Some might object to the issue of slaughtering animals and eating their meat. They consider it a form of torture that contradicts mercy. They see it as taking the life of a living thing. They picture it as morally hideous as killing a man. Therefore, some have forbidden eating meat. They see it as a form of human brutality no different from animal savagery.
The answer is that the issue of life cannot be dealt with in this way. Mercy is not based on a naive emotional state. Life is Allah’s gift to living things. He wanted them to survive according to special conditions. These conditions are based on mutual dependency in consuming food. This is apparent in the world of carnivores. They cannot survive except by eating other animals. The creation of different animals in their inherent weakness and strength is based on that. The law of the universe is based on the deep interest in the movement of life.
Man is no exception to this world in the food cycle. He has an existential need to eat animals, albeit within certain limits. The continuity of his life in its strong elements depends on that.
In light of this, we consider that taking a life is not entirely evil. It is necessary to ensure the continuity of another life. This is governed by the cosmic system. Without it, life on earth would disintegrate and cease to exist. This makes it a deep, integral part of the system of life. It creates diversity and mutual dependency. As for the issue of torture caused by slaughtering, it is like the suffering when one animal devours another. We should see past its hideousness by focusing on the fact that Allah made it innate. The advantages it causes are far greater than the disadvantages. Thus, we notice that mercy is relative in comparison with the arising interest. Something might be merciful in relation to the general order, but not on an individual level. This is natural for all issues related to the vital aspect governing human responsibilities and the system of punishment on which life is founded.
Source: Interpretations inspired from the Quran
Some might object to the issue of slaughtering animals and eating their meat. They consider it a form of torture that contradicts mercy. They see it as taking the life of a living thing. They picture it as morally hideous as killing a man. Therefore, some have forbidden eating meat. They see it as a form of human brutality no different from animal savagery.
The answer is that the issue of life cannot be dealt with in this way. Mercy is not based on a naive emotional state. Life is Allah’s gift to living things. He wanted them to survive according to special conditions. These conditions are based on mutual dependency in consuming food. This is apparent in the world of carnivores. They cannot survive except by eating other animals. The creation of different animals in their inherent weakness and strength is based on that. The law of the universe is based on the deep interest in the movement of life.
Man is no exception to this world in the food cycle. He has an existential need to eat animals, albeit within certain limits. The continuity of his life in its strong elements depends on that.
In light of this, we consider that taking a life is not entirely evil. It is necessary to ensure the continuity of another life. This is governed by the cosmic system. Without it, life on earth would disintegrate and cease to exist. This makes it a deep, integral part of the system of life. It creates diversity and mutual dependency. As for the issue of torture caused by slaughtering, it is like the suffering when one animal devours another. We should see past its hideousness by focusing on the fact that Allah made it innate. The advantages it causes are far greater than the disadvantages. Thus, we notice that mercy is relative in comparison with the arising interest. Something might be merciful in relation to the general order, but not on an individual level. This is natural for all issues related to the vital aspect governing human responsibilities and the system of punishment on which life is founded.
Source: Interpretations inspired from the Quran