LIFE
Abundantly

Vegetarianism is best Part I

In a recent edition of The Final Call, Vol. 18 No. 6, the Honorable Louis Farrakhan wrote an article concerning the Fast of Ramadan. It was an article to, "all of the followers of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad under my leadership," and spoke of his desire to have the Nation of Islam complete the coming fast of Ramadan according to the lunar calendar and in unity with the larger Muslim world. In addition to which he also instructed the "followers of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad under his leadership" to refrain from, not only land animals, but also fish. In other words, he has formally instituted, after a long course of gradual development, vegetarianism, as the accepted standard of practice among his followers.

On page 130 of "How To Eat To Live," Book No. 2, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad writes, "let us try not to eat so much meat-especially animal flesh. No meat is good for good health and longevity. We must stop eating meat gradually, because actually, meat is not by nature a food for human consumption."

In his article, Min. Farrakhan gave a very in-depth analysis of the principle of gradualism. He cited the very revelation of the Holy Qur'an itself as a gradual revelation by degrees, over 23 years. He spoke of the gradual introduction of prayers and prohibition of the use of alcohol, by Prophet Muham-mad(PBUH)and his followers.

Min. Farrakhan writes: "The Honorable Elijah Muham-mad, in bringing Islam to us who have been thoroughly robbed of the knowledge of self and spoiled; having been reared under a wicked slave master to follow them in their practices, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad thus adopted a process of gradualism to bring us slowly but surely into the Way of Allah as taught by the Holy Qur'an and exemplified by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)."

Gradualism is a universal principle of Divine Law found in nature. Sunrise does not occur immediately and is quite different from switching on an electric light bulb. A tree does not spring out of the ground all of a sudden, but by a process of gradual growth and development and represents the quality of endurance over long periods of time. Every example of growth, development and evolution in nature that takes that which Allah created from stage to stage towards its eventual perfection exemplifies this quality of gradualism.

So too, in the development of the human being from a savage to a refined civilized way of life, these steps must be taken gradually. To do it any other way is to invite failure because to violate the principle of gradualism invites the use of force and the Holy Qur'an is very clear, "let there be no compulsion in your religion." So the natural growth and development of anything, even in the refinement of one's diet, can only take place by gradual, small, incremental steps, until degree by degree we reach the ultimate perfection for which we strive.

During the time of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad's presence among us we observed the Fast of Ramadan during the month of December. During this month, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad caused us to stay away completely from the flesh of all land animals, although he allowed the consumption of fish. No restriction whatsoever was placed on the eating of fruits, vegetables, grains or other non-flesh foods. Thus, many confirmed meat eaters, dedicated to the tearing of bloody meat with their teeth, discovered that for 30 days they could live and live quite nicely without resorting to such practice of eating meat. Even if they returned to the eating of land animal flesh, after the Fast of Ramadan, they returned to eat with a taste and appetite that had been refined through the practice of fasting during the month of Ramadan.

In that new state of refinement, they discovered that they had a decreased taste for the course beef or lamb and appreciated the finer texture of poultry and fish, and even had an increased desire for the subtle and delicate taste of various vegetables and other non-flesh foods.

Even a gradual approach, if followed diligently and for a long enough period of time, leads to its ultimate destination. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad's statement, "...

vegetarianism is best, but we eat meat," a statement made 30-plus years ago, ultimately must fulfill its own truth-which is to say that one day vegetarianism is simply the best, no "ifs," "ands" or "buts" about it. If ultimately the standard does not become vegetarianism, then the original statement could be considered untrue. Since the words of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad are true and cannot be proved to be other than the truth, then one day, among his followers, vegetarianism must be the accepted and usual standard. It is the view of this writer, that as of this Ramadan, under the leadership of Min. Farrakhan, that day has arrived.