| Answer: The Holy Qur’ān has
a clear stance in this regard. It says that beasts have indeed been created
so that man could take them into his service and also eat their meat. As you
know, man has been sent down to live in this world for a term appointed, he
would definitely need various things to help him reside here. The Book of
Allah explicates that beasts have been created to fulfill his needs of
dress, conveyance and hunger. To quote the verses:
And beasts He has created
for you [men]: from them you derive warmth and numerous benefits and of
their [meat] you eat. (16:5)
It is Allah Who made beasts
for you that you may use some for riding and some for food (40:79)
Similarly, Sūrah al-Mā’idah
declares that Allah has made lawful for mankind all animals that belong to
the category of beasts:
The [animal] category of
beasts is made lawful unto you [for food]. (5:1)
Therefore, slaughtering
beasts for food is actually achieving the underlying purpose for which they
have been created. The befitting attitude is not to reject the blessings of
the Most High but to use them and be grateful to Him for His favors. It is
for this reason that we pronounce the name of Allah while slaughtering
animals for meat as a token of acknowledgement that we are benefiting from
the blessings that Allah has provided us with and that we also recognize the
fact that He is most great. |