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ve·ge·ta·rian - (vj-t‚r-n)
n. A person who does not eat meat or fish. They may however, eat eggs, cheese and other dairy products. Ethical vegetarians often avoid fur or leather.
ve·gan - (vgn, vjn)
n. A strict vegetarian who eats plant products only, especially one who uses no products derived from animals, such as honey, fur or leather.
a·him·sa- (-hms‰)
n. A Buddhist and Hindu doctrine expressing belief in the sacredness of all living creatures and urging the avoidance of harm and violence.
jai·gong slang. Cantonese for the word 'vegetarian' (useful to know in a chinese restaurant).
Islam explicitly permits the eating of some kinds of meat, but does not make it compulsory. There are several hadith that support a vegetarian lifestyle and recommend kindness to animals rather than eating them. "Masih (the messiah, Jesus) said, ‘Flesh eating flesh? How offensive an act!’"(Al-Raghib al-Isfahani (early fifth/early eleventh century), Mahadarat al-Udaba', 1:610.) According to Karen Armstrong, "The Koran does permit meat-eating, but it also encourages healthful foods (which, many Muslims conclude, does not include animal products). Given these traditions, many Shi'ite Muslims and the Islamic mystics, such as the Sufis, see vegetarianism as the Islamic ideal and choose this diet."
So, in the Qu'ran, Jesus is explicitly portrayed as a vegetarian, as he is in The Essene Gospel of Peace.
UPDATE: - My Muslim friend corrects me on this. The comment is not in the Qu'ran, but in a 'hadith' - which are separate holy texts also used by Islam.
Most modern meat is haram to muslims. Wool Sheep in Australia is vivisected without any pain killer before being sent in a many-storey ship to middle east for slaughter. Upon arrival, they are beaten to move, and upon slit of throat, their body parts are cut before they even go unconscious. Cows leave in absolutely terrible condition before being slaughter and therefore Muhammad's command to treat the animals well before slaughter has been totally ignored by moslems.
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Most modern meat is haram to muslims.
Wool Sheep in Australia is vivisected without any pain killer before being sent in a many-storey ship to middle east for slaughter.
Upon arrival, they are beaten to move, and upon slit of throat, their body parts are cut before they even go unconscious.
Cows leave in absolutely terrible condition before being slaughter and therefore Muhammad's command to treat the animals well before slaughter has been totally ignored by moslems.