Resources

Islam and Animals

The Status of Halal Meat in America

• Click here for alternatives to meat.
• Professor Richard Foltz asks, "Is Vegetarianism UnIslamic?" in the latest issue of Studies in Contemporary Islam.
• Excerpt from The Sufi Cookbook on Sufism and vegetarianism.
• Feeding the Children of Abraham: A Vegetarian Activist Primer. A guide for vegetarian activists to understanding Muslim, Christian, and Jewish views on vegetarianism.
• Read about some Muslim perspectives of diet and nutrition at the CrescentLife Web page: http://www.crescentlife.com/diet&nutrition.htm.
• The Muslim American Council for Consumer Advocacy (MACCA) aims to "� educate, motivate, and mobilize American Muslim consumers in support of ethical choices and sustainable practices for a better world." The group's first campaign has been a critical look at the ecological, cruelty, and health problems associated with today's factory-farmed meat, dairy, and egg products: www.macca-net.org.
  
  In the United Kingdom, please contact:
  Muslim Vegan/Vegetarian Society
  c/o Rafeeque Ahmed
  59 Brey Towers
  136 Adelaide Road
  London NW3 3JU
  
• "Feasts of the Prophet: Ramadan and Vegetarianism in Islam" is a brief article about vegetarian foods served by Muslims during Ramadan that includes recipes: http://www.veg.ca/newsletr/janfeb96/Islam_recipes.html.

Vegetarianism

• www.vrg.org A comprehensive Web site with lots of practical information on vegetarian nutrition, science, and cooking. Also has great information on vegetarian options at fast-food restaurants.
• www.vegsource.com Very user-friendly site, constantly updated with news, essays, and scientific information related to vegetarianism. Extensive recipes and health sections, as well as active discussion boards.
• www.vegan.com A site specifically geared toward veganism (no meat, fish, eggs, or dairy products). You can also get a free download of the seminal book Vegan: The New Ethics of Eating.
• www.veganoutreach.com This site has several good sections on reasons for veganism, including detailed information on health and a vegan diet. You can also order a free vegan starter kit.
• www.commondreams.org/views02/0517-03.htm "The World's Problems on a Plate: Meat Production Is Making the Rich Ill and the Poor Hungry" by Jeremy Rifkin
• www.serv-online.org/ The Society of Ethical and Religious Vegetarians is an interfaith effort to create a more humane, just, peaceful, and environmentally sustainable world.

Animal Rights

• www.PETAAsiaPacific.com The best Web site for information on all aspects of animal rights. A fun, informative site that is constantly updated with breaking news and information.
• www.idausa.org A very active animal rights Web site. Has a large variety of information, news, and essays.
• www.wspa.org.uk This U.K.-based charity is very active in international animal issues and has representatives in more than 90 countries.

Environment

• www.ifees.org Information on the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Science.
• www.earthsave.com EarthSave, founded by activist and author John Robbins, explores the ways in which animal agriculture directly damages the environment. Several informative articles on the relationship between animal agriculture and poverty.
• www.earthisland.org A comprehensive, cutting-edge Web site on all aspects of environmental protection.

Vivisection

• www.pcrm.org The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine promotes preventive medicine, conducts clinical research, and encourages ethical, effective alternatives in medical research.
• www.aavs.org The American Anti-Vivisection Society (AA-VS) opposes animal experimentation on both scientific and ethical grounds. Look here for the facts on vivisection and to learn about the efforts of the AA-VS to promote alternatives to both animals in medical research and dissection in schools.

BOOKS

• Animal Sacrifices: Religious Perspectives on the Use of Animals in Science by Tom Regan (ed.)—Essays on religion and vivisection. Good article from the Islamic point of view.
• Animals in Islam by Al-Hafiz B.A. Masri (This book is currently out of print, but excerpts can be read online at www.themodernreligion.com.)
• Food for the Gods: Vegetarianism and the World's Religions by Rynn Berry
• Islam and Vegetarianism by Rafeeque Ahmed—A short but interesting book on the subject.
• Religious Vegetarianism: From Hesiod to the Dalai Lama by Kerry Walters and Lisa Portmess (eds.)—A collection of religious essays and stories on vegetarianism, including several from the Islamic tradition.
• Organ Transplantation, Euthanasia, Cloning, and Animal Experimentation: An Islamic View by Abul Fadl Mohsin Ebrahim (The Islamic Foundation)—
The sections on animal experimentation, while failing to endorse an animal rights view, make a clear case for an animal welfare stance within Islam. As the vast majority of animal experimentation conducted today deviates from these guidelines, this book can readily be used to make an Islamic case against vivisection.

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Creatures of God