel. I shared that Islam provides specific instructions to minimize animal suffering. A Hadith of Hazrat Shaddad reports that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said animals should be treated with compassion during slaughter. It is even forbidden to sharpen the knife in the presence of the animal.
❀ Spirituality and the Irony of Perception
In the end, Khala Hameedan began watering her crops. My niece Imaan innocently asked why the plants needed water. Khala replied in frustration that plants are living beings and need water to survive. Imaan sarcastically responded that if plants are alive, then picking okra would also be cruelty. This only angered Khala Hameedan further, who said she would post about it on Facebook.
✿ Conclusion
This conversation revealed that objections to meat consumption are often emotional rather than rational. Meat is consumed worldwide, and Islam has laid down clear principles to ensure the process remains within the bounds of mercy and ethical treatment.