Marrying a Hindu Woman and the Islamic View on Eating Meat
Answered by Ustadha Zaynab Ansari
Question: Assalam alaikum. I have one close non Muslim friend who wants to marry me but she is Hindu. Her religion doesn’t allow her to become Muslim. She wants me to change my religion as well. Also, she has a problem with eating animals as she is vegetarian and reveres certain animals we eat. I want to convince her about Islam and the Islamic view on eating animals. Please advise me.
Answer: Assalamu alaikum,
Dear Brother,
Thank you for your question.
It’s really important to try to separate one’s personal feelings from the larger question of accepting Islam. If the young woman is truly interested in Islam, she needs to investigate it on its own merits (and on its own terms) and leave off the marriage talks.
Marriage talks require a clear-headed focus and it’s hard to achieve that if she’s caught up in the “why do Muslims eat meat” question.
There is a lot of good information about Islam out there, some of it is available right here at SeekersGuidance.
Islamic law allows the consumption of certain animal products, including beef, provided the animal is slaughtered in the name of God and humane slaughtering practices are followed. Islam is an Abrahamic faith and, as such, it does not believe in reincarnation, hence there is no particular dimension to the existence of the cow that would prevent a human from consuming it.
The cow, like other permissible animals, was created to sustain the human and, as such, should be viewed as a blessing and provision of God, who has given the animal life and has given humans His permission to take that life only in His name.
If the young woman can’t accept your way of life, then it might be worth reconsidering your compatibility.
May Allah make things easy,
Zaynab Ansari
Related Answers:
What is Islam’s Stance on Muslim Men and Women Marrying Non-Muslims?
