Today, or rather yesterday, was the holy day of Bakra eid in India. It is a very important day for Muslims all over the world as this day marks the completion of Hajj, as well as it is a for sacrifice in the name of Allah. Now, animal sacrifice has become a controversial issue today. With more moral enlightenment (??) animal rights (or liberation) is a mainstream issue.
Scientifically, as far as i have learnt in the little education i have had, man is an omnivore. He can eat vegetables and flesh. A look at the set of teeth humans possess will clarify that it is in nature's scheme.
That plants are living is common knowledge, but they are sensitive to pain and stress was illustrated by noted Indian scientist Jagdish Chandra Bose(if i remember properly). So, some logic tells me that hurting (as in by eating or making a part of my regular diet) vegetables accounts to cruelty to particular family of life-form which can not move, express its pain to humans directly.
If we are to respect life, then we should respect all forms of it. Humans are not autotrophic, mere sunlight and inorganic elements can not sustain us. Let us not go to extents that hint our own starvation.
Islam calls for a balance in life. The Holy Quran mentions, though i don't remember exactly, to not disturb/distort the balance in life. People of Arabia about 1400 yrs ago thought it meant one shouldn't cheat with weight and balances while selling things. We today understand that there are finer balances to strike.
Scientifically, as far as i have learnt in the little education i have had, man is an omnivore. He can eat vegetables and flesh. A look at the set of teeth humans possess will clarify that it is in nature's scheme.
That plants are living is common knowledge, but they are sensitive to pain and stress was illustrated by noted Indian scientist Jagdish Chandra Bose(if i remember properly). So, some logic tells me that hurting (as in by eating or making a part of my regular diet) vegetables accounts to cruelty to particular family of life-form which can not move, express its pain to humans directly.
If we are to respect life, then we should respect all forms of it. Humans are not autotrophic, mere sunlight and inorganic elements can not sustain us. Let us not go to extents that hint our own starvation.
Islam calls for a balance in life. The Holy Quran mentions, though i don't remember exactly, to not disturb/distort the balance in life. People of Arabia about 1400 yrs ago thought it meant one shouldn't cheat with weight and balances while selling things. We today understand that there are finer balances to strike.
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