So how should a Muslim view veganism and vegetarianism? Over the next few days we will explore the ideological, physical, and spiritual implications of veganism and vegetarianism from the Islamic perspective. We will touch upon the reality of these two concepts and uncover their true meanings.

Firstly let`s try and figure out what do these two terms mean:

What is veganism?
Veganism is the practice of abstaining from animal products, particularly in diet, and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. An individual who follows this diet (or philosophy) is known as a ‘vegan.’ Instead of meat products, dairy, and even honey, they eat various plant foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and products made from these foods.

What is vegetarianism?
Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat and abstaining from animal by-products.
A vegetarian is a person who does not eat meat and sometimes other animal products, especially for moral, or health reasons.

A vegan diet can be viewed as a stricter form of vegetarianism. So, a vegan diet not only excludes animal flesh, but also dairy, eggs, and other ingredients that come from animals.

Having understood the basic concept, let’s first discuss the two ‘isms.’

Ideologically, both concepts involve the abstinence from animal products due to the belief that the utility of animals and their derivatives is harmful, wrong, evil, unfair, or bad. It is also considered to be wrong to mistreat an animal, and to take its life.
Ideological alignment

From the Islamic perspective, many of these concepts are agreeable. It is also considered sinful and wrong to harm and mistreat an animal, and even to take the life of an animal, however, only without a valid reason, and it only becomes acceptable when certain conditions are applied. This difference will be further explored later.

The terms “kind” and “humane” from the Islamic, vegan, and vegetarian perspectives all align. According to the Quran, the kind treatment of animals is a must, and it is a grave sin to mistreat any creature of Allah.

1. Animals must be treated kindly
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said,

“There is a meritorious reward for kindness to every living creature.” [Riyad as-Salihin 126]

2. Animals must be cared for
The Prophet (ﷺ) said,
أَنَّ رَجُلاً رَأَى كَلْبًا يَأْكُلُ الثَّرَى مِنَ الْعَطَشِ، فَأَخَذَ الرَّجُلُ خُفَّهُ فَجَعَلَ يَغْرِفُ لَهُ بِهِ حَتَّى أَرْوَاهُ، فَشَكَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ فَأَدْخَلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ ‏”
“A man saw a dog eating mud from (the severity of) thirst. So, that man took a shoe (and filled it) with water and kept on pouring the water for the dog until it quenched its thirst. So Allah approved of his deed and made him enter Paradise.” [Sahih al-Bukhari 173]

3. Animals must not be hunted for sport or game
عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَنِ اتَّخَذَ شَيْئًا فِيهِ الرُّوحُ غَرَضًا
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar RA said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ cursed those who take anything that has a soul as a target.” [Sunan an-Nasa’i 4441]

4. Animals must not be tortured
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “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 to drink when it was confined, nor did she free it so that it might eat the vermin of the earth.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

So Islam in no way endorses or allows the inhumane treatment of any animal.