MOHAMMED WAFEER
DOHA- There are different types of species which live on the earth and in the ocean. Out of these species, some are permitted to eat while some are prohibited based on the advantages and disadvantages they bring to the human body and soul. Some of the animals are beneficial for humanity for traveling, milking, protecting from hazards, hunting and keeping the environment neat, clean and healthy and so on.
On the one hand, we are able to understand the benefits of some of the creatures and on the other hand, we cannot simply understand the benefits brought by many living creatures which support to keep the natural environment in a balanced status, for human life to be healthy and prosperous.
Showing mercy on animals is a most recommended and urged deed on mankind either the animals which are permitted to be consumed for food or prohibited for consumption. As per the basic fundamentals of Islam, there is a purpose for every creation/creature, let it be animals, birds, insects, plants & trees, sea living creatures etc., Furthermore, according to Islamic principles, animals and plants have their own position in the creation hierarchy and humans are responsible for their well-being and you cannot harm under any circumstances.
“There is not an animal that lives on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but they form communities like you. Nothing have we omitted from the Book, and they all shall be gathered to their Lord in the end”(Quran 6:38).
The Quran further describes animals, and all living things, as Muslim – in the sense that they live in the way that Allah created them to live, and obey Allah’s laws in the natural world. They have feelings and strong bond between their family members as human kind do.
Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) commanded Muslims to show kindness and compassion towards animals and birds, and forbade the cruelty towards them.
“Whoever is merciful even to a sparrow, Allah will be merciful to him on the Day of Judgment.”
“A good deed done to an animal is like a good deed done to a human being, while an act of cruelty to an animal is as bad as cruelty to a human being.”
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) once passed by a camel that was so emaciated that its back had almost reached its stomach. He said, “Fear Allah in these beasts who cannot speak.” (Abu Dawud)
Humans were created by Allah, the Almighty, to be custodians and guardians of the Earth. Killing without need- that is killing for fun- is not permissible.
The Companions said,”O Allah’s Messenger! Is there a reward for us in serving the animals?” He replied: “There is a reward for serving any living being.” (Bukhari)
A group of Companions were once on a journey with the Prophet,(PBUH), and he left them for a while. During his absence, they saw a bird with its two young, and they took the young ones from the nest. The mother bird was circling above in the air, beating its wings in grief, when the Prophet came back. He said, “Who has hurt the feelings of this bird by taking its young? Return them to her.” (Muslim)
In Islam, hunting for sport is prohibited. Muslims may only hunt when it is needed to meet their requirements for food. This was common during the time of the Prophet Muhammad, and he condemned it at every opportunity.
We,the Muslim community must always think and act in the best interest of the country as it has always been and the interest of the community should be next to that of the nation as a whole.
Today, a law is about to be legislated so as to ban the slaughtering of cattle in the country and to meet the meat requirements of the people it has been proposed that the cattle meat will be imported. This arrangement, if it brings more benefits to the nation than slaughtering locally, of course everyone should support this and there should not be a second thought on this. The government has been planning to develop the nation from different angles and we may sometimes do not understand the results of some of the decisions on the spot but later it could bring about a lot of preferable outcomes.
The Muslim community of Sri Lanka should understand that eating beef is not a religious obligation but just a permission only. Prophet Muhammad’s (PBHU) diet was 90% plant-based and he lived largely on dates and barley. He very rarely ate meat.” Therefore, Islam never promotes slaughtering or eating meat. Sometimes, it is confusing to understand why a group of Muslim community takes it a serious issue when it comes to banning of slaughtering cattle or eating meat. They need to go back to the sources to understand the teachings of prophet Mohammed (PBHU), instead of raising their voice unwontedly in such affairs.
Dear MUFTHI 🙄 MOHAMMED WAFEER.
It is confusing to understand by us, the Readers of this article, that Why are you pointing at the Sri Lankan Muslim Community and addressing that “they should understand that eating beef is not a religious obligation”. Are you talking without any sense. Are you crazy. Who said that it’s a obligation and it’s a must. You don’t write things because of you need to write something and fill the blanks in Media. People like you create unnecessary trouble within the community and the country at large.
I think you’re giving a wrong advice from a wrong place. Please do write something very constructive and beneficial to all rather than writing stupid things of this kind and wasting yours and ours valuable time.
Dear Mohamed Wafeer, you have crystal clearly expounded the truths about what Islamic stance on cattle slaughter and consumption. Your advise to the Srilankan Muslim community on the matter is timely and valuable. Furthermore, it’s utmost important for the Muslim community to be always working towards the betterment of the nation, being patriots of the homeland.
I appreciate your write up and I have noticed you rising to the occasion always with excellent points.
Please keep going.