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India and Cow Slaughter

  • Writer: Abrar Baig
    Abrar Baig
  • Aug 21, 2023
  • 6 min read

Updated: Aug 24, 2023

Everybody is aware of the communal disharmony in India, Indian Muslims have been suffering for too long now, but what is it that is causing such strife?


In order to rectify the issue one must reach to the root cause. With regard to the conflicts between the Hindus and the Muslims in India ‘cow slaughter’ has been the leading cause since decades or even ‘centuries’. Many Muslims (and sometimes non-Muslims) have been killed by the ‘cow vigilantes’ for allegedly carrying beef, transportation of cows and for similar other reasons. In 1893, during the Bakra Eid (i.e. Eid al-Adha) nearly 100 people were killed in the ‘anti-cow slaughter riots’ in Punjab state alone. And since the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi came into power (i.e. since 2014) this violence has only been increased.


Do we want these conflicts to end in India?

Every Muslim desires an end to these riots and the prevention of harm to their fellow Muslim brothers, so yes, we earnestly wish for this violence to cease. However, merely expressing sympathy for the ongoing events is insufficient and blooper. We must take action to address this situation!


 

Indian Muslims should stop slaughtering the cow


No, this is not a legal verdict or an order, it's just our way of saying ‘in order to avoid the repercussion, we must avoid the action’


Hindus consider cow to be sacred, within Hinduism, the cow is an embodiment of Lakshmi, the divine goddess of wealth. While cow slaughter is permissible in Islam, the Hindus view it as a direct disrespect to their religious beliefs. Indian Muslims are aware of it. The Ulema [Islamic scholars] have consistently held that causing offense to others' religious sentiments is only acceptable if it directly contradicts a pillar of Islam, till then it is Haram.


“Islam doesn't require cow sacrifice, and Muslims should refrain from it out of respect for Hindu religious sentiments. Those who sacrifice cows solely to provoke Hindus are disregarding a sacred principle of Islam that emphasizes respecting others' feelings.” This statement was penned by Hakim Abdul Karim Khan of Gorakhpur in the Urdu daily "Mashriq" following the 1912 Ayodhya riots during Eid ul-Azha (Bakra Eid).


Well, this is not the first time that we are hearing an Indian Muslim say ‘no to cow slaughter’ many of our predecessors have also put a ban on cow slaughter and some scholars even issued fatwa against cow slaughter.


• In the era of Akbar, cow slaughter was strictly prohibited, a policy that continued under his son Jahangir and later, Shah Jahan.


• Sultan Ghiyas-ud-Din Zain-ul-Abidin (1420-70), also known as Budshah, had banned the cow slaughter in the state in deference to the religious sentiment of his Hindu subjects.


• In 1919, Maulana Abdul Bari, a freedom fighter and prominent figure of the Khilafat Movement, after his conversation with Mahatma Gandhi, started "preaching amongst his followers and friends the necessity of abstaining from cow-killing."


And in his speech at a Hindu-Muslim conference on January 15, 1920 in Saharanpur, said, "No Hindus, nor Mahatma Gandhi have requested me to stop cow slaughter, but with my own heartfelt desire for unity and not to hurt the sentiments of my Hindu brothers, I have stopped doing so."


Maulana Abdul Bari had "religious influence over a variety of followers, and a large group of disciples from the Northwest to Bengal to Madras." - Gail Minault wrote in her book ‘The Khilafat Movement’


• Prior to Maulana Abdul Bari, his ancestors had twice issued appeals to their followers against cow slaughter on Bakra Eid, declaring that it was not an obligation under Islam. In the early 1900s, Maulana Abdul Hai (Bari's cousin), Maulana Abdul Wahab (Bari's father), Qazi Syed Mohammad Hasan, and Maulana Abul Haya Mohammad Abdul Hameed had issued fatwas stating cow slaughter is not obligatory and those giving it up will not be sinners as mentioned in `Tark-e-Qurbani-e-Gao', the book by Khwaja Hasan Nizami Dehelvi printed in August 1921. In 1911, Maulana Hai and Maulana Wahab signed another fatwa stating that if cow slaughter hurts sentiments and creates disharmony, it should be given up, for it is not a part of Islamic law.


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“To maintain peace, Muslims should desist from sacrificing cows, bulls and bullocks during Eid al-Adha. If they do so, it will keep the majority Hindu community happy, help foster communal harmony in the society and send a good message about Islam and its tenets of peace and love to non-Muslims,” Hyderabad-based Islamic scholar Syed Hussain Madani, who launched an anti-cow-slaughter campaign, told VOA. Reference


The leaders of RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh [an Indian volunteer paramilitary organization with a right-wing Hindu nationalist ideology]) expressed their view that if Muslims refrain from cow slaughter, it could potentially lead to improved Hindu-Muslim relations in India.


