Islamic Perspectives on Veganism

This study explores the key ethical questions raised by veganism and how Muslim religious scholars and intellectuals, both in classical and modern times, (should) have addressed them. The first part studies how theological concepts such as divine justice, stewardship, and the hierarchy of creation have been used to advocate for worldviews varying from anthropocentrism and benevolent anthropocentrism to ecocentrism and ecofeminism. These are compared with secular discourses on moral veganism. The thesis also draws parallels between and examines the intersection of animal rights discourses with other social justice discourses such as those of feminism and abolitionism and situates them within the larger discourse regarding the existence and nature of hierarchy. The next part focuses on the practical implications of these theological stances, by examining the resulting Shari'a-centred, maqāṣid-centred, and ādāb-centred approaches, and the juristic rulings or ethical commands that they espouse with regard to the treatment of animals. Finally, the thesis assesses how these philosophical and theoretical perspectives can be, or have been, used to address the issue of factory farming, which is one of the major causes of climate change, food and water insecurity, and the other economic, social, environmental, and medical costs linked to it. I conclude that hierarchical worldviews where animals are seen as inferior can also serve to protect their interests and may even lead to veganism on the basis of mercy and compassion. Moreover, adopting an ethics-based approach can help improve the welfare of animals. While there are inklings of how ritual slaughter may be reconsidered in the status quo, this issue requires further exploration. Muslim scholars ought to further analyse the issues raised in this study and devise rulings that take into account our current circumstances.