Who is Allah?

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#1 [Permalink] Posted on 9th November 2015 15:25

Hi all,

I'd like to start by saying I am not currently a Muslim (and never have been) who has been keenly researching Islam and listening to the Quran (a recital of the Arabic followed by the English translation) and have a few initial questions to ask regarding Islam and Allah:

Al-lah translates to "The God" (presumably, The, as in, the only) but "God" (or Allah) could mean many things to different people. To my knowledge, Allah isn't a conscious being and is bigger than time or space. He is not a literal person sat on the clouds, He is bigger than that - bigger than time or space. It's just the word used to explain "God" - though Allah Himself cannot be expressed with words alone, it is bigger than that.

The Quran states that those "who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve."

Now, I believe in "Allah - The God" - but not a conscious being that necessary looks like what Christian or Islamic (for two examples) art may depict him (I refer to the above comment wherein I state that to my knowledge Allah isn't a conscious being.)

My God is, if you like, "the universe": the thing that connects us all, the thing that is "all that is, was, and ever be". Something that is bigger than time or space and has no beginning or end.

As I believe in the above, I believe that the Quran is God's word but only because all that is and ever will be is part of the universe and thus "God's doing". "God" has given us empathy, compassion, etc. to be able to determine that which is righteous and that which isn't. The good and bad in life is Allah's (God's) doing but He has given us the power of reason and intellect in order to make rational decisions.

The Quran states that we must not harm animals (in short) but states that we can eat animals as long as we cause them the least suffering. I am vegan because I don't even want to cause permissible harm to animals that Allah would see as acceptable - but in doing so I am effectively expressing a belief that it is wrong to cause suffering to animals for food thus going against Allah's word - so to speak.

I'm very interested to know what Islam has to say about my thoughts and would love to understand why it is whatever it is. If someone could kindly educate me I would be very grateful.

I have done my best to sound respectful (which I very much am) but if I have unknowingly said something disrespectful please let me know.

Many thanks,

Max

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#2 [Permalink] Posted on 9th November 2015 16:15

Welcome to the forum Max.

Very pleased to read your points of view and understanding.

InshaAllah (God willing) we will do our best to help answer your questions in the for of written work, experience, or maybe even videos.

I would however like to clarify one thing from your post, Muslims do not depict an image of God. You are correct to say that Allah is bigger than time and space and the fact that he is much bigger than one just sitting on clouds.

Who Is Allah? ᴴᴰ - Powerful Reminder

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who is Allah from the verses of Sura Fatiha *Nouman Ali Khan*

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God as you see him as "The Universe" is also not correct, the universe is His creation and He is bigger than His creation, just take a little look into what He has created in the universe, and this is just a small part of what we know. www.muftisays.com/forums/27-sharing-portal/6555-magnifice...

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Actions are judged by intentions, so each man will have what he intended.
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#3 [Permalink] Posted on 9th November 2015 17:07

i can introduce you to two individuals i know both of whom are reverts/converts and both scholars

one is a molana abdullah hodgson u.k,
after 1 hour 5 minutes
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y6_ml8ZAa0

the other is a molana muhammad muslim sweden
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9iqMgeqBpY

im sure they will help you personally too

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THEN FLEE TO ALLAH
AS ALLAH KNOWS BEST

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#4 [Permalink] Posted on 10th November 2015 09:44

Thanks for your prompt responses and for the clarification regarding the Muslim depiction of God (or rather, the fact that there isn't one) - now that I come to think about it I don't recall ever seeing one.

I have watched the video (Who is Allah?) and I am watching the other two recommended. Thank you!

Regarding Allah's consciousness: if He is not a conscious being and is greater than the Universe and all that is within it how is it that my actions can be rewarded or punished as opposed to a "cause and effect" or "action/reaction"?

Am I correct in saying that my choice to be vegan goes against the word of Allah in that He has provided some animals for us to eat and if He says we can eat them then that I should do so without guilt (and to do so with guilt would be going against the word of Allah?)

I am trying to understand how it is that Allah intended for us to follow Islam but not the other religions that He also provided for us (for example) if He is not a conscious being and how, if He is not a conscious being, the concept of being rewarded or punished by Him can exist.