 

Guidance from the Qur'an


As Muslims, we should always go to the Qur'an for guidance for Allah says “This is the book, in it is guidance for sure without doubt, to those who ‘fear Allah (i.e. مُتَّقِين)’” (Quran, 2:2), as you see we have highlighted the last word of the ayah, for it is a reminder that there is no guidance for those who don't fear Allah.


What does the Qur'an say on the issue?


“And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah, lest they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge. Thus We have made pleasing to every community their deeds. Then to their Lord is their return, and He will inform them about what they used to do.” (Qur'an, 6:108)


We would like to bring to your attention the fact that ‘those who consider themselves Muslims are not allowed to insult or disrespect things which non-Muslims consider sacred or Holy’, and if applied to our case, For Hindus, witnessing the slaughter of their deity goes far beyond mere 'insult' – it carries a much deeper significance. And it should come as a surprise to the reader that this ayah which we have quoted above falls under a Surah (chapter) named ‘Al An'am’ which means ‘The Cattle’, well, “nothing in the Qur'an is by accident!”


Imam Ali (عليه السلام) said, “Know that people are of two types: they are either your brothers in religion or your equals in creation” (Nahjul Balagha, Sermon 53). This signifies that regardless of one's religion, race, or social standing, every individual should be treated with parity. People are either your Muslim counterparts or your fellow humans, sharing equivalent rights and immune to discrimination or disrespect based on their beliefs.


Our beloved teacher Sheikh Imran Nazar Hosein (حفظه الله) on multiple occasions has also asserted that in order to see Hindu-Muslim fraternity, cow slaughter must be stopped. And when we tried to connect with him on this issue, he said “You need only common sense to understand that while you live amongst them and you are too small in number to effectively protect yourself, you must either abstain from all such acts as would provoke their anger, or be prepared for Hijrah when they are provoked and your security is at risk.”


 

The example of the Prophet (ﷺ)


Treaty of Hudaibiyyah


One of the notable aspects within the Hudaibiyyah treaty was the agreement for Muslims to go back to Madinah without performing Umrah that year, which the Prophet (ﷺ) accepted. Why did the Prophet (ﷺ) accept to such conditions? Answer, for greater good.


Furthermore, during the process of documenting the agreement, Imam Ali, acting as the scribe, initiated with the phrase "Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Raheem" (In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful). However, Suhail bin ‘Amr, the representative from Makkah, expressed unfamiliarity with the term "Ar-Rahman" and insisted on using the customary expression "Bi-ismika Allahumma" (In Your Name, O Allah). Despite some discomfort among the Muslims, the Prophet (ﷺ) accepted this change. He continued to dictate, stating, "This is what Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, has agreed to with Suhail bin ‘Amr." Suhail objected once more, remarking, "Had we acknowledged you as a Prophet, we would not have prevented you from the Sacred House or fought against you. Write your own name and the name of your father." While the Muslims grumbled again and resisted the alteration, the Prophet (ﷺ), recognizing the larger significance for Islam, disregarded this minor point. He personally erased the words and instead dictated, "Muhammad, the son of ‘Abdullah."


Should Indian Muslims persist along their current path without reflection or contemplation on this matter, all the while anticipating Allah's assistance, the Qur'an issues a cautionary message “Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves” (Qur'an, 9:11).


They are just putting themselves in danger through their own actions, which the Qur'an refers to as “and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction” (Quran, 2:195).


 

India is one of the largest Beef exporters in the world


As some contend, there exists an argument that Hindus display hypocrisy by safeguarding cows while simultaneously being among the world's prominent beef exporters. While India indeed ranks third in global beef exports, a careful consideration of facts is essential. The exported meat primarily originates from buffaloes rather than cows, and it's noteworthy that almost all of these beef exporting companies are owned and run by the Muslims.



 

Conclusion


In short, Indian Muslims must take this step to see a change in situation. Yes, we acknowledge many Muslims earn their livelihood selling beef but still there are others ways through which they can continue to do so, maybe by selling chicken or mutton. Can't we sacrifice this appetite for a greater good? Not to mention, the Prophet (ﷺ) disliked the consumption of beef and he (ﷺ) is reported to have said, “Use the milk and fat of the cow and avoid its flesh, for indeed its milk and fat are a medicine and its flesh is a disease” (Mustadrak al-Hakim).

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