Fatwa ID: 06479

Answered by: Maulana Sibghat Ullah

Question:

Is being a vegetarian haram in Islam?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

It is fine to be vegetarian but you should not think that being non-vegetarian is prohibited, unethical, or unlawful.

Allah  says in Quran

O you who believe! Make not unlawful the pure which Allaah has made lawful to you, and transgress not. Verily, Allaah does not like the transgressors.

Sura Al-Maaidah 5:87

Similarly, if you think that being vegetarian is the best way to get closer to Allah then it is wrong as the best of mankind and the closest to Allah is Prophet Mohammed Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam and he Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam used to eat meat and drink milk and honey.

It was narrated from Anas  that there was a group of the Companions of the Prophet Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam, one of whom said: “I will not marry women.” Another said: “I will not eat meat.” Another said: “I will not sleep on a bed.” Another said: “I will fast and not break my fast.” News of that reached the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam and he Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam praised Allah and then said: “What is the matter with people who say such and such? But I pray and I sleep, I fast and I break my fast, and I marry women. Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of me.”[i]

To conclude, there is a difference between not preferring certain food and thinking that eating a certain food is wrong/haram. If you are in the former category it is fine but if you are in the latter one then it is prohibited and haram.

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Sibghat Ullah

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham 

[i] Sunan Nisai, Chapter: Prohibition of Celibacy