Regarding the eating of animal flesh and abstinence
therefrom, know thou of a certainty that, in the beginning of creation, God
determined the food of every living being, and to eat contrary to that
determination is not approved. For instance, beasts of prey, such as the wolf,
lion and leopard, are endowed with ferocious, tearing instruments, such as
hooked talons and claws. From this it is evident that the food of such beasts
is meat. If they were to attempt to graze, their teeth would not cut the grass,
neither could they chew the cud, for they do not have molars. Likewise, God
hath given to the four-footed grazing animals such teeth as reap the grass like
a sickle, and from this we understand that the food of these species of animal
is vegetable. They cannot chase and hunt down other animals. The falcon hath a
hooked beak and sharp talons; the hooked beak preventeth him from grazing,
therefore his food also is meat.
But now coming to man, we see he hath neither hooked teeth nor sharp nails or
claws, nor teeth like iron sickles. From this it becometh evident and manifest
that the food of man is cereals and fruit. Some of the teeth of man are like
millstones to grind the grain, and some are sharp to cut the fruit. Therefore
he is not in need of meat, nor is he obliged to eat it. Even without eating
meat he would live with the utmost vigour and energy. For example, the
community of the Brahmins in India do not eat meat; notwithstanding this they
are not inferior to other nations in strength, power, vigour, outward senses or
intellectual virtues. Truly, the killing of animals and the eating of their
meat is somewhat contrary to pity and compassion, and if one can content
oneself with cereals, fruit, oil and nuts, such as pistachios, almonds and so
on, it would undoubtedly be better and more pleasing.
- 'Abdu'l-Bahá (From a Tablet; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Some
Aspects of Heath, Healing, Nutrition and Related Matters)