Thanks again in anticipation of your response.

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#5 [Permalink] Posted on 10th November 2015 09:59

Allah is not a being at all. He is the creator of everything.

Mufti Menk - Taqwa (Consciousness of Allah)

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Islam teaches us that "Actions are judged by intentions so each man will have what he intended....." (part of a famous Hadith of the Prophet (saw)

)

Therfore, if your intention is purely for Allah, then your reward will come from Allah. However, if your intention is showmanship for example, then the reward for this will be fame and on judgement day, when we ask Allah for the reward of a particular donation we may have made, Allah will say, that our intention was to please the crowd and to make oneself popular, so we became popular among the people. So if we wish to be rewarded for that deed, we will be sent to those whom we pleased and will be told to ask them for the reward and of course they cannot benefit us at all.

So the actions we do for the sake of Allah, Allah will reward us accordingly, but if we do the actions for other than Allah, why should he reward us?

Quote:

Am I correct in saying that my choice to be vegan goes against the word of Allah in that He has provided some animals for us to eat and if He says we can eat them then that I should do so without guilt (and to do so with guilt would be going against the word of Allah?)

On the subject of vegan's, then one can be a vegan for health reasons but cannot say that the slaughter of the animals is inhumane, barbaric, torture, or even causes pain to the animal (when done correctly). If eating meat causes harm to you, then it will be forbidden for that individual. Just like sugar is a killer for a diabetic, but sweet for others.

Allah also teaches us that there are some things we like that are not good for us and there are some things we dislike, but they are good for us, but we know not.

See the blog post on Mercy Slaughter, see how peaceful an Islamic slaughter really is or should be like.
www.muftisays.com/blog/abu+mohammed/3003_03-09-2012/islam...

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#6 [Permalink] Posted on 10th November 2015 10:04

Thanks. That makes a lot of sense to me - I understand.

Regarding Veganism I thought as much so thank you for the clarification.

I will read further following your suggestions and continue to listen to the Quran.

Thanks again for your answers. They're much appreciated. I'm sure I'll be back in future to enquire some more.

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#7 [Permalink] Posted on 10th November 2015 10:19

On the topic of vegan's, there are some excellent videos by Dr Zakir Naik who speaks about different issues and topics such as nourishment, PAIN, family and so on. Very interesting because we learn that vegetables/plants also feel pain and suffer as a family and this is all proven scientifically. But at the end of the day, that's what they were created for, just like animals. So to stop eating animals on the basis that they are killed/slaughtered does not hold much weight against vegetables.

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#8 [Permalink] Posted on 10th November 2015 10:26

www.islamicvoice.com/december.98/zakir.htm

Questions Commonly Asked by Non-Muslims - V : Eating non-Vegetarian Food

By Dr. Zakir Naik

There are many non-Muslims who have studied Islam. Most of them have only read books on Islam written by biased critics of Islam. These non-Muslims have a different set of twenty common misconceptions about Islam. For instance, they claim to have found contradictions in the Qur'an, they contend that the Qur'an is unscientific etc. In this issue I shall deal with Eating non-Vegetarian Food.

Question: Killing an animal is a ruthless act. Why then do Muslims consume non-vegetarian food?

Answer: ‘Vegetarianism’ is now a movement the world over. Many even associate it with animal rights. Indeed, a large number of people consider the consumption of meat and other non-vegetarian products as a violation of animal rights.

Islam enjoins mercy and compassion for all living creatures. At the same time Islam maintains that Allah has created the earth and its wondrous flora and fauna for the benefit of mankind. It is upto mankind to use every resource in this world judiciously, as a ‘niyamat’ ( Divine blessing ) and ‘amanat’ ( trust ) from Allah.

Let us look at various other aspects of this argument.

1. A Muslim can be a pure vegetarian

A Muslim can be a very good Muslim despite being a pure vegetarian. It is not compulsory for a Muslim to have non-vegetarian food.

