Animals in Islamic traditions and Muslim cultures

This book, the first of its kind, surveys Islamic and Muslim attitudes towards animals, and human responsiblities towards them, through Islam's philosophy, literature, mysticism and art. From References To Animals In The Qur'an To Modern-day Websites On Islamic Vegetarianism, Richard C. Foltz Presents The First Comprehensive Study Of The Role Of Animals In The Islamic Tradition. Drawing On A Wide Range Of Sources, Including Classic Texts In Philosophy, Literature And Mysticism, Foltz Traces The Development Of Islamic Attitudes Towards Animals Over The Centuries And Confronts The Key Ethical Questions Facing Muslims Today.--jacket. Preface -- Introduction: Islam, Muslims, And Non-human Animals. Muslims And Islam: Some Facts And Definitions -- 1. Animals In Islamic Source Texts. The Role Of Arab Norms -- Cosmic Hierarchy In The Qurʼan -- The Hadiths -- Meat-eating And Slaughter -- 2. Animals In Islamic Law. Animals In The Classical Legal Texts. Laws Pertaining To Animals As Food. Obligations Of Humans Towards Animals: Wild Animals; Domestic Animals. -- The Basis For Wildlife Conservation In Islamic Law. Hunting To Extinction. Wildlife Preserves In Islamic Law -- The Need For A New Jurisprudence. Initiatives At Al-azhar -- 3. Animals In Philosophy And Science. Animals In Islamic Philosophy. The Case Of The Animals Versus Man. Alive, Son Of Awake -- Scientific Works On Animals. The Book Of Animals. The Lives Of Animals -- 4. Animals In Literature And Art. Animals In Muslim Literature -- Animals In Arabic Literature. Kalila And Dimna. The Thousand And One Nights -- Animals In Persian Literature. The Parrot Book. Sufi Literature: The Conference Of The Birds. Jalal Al-din Rumi. Other Sufi Sources -- Animals In Art -- 5. Contemporary Muslim Views On Animal Rights. B.a. Masri -- Said Nursi -- Advocacy On The Internet -- Not A Mainstream View -- Contemporary Muslim Views On Wildlife Conservation -- 6. Towards An Islamic Vegetarianism. Islamic Vegetarianism On The Rise -- Compassion For Animals -- Determining Lawful Foods: A Growing Challenge For Muslims -- Islamic Social Justice And Animal Rights -- To Kill Or Not To Kill? -- Food For Thought -- 7. Muslim Attitudes Towards Dogs. Dogs In Muslim Literature -- Dogs In Sufi Literature -- Some Modern-day Muslim Defenders Of Dogs -- Conclusions -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Organizations -- Index. Richard C. Foltz. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [173]-179) And Index. From references to animals in the Qu'ran to modern-day websites on Islamic vegetarianism, Richard C. Foltz presents the first comprehensive study of the role of animals in the Islamic tradition. Drawing on a wide range of sources, including classic mysticism, Foltz traces the development of Islamic attitudes towards animals over the centuries and confronts the key ethical questions facing Muslims today. Modern advances in science and technology and the increasing prevalence of techniques such as bioengineering and factory farming have forced many religions to reassess their traditional notions of animal rights and, as Foltz demonstrates, Muslims are increasingly asking their tradition to respond to such issues. Scholarly yet accessible, this is an original and informative contribution to Islamic studies, and will be essential reading for anyone, Muslim or non-Muslim, with an interest in the significance of religion and culture for the contemporary animal rights debate. Drawing on a wide range of sources, including seminal texts in philosophy, literature and mysticism, Foltz explores Islamic attitudes towards animals over the centuries.