Is Vegetarianism Haraam?

[Reader Questions]

Salaam-o-laikum brother Joseph.

Please can you give me your opinion on the claim that being a vegetarian is harraam in Islam. Is this the case?

JZK

[Joseph Islam]

May peace be with you.

As long as one's lifestyle choice to remain a vegetarian is not based on the misplaced notion that eating meat is forbidden, from a Quranic perspective, vegetarianism would appear a lifestyle choice you can exercise.

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"God is the One Who has made for you cattle, that you may ride on some of them, and some of them you eat and in them are benefits for you and that you may satisfy by their means a need that is in your breasts and upon them and upon the ships you are carried"

"...that you may satisfy by their means a need that is in your breasts...". If you don't like to eat meat, then simply don't.

In all that we do, God commands moderation in our affairs. This includes eating and drinking.

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"O Children of Adam! Take your adornment at every place of worship and eat and drink (what you want), but do not be extravagant / excessive / prodigal or wasteful (Arabic: tusrifu). God truly does not love those who are excessive / prodigal / wasteful / extravagant (Arabic: musrifeen)"

I hope that helps, God willing.
Joseph.