2. Qur’an permits Muslims to have non-veg

The Qur’an, however permits a Muslim to have non-vegetarian food. The following Qur’anic verses are proof of this fact:

a. “O ye who believe! Fulfil (all) obligations. Lawful unto you (for food) are all four-footed animals with the exceptions named.” [Al-Qur’an 5:1]

b. “And cattle He has created for you (men): from them Ye derive warmth, and numerous benefits, And of their (meat) ye eat.” [Al-Qur’an 16:5]

c. “And in cattle (too) ye have an instructive example: From within their bodies We produce (milk) for you To drink; there are, in them, (Besides), numerous (other) Benefits for you; and of their (meat) ye eat” [Al-Qur’an 23:21]

3. Meat is nutritious

Meat is rich in protein, iron, vitamin B1 and niacin. Non-vegetarian food is a good source of excellent protein.

4. Humans have Omnivorous set of teeth

If you observe the teeth of herbivorous animals like the cow, goat and sheep, you will find something strikingly similar in all of them. All these animals have a flat set of teeth i.e. suited for herbivorous diet. If you observe the set of teeth of the carnivorous animals like the lion or tiger, they all have a pointed set of teeth i.e. suited for a carnivorous diet. If you analyze the set of teeth of humans, you find that they have flat teeth as well as pointed teeth. Thus they have teeth suited for both herbivorous as well as carnivorous food i.e. they are omnivorous. One may ask, if Almighty Allah wanted humans to have only vegetables, why did He provide us also with pointed teeth? It is logical that He expected us to have both vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian food.

5. Human beings can digest both vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods

The digestive system of herbivorous animals can digest only vegetables. The digestive system of carnivorous animals can digest only meat. But the digestive system of humans can digest both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. If Almighty Allah wanted us to have only vegetables then why did He give us a digestive system that can digest both vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian foods?

6. Hindu scriptures give permission to have non-veg

a. There are many Hindus who are strictly vegetarian. They think that it is against their religion to consume non-vegetarian food. In fact the Hindu scriptures permit a person to have meat. The scriptures mention Hindu sages and saints consuming non-vegetarian foods.

b. It is mentioned in Ayodhya Khandam, verses 20,26 and 94 that when Rama was sent for Banavas he told his mother that he would have to sacrifice his tasty meat dishes. If Rama had to sacrifice his tasty meat dishes it meant that Rama had likeness for meat. If Rama can have meat, why can’t the Hindus have meat?

7 Hinduism was influenced by other religions

Though Hindu Scriptures permit its followers to have non-veg foods, many Hindus adopted the vegetarian system because they were influenced by other religions like Jainism.

8 Even plants have life

Certain religions have adopted pure vegetarianism because they are totally against the killing of living creatures. If a person can survive without killing any living creature, I would be the first person to adopt such a way of life. In the past people thought plants were lifeless. Today it is a well established universal fact that even plants have life. Thus their logic of not killing living creatures is not fulfilled even by being a pure vegetarian.

9 Even plants can feel pain

They further argue that plants cannot feel pain, therefore killing a plant is a lesser crime when compared to killing an animal. Today science tells us that even plants can feel pain. But the cry of the plant cannot be heard by the human being. This is due to the inability of the human ear to hear sounds that are not in the audible range i.e. 20 Hertz to 20,000 Hertz.

Anything below and above this range cannot be heard by a human being. A dog can hear up to 40,000 Hertz. Thus there are silent dog whistles that have a frequency of more than 20,000 Hertz and less than 40,000 Hertz. These whistles are only heard by dogs and not by human beings. The dog recognizes the master’s whistle and comes to the master. There was research done by a farmer who invented an instrument which converted the cry of the plant so that it could be heard by human being. He was able to realize immediately when the plant itself cried for water.

10 Killing a living creature with 2 senses less is not a lesser crime. Once a vegetarian argues his case by saying that plants only have two or three senses while the animals have five senses. Therefore killing a plant is a lesser crime than killing an animal.

Suppose your brother is born deaf and dumb and has two senses less as compared to other human beings. He becomes mature and someone murders him. Would you ask the law to give the murderer a lesser punishment because your brother has two senses less? In fact you would say that he has killed a ‘masoom’, an innocent person and you should give the murderer a greater punishment. Islam is not based on such logic.

