‘Vegan Muslims go to Heaven’ - Video Companion
Picture this: You’re walking alone in the desert. The sun is brutal. Your throat is dry, scratchy. You feel like you might collapse. And then—just ahead—you see a well. But as you rush toward it, you notice something small and frail. It’s a dog. It’s panting, trembling, barely alive. It hasn’t had water in days.
What do you do?
There’s an old story in Islam. A woman—a prostitute—once came across this exact situation. She took off her shoe, used it to scoop up water, and let the dog drink. And for that one act of mercy, all her sins were forgiven.
While a dog was going around a well and was about to die of thirst, a prostitute from the children of Israel saw it, took off her shoe, and gave it water. So Allah forgave her because of that good deed." - Sahih Bukhari 3467 | Sahih Muslim 2245
One act of mercy toward one animal wiped away a lifetime of sin.
If that’s the case… then what does it mean when we turn a blind eye to billions of animals suffering today? Especially during Ramadan—a time for reflection, restraint, and realignment.
Part 1: The Stories
Islam is built on rahma (mercy). It’s in God’s names—Al-Rahman, Al-Raheem. We say it at the start of nearly every surah:
Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem — “In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate”
That mercy isn’t just for humans. Here’s a rapid-fire list of Islamic teachings on animal welfare:
Neglecting a Cat
"A woman was punished in Hell because of a cat which she had confined until it died. She did not give it to eat or drink when it was confined, nor did she free it so that it might eat the vermin of the earth." - Sahih Bukhari 3318 | Sahih Muslim 2242
Animals Are Communities Like Us
"There is no creature on the earth or bird that flies with its wings but (forms part of) communities like you." - Quran 6:38
Prophet Sulaiman and the Ant
Even the smallest creatures—ants—were treated with dignity. When an ant warned her colony of Prophet Sulaiman’s army, he didn’t ignore her. He smiled, paused, and praised God. The Quran records this not just as a cute moment, but as a testament to interspecies communication, awareness, and humility.
"Prophet Sulaiman was marching his army of the jinn and men and birds across a valley when he heard an ant say to her fellow ants, ‘Hey, ants! Go back to your homes so that Sulaiman and his army don’t accidentally step on you!’ Sulaiman stopped his army, smiled and was amused by the ant’s communication. He thanked God for the ability to understand them, saying, ‘My Lord, help me be grateful for the blessings you’ve given me and my parents. Help me do good deeds that please You." - Quran 27:16–22
Bird and Her Chicks, Ants and Fire
"We saw a bird with her two young ones and we captured her young ones. The bird came and began to spread its wings, distressed. Prophet Muhammad came and said: Who has hurt the feelings of this bird by taking its young? Return them to her. He also saw an ant village that we had burnt. He asked: Who has burnt this? We replied: We. He said: It is not proper to punish with fire except the Lord of fire." - Sunan Abu Dawood 2675
The Earth Is for All Creatures
"And the earth He laid [out] for the creatures." - Quran 55:10
Part 2: The Prophet
The Prophet Muhammad was not only known for his mercy, but also for his simplicity. Despite being a revered leader, he did not indulge in luxury, and his diet reflected modesty and restraint. Meat was not a daily staple, it was something he ate rarely, and often only when shared in community.
His wife, Aisha, also lived in this way. Her words give us insight into the household of the Prophet and their conscious choice to avoid excess:
"We would go for days without lighting a fire in our houses, and our food was only dates and water." - Sahih Bukhari 2567
This wasn’t due to poverty; it was an intentional way of living rooted in humility, restraint, and compassion.
And the Quran calls us to eat not just what is halal (permissible), but also what is tayyib (good, pure, and wholesome):
"O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy." - Quran 2:168
If plant-based foods are better for our health, better for the environment, and do not involve harming animals, aren’t they more aligned with the spirit of tayyib?
Part 3: The ‘Halal’ Way
Islamic slaughter '“dhabiha” or “qurbani” was designed with compassion at its core. The Prophet emphasized that if an animal must be killed (as was necessary in those times), it must be done with excellence and minimal suffering. But the reality of the modern meat industry tells a different story. Factory farms and high-speed slaughterhouses often fail to meet even the basic requirements of halal.
"When you kill, kill in a good way. When you slaughter, slaughter in a good way. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let him spare suffering to the animal he slaughters." - Sahih Muslim 1955
In today's mass-production ‘halal’ systems, animals are often mistreated, rushed, and terrified. Far from the peaceful end that halal truly demands.
"Whoever kills a sparrow or anything larger than that without a just cause, Allah will hold him accountable on the Day of Judgment." - Sunan an-Nasa’i 4445
When cruelty becomes normalized, and when the conditions of slaughter conflict with the core ethics of Islam, we are called to reevaluate what we support.
