Veganism and Islam

Aiysha Younas explores the links between veganism and her religion 

I have been a Muslim my whole life, but my vegan journey started six years ago when I was 21. As a journalist I have been interested in exploring the connection between these two important aspects of my identity, which both have a powerful influence on my lifestyle. Of course I am not alone in living this way – many other Muslims have turned to veganism and I was keen to hear their thoughts and experiences. 

Ethical beliefs 

The driving force behind veganism and Islam is compassion, and so they have the same core ethical beliefs regarding other animals and the environment. For many years I was incredibly confused by seeing the cruelty of the animal product industries and the terrible treatment of animals in the videos I had seen online – I just couldn’t comprehend how this could be seen as compassionate in the eyes of God. Reading, researching and being in tune with my personal beliefs helped to solidify in my mind and heart just how intertwined veganism and Islam are.  

The meaning of ‘halal’ cannot be ignored when it comes to this discussion. As explained by Imam Mansoor Clarke, “Halal quite literally means that which is permissible to Muslims. Muslims believe the things that are given to us in this world, be they for us to wear, for us to enjoy, for us to eat, they are all given to us as sustenance from God and are a blessing from God. As with all things given to us by God, they come with responsibility. They come with certain conditions that must be met and a certain level of respect that needs to be upheld.” 

Imam Mansoor Clarke adds, “The pure concept of halal means a Muslim partakes of food in a sense which is not exceeding in the boundaries, eats moderates in a way which is sustainable for the environment and their own health, and in a way that is not injurious to themselves or the animals or the environment around them.” 

Inner confusion 

Despite this, anytime I ate with my extended family someone would always bring up that I am disrespecting God by ignoring the blessings he bestowed upon us. They would tell me that by not eating meat, I am not truly following my religion. This caused inner confusion because I couldn’t shake the feeling that there is no way God would accept the treatment we are condoning for these pure and innocent animals. I would get laughed at and mocked, and people would make jokes about the food I ate, when I had done what God asked. This reaction from close family left me feeling frustrated and incredibly isolated.  

I was told that if a product was halal certified then I could trust that there had been no cruelty. No other research was needed, as long as there was a halal sticker. When I questioned this, no one I asked had researched the certifiers or checked the conditions that counted as halal in their eyes. 

I spoke to vegan activist and Muslim revert Duke McLeod about this topic. He says, “The certifications are money-making machines. They are what brings money into Muslim communities and organisations. So, they are certifying all these products and operations and businesses that really should not get any labels.” 

Traditional dishes 

In many cultures, including my own, meat and dairy are included in so many dishes. When it comes to the celebrations of Eid day, I am grateful to have a mother who understands why I do not consume anything from animals. She creates a vegan version of every dish she makes so I do not miss out. Some family favourites include lamb pilau with chicken curry, rice pudding and mince samosas, and my dad likes to jump in and make the chutney. Sadly, not everyone has someone to support them and be so understanding. 

Moroccan activist Mohammed Simo, who has now been vegan for eight years, talked to me about his struggle to be accepted. “Being vegan, I have had plenty of problems with my family. My mum told me that I am a vegan atheist because I didn’t follow what God has sent down for us.” 

Familial support 

However, Rakin Akhtar, who has been vegan for three years, experienced much more familial support after they saw the health benefits a plant-based diet was having on his skin. Rakin explains, “I had really severe eczema to the point where showers would be really painful. I was on steroid creams all my life, but I switched to a vegan diet and my skin got better within a month. My family saw that and were telling me this is good.” 

Now Rakin’s family all consume fewer animal products and make small positive changes. “In terms of religion today we have more options, and it comes down to making a choice. If we can spare animals, we are sparing souls. Choosing not to kill is the most peaceful option.” 

Rakin enjoys veganising meat-based traditional meals, specifically dishes like curry, keema (minced meat) and samosas. Simo creates vegan versions of his traditional food as well. He says, “Moroccan traditional food is based around meat like tagine or pastilla, but it is very easy to veganise this food.”  

Important questions 

As many more people open their eyes to veganism and a compassionate life, it is important to remember that the key thing is to learn, take your time and do what you can. Many traditional dishes can be veganised as the options for alternatives are endless when cooking at home or even eating out.  

Halal is compassion but the way things are done these days, it is important to question whether this can still be considered compassionate in the way God intended for us. 

To find out more information please visit Aiysha's website. 

This article was first published in our membership magazine The Vegan Issue 4 2021. 

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