In fact the Qur’an says: “O ye people! Eat of what is on earth, lawful and good” [Al-Qur’an 2:168]

11 Over population of cattle

If every human being was a vegetarian, it would lead to overpopulation of cattle in the world, since their reproduction and multiplication is very swift. Allah (SWT) in His Divine Wisdom knows how to maintain the balance of His creation appropriately. No wonder He has permitted us to have the meat of the cattle.

12 Cost of meat is reasonable since all aren’t non-vegetarian

I do not mind if some people are pure vegetarian. However they should not condemn non-vegetarians as ruthless. In fact if all Indians become non-vegetarians then personally I would be a loser since the prices of meat would rise.

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#9 [Permalink] Posted on 10th November 2015 10:29

QUESTION
I'm vegain, I mean I do not eat any meat product or dairy from milk , eggs, cheese , or honey , any think that have to do with animal I just I don't eat it, and the thing that I like the religion of the Islam I would like to be a part of it , so my question can I be a Muslim and still don't eat meat and animal product ? Thank you so much

ANSWER
Praise be to Allaah.

Yes, you can be a Muslim without eating these animal products, but you need to be aware of the following:

You should not think that these things are haraam (forbidden), because Allaah says (interpretation of the meanings):
“O you who believe! Make not unlawful the tayyibaat (all that is good as regards foods, things, deeds, beliefs, persons, etc.) which Allaah has made lawful to you, and transgress not. Verily, Allaah does not like the transgressors.” [al-Maa’idah 5:87]

“Say: who has forbidden the adornment with clothes given by Allaah, which He has produced for His slaves, and al-tayyibaat [all kinds of lawful things] of food? Say: they are, in the life of this world, for those who believe, (and) exclusively for them (believers) on the Day of Resurrection (the disbelievers will not share them). Thus We explain the aayat (Islamic laws) in detail for people who have knowledge.” [al-A’raaf 7:32]

“Say: Tell me, what provision has Allaah sent down to you! And you have made of it lawful and unlawful. Say: Has Allaah permitted you (to do so), or do you invent a lie against Allaah?” [Yoonus 10:59]

You should not think that it is better to abstain from these foods, or that doing so will be rewarded, or that a vegetarian is closer to Allaah than others, and so on. It is not permitted to draw closer to Allaah in this way. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), who is the best of mankind and the closest to Allaah, used to eat meat and drink milk and honey. When one of his Companions wanted to give up meat, he told him that this was wrong. Anas reported that there was a group of the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), one of whom said, “I will never marry women”; another said, “I will not eat meat”; another said, “I will not sleep on a bed”; and another said, “I will fast and never break my fast.” News of this reached the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). He praised and thanked Allaah, then said: “ What is wrong with the people who are saying such and such? I pray and I sleep; I fast and I break my fast; and I marry women. Whoever deviates from my Sunnah (way) does not belong to me.” (Reported by al-Nisaa’i; the story is also to be found in the two Saheehs of al-Bukhaari and Muslim).

There is a great difference between not eating a certain kind of food because one does not like it, or it does not agree with one, or one has been put off – for example by seeing an animal slaughtered when one was a child, which may leave one with a distaste for meat – and other similar reasons, and thinking that meat is haraam and that abstaining from it is an act of worship, as is done by Brahmins, monks and others who are misguided.

Once this matter is clear in your mind, there is nothing wrong with not eating foods that you do not like. We will be happy to welcome you soon as our sister in Islam. We ask Allaah to give you the strength to do good and to protect you from every evil. Allaah is the One Who guides to the Straight Path.

Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

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#10 [Permalink] Posted on 10th November 2015 10:34

Apologies for the posts on vegan-ism. This is due to the misconception people hold. Here is another Q&A

Q: Is veganism allowed in Islam?
A. A vegan is a person who does not eat animals or animal products. Islam has allowed the eating of meat. A narration states that meat is the most superior of foods. (Tuhfatul Ahwadhi V10 P261). Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) loved meat.

If a person becomes a vegan due to e.g. health reasons i.e. consumption of meat is not advisable for him, or a person simply cannot eat meat but does not believe that it is wrong to eat meat, it will be permissible.
If the person becomes a vegan for the wrong reasons, e.g. he believes that it is morally wrong to eat meat, slaughtering is cruelty to animals, etc. then it will not be allowed.
Allah Ta’aala knows best.

Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

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Who is Allah?

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