Part 4: Eid al-Adha
Somewhere in the middle east, a man named Ibrahim longed to have a chid, a son specifically, a righteous one. He prayed for his god to grant his wish until finally one day, he did. His beautiful boy was born, and he named him Ismail, meaning ‘Heard by God’. But quickly, an angel appeared saying that one day, his son would be sacrificed for God. And surely, that day did come. Once Ismail hit puberty, Ibrahim was visited again, this time in a dream, and reminded “Keep your vow which you made! God bestowed upon you a boy… so that you may sacrifice him" So he said to Ismail: "Let us go offer a sacrifice to God!" and he grabbed a knife and some rope and walked, father and son, until they reached a place in the mountains. The boy then asked his father: "Oh father! Where is your sacrifice?" Ibrahim replied: "Oh my son, I saw in a dream, that I will slaughter you". Ismail said, "Oh my father, do what you have been commanded; you will find me, Insha-Allah), of the steadfast… Hurry! Pass the knife over my throat so that death will be easy for me.’ Ibrahim began to approach him and, while crying, tied him up. He drew the knife along his throat but the knife didn’t cut, for God had placed a sheet of copper on the throat of Ismail. A voice called out: 'Oh Ibrahim, you have fulfilled the vision!" Ibrahim turned around and behold, there was a ram. He took it, released his son, and bent over him saying: "Oh my son, today you have been given to me". He sacrificed the ram instead.
[My slight rewrite of one of al-Tabari’s tellings of the story]
The story of Ibrahim and his son Ismail is about obedience, sacrifice, and divine mercy. Not slaughter. God replaced the sacrifice with a ram.
"It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is piety from you that reaches Him." - Quran 22:37
Early scholars emphasized charity over ritual killing:
"To give three dirhams in charity is more beloved to us than to perform a sacrifice." — Al-Muhalla 973
"… righteousness is [in] one who… gives his wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help]…" - Quran 2:177
"And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], but as a mercy to the worlds."
Quran 21:107
Part 5: The Environment
Islam teaches that the Earth is perfectly balanced—and we are warned not to disrupt that balance. But modern animal agriculture is a major driver of deforestation, water depletion, and climate change. This system is out of balance with what God intended.
"That you not transgress within the balance. And establish weight in justice and do not make deficient the balance." - Quran 55:8-9
As Muslims, we are called to walk gently on the Earth—not dominate it.
"And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily…" - Quran 25:63
We’re warned explicitly against waste:
"And do not waste, for indeed, He does not like the wasteful." - Quran 6:141
Even in moments of abundance, restraint is expected. The Prophet advised against wasting water, even if performing ablution by a flowing river:
"The Prophet passed by Sa’d while he was performing ablution and said: 'What is this extravagance, O Sa’d?' He said: 'Is there extravagance in ablution?' He said: 'Yes, do not waste water even if you are on the bank of a running river.'" - Sunan Ibn Majah 425
With plant-based diets proven to drastically reduce environmental harm, shifting our habits is not just a personal choice—it’s a spiritual responsibility.
Part 6: Clothing
Islam prohibits harming animals without just cause. Killing for sport or fashion has no basis in Islamic ethics. Fur, leather, and even wool industries today are driven by profit and often involve suffering that would be unacceptable in any Islamic context.
"There is no person who kills a small bird or anything larger, for no just reason, but God will ask him about it." - Sunan an-Nasa’i 4450
Modern breeding practices, like engineering sheep to overproduce wool, are another form of exploitation. Islam warns against altering God’s creation for personal gain:
"And I will mislead them, and I will arouse in them [false] desires, and I will command them so they will slit the ears of cattle, and I will command them so they will change the creation of Allah." - Quran 4:119
This applies to breeding sheep to overproduce wool, debeaking chicken, elongating frog legs, fattening cows, and on and on. It applies to any form of modification for exploitation. These practices go against our role as caretakers.
Conclusion:
Islam is a religion rooted in justice, mercy, and balance. Animals are not ours to exploit. They are communities with feelings, needs, and a place in God’s creation. The Quran and hadiths are clear: what we consume and support matters.
"So do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption." - Quran 2:60
When asked whether serving animals holds spiritual reward, the Prophet answered unequivocally:
"A Companion said: 'O Allah's Messenger! Is there a reward for us in serving the animals?' He replied: 'Yes, there is a reward for serving any living being.'" - Sahih Bukhari 2363
We will be held accountable. What we consume matters. Islam calls for mercy, justice, and integrity in all our actions—including what we eat, wear, and support.
We are and will be held accountable. If we can live without causing harm—and the vast majority of you reading this can—then that path becomes not just preferable, but spiritually urgent. Necessary.
Finally, watch the documentary Dominion.
Ramadan kareem <3
