Halal Certification and allegations of extremist Buddhists and Sinhalas
Posted on February 15th, 2013
Asada M Erpini
Many groups and individuals have expressed their views on the Halal Certification issue, which as pointed out my some, correctly or incorrectly, would lead to unwanted divisions. Two ministers of the government, as reported in the media on 14 February, had given their views or indicated the proposed actions with regard to Halal Certification.
If one looks at the Sinhala ethnic group or those that profess Buddhism as their religion, the large majority is docile, laissez-faire and peace-loving. Most of the Sinhala people have been ready to accommodate foreigners ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” people of other faiths and ethnicities -ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and that has been a bugbear to them for centuries.
The Muslims were given land to settle in the East of Sri Lanka by King Senerat (1604- 1635) and Rajasimha II (1635-1687) when the Portuguese persecuted them. No one today grumbles about such acts of generosity, and what all ethnic groups need and desire is to live in peace, now that the LTTE terrorist curse, which threatened the very sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the nation, has been eliminated, at least within Sri Lanka.
It is extremely unfair that any Muslim group or a Muslim Minister in Sri Lanka states that the majority community is extremist. If they really look at themselves, they will realise that they and their community are the very people who have been extremist in many ways: the most glaring example of this is the number of Muslim females who have changed, or been forced to change, their attire over the recent past. Sri Lanka never had humans fully covered in black from head to toe, parading the streets in broad daylight. Yet, when the writer was in Kandy town just a few weeks back he himself witnessed quite a few women ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” he assumed that they were women – who had completely covered themselves, including their eyes, with black cloth.
Every individual has his or her right to do what he or she wishes as long as the practice does not break the laws of the land. But, when those who have been practising extremism, of one form or another for generations, accuse the people who had tolerated them and their practices as long as one could remember that really is taking matters too far.
The writer was in a SriLankan Airlines flight a few weeks ago. The menu card that the cabin crew gave prominently pronounced, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-All meat is halalƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, or something to that effect. Sri Lankan Airlines is the national airline of Sri Lanka, a country in which over 90% of the population is non-Muslim. It is difficult to understand why these people, as well as many of the visitors to the country who opt to travel SriLankan, should be forced to eat halal if they belong to other faiths.
It is time that the kettle stopped calling the pot black. One group should not force its beliefs and practices on others, and it is difficult to find instances of the Sinhalas or the Buddhists in Sri Lanka demanding that the rest observes what they thought was good for them. Anyone who alleges that the Sinhala ethnic group or those who follow the Buddhist religion are instrumental in fomenting division needs to get his head examined by a psychiatrist.
February 15th, 2013 at 7:48 pm
All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama should not try to impose its doctrine into other majority people. What this Halal Certificate – it’s only since the last one decade. Muslim Ulama group should not try to earn mnney by supplying such certificate. This is not Saudi Arabia – This is Sri Lanka. Ulama group, if you try to suppress some minority people in Islam, you will see the same fate on you. Now it’s happening in SL.
February 15th, 2013 at 8:09 pm
“Anyone who alleges that the Sinhala ethnic group or those who follow the Buddhist religion are instrumental in fomenting division needs to get his head examined by a psychiatrist.”
Now that is spot on!
February 15th, 2013 at 9:21 pm
I ask all Islam promoters not to write any Quaraan nonsence to teach Buddhists their useless religion,
A single verse of truth,
which calms the mind,
is better to hear than a thousand
irrelevant verses.
-Dhammapada
February 16th, 2013 at 2:15 am
McDonalds and all these international fast food restaurants are not forcing Halal in the West but they are forcing Halal in third world non-Muslim countries. The West has a plan to Islamacise the third world, including Buddhist and Hindu countries and then create constant warfare and mayhem and terrorism and use this as a reason to invade these countries. Is this not a reasonable theory?
February 16th, 2013 at 5:29 am
At last Ranawaka has some guts to ask to remove halal nonsense.
NO HALAL.
February 16th, 2013 at 6:47 am
Voice,
Most people visit McDonald in Colombo are Muslims, who can afford it. Mind you they are 30% of population of Colombo , could be more. This is the reason. You will find the same in Malaysia, but even in Singapore which has very few muslims.
February 16th, 2013 at 10:31 am
Asada is absolutely correct. Majority of the Buddhists and the other as well as the other Sinhalese are very peace loving people. All Muslims are not extremists but it is their blind obedience to Islam coupled with instigation by the extremists that make them behave the way they do. It is the master plan of these extremists to Islamise the world. They are trying it all over the world. The Halal requirement is the subtle way in addition to slowly creating Muslim enclaves where ever possible. They are able to do what they do because of the money.
Majority of the consumers are the Sinhalese. They did patronize the Muslim businesses as they were not biased and that is how these businesses thrived and they became rich.
In order hit these people and stop them in their tracts, the majority must set aside their differences and improve our businesses which will affect them economically. If we don’t start now it will be too late.
February 16th, 2013 at 11:43 am
All these years muslims in Sri Lanka ate what all the other people ate. Now they think they have multiplied enough and feel they should start pushing the islamisation boat in the country. Our army even had to save these people’s lives from the LTTE brutality. While Sinhalese sacrificing their lives to safeguard the territorial integretity of the mortherland, muslims quietly multiplied and doubled their numbers. With their increased numbers they have taken over every town in the country and secured ministerial, deputy ministerial, mayoral, deputy mayoral etc. etc.. Thanks to two major partys’ bickering they have managed to make the government to dance to their tune. Now the Sinhalese are fed up with them and need this menace stopped. Wherever muslims went in the world, it was the end of the road for the natives. Afganistan, Egypt, Pakisthan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Malaysia, Indonesia paid the heavy price of losing their countries thanks to their multiplying and imposing their will on the host countries. Now they are pushing very hard to do the same in Sri Lanka. What they don’t realise is world is a different place. All the countries in the world know what a menace they are and raising their guard. They should be grateful to the host country and try to be citizens of Sri Lanka for once. Or practice a real religion like Buddhism, Hinduism or Catholism, rather than following this so called ‘religion of peace’ which advises to kill non-believers. A religion advising to KILL? This itself should be enough for any sensible human to stop following this non-sense. Or end this ridiculous halal business by leaving these shores to pastures green in Saudi Arabia, Pakisthan, Syria, Egypt, etc. etc. where you have 100% halal, 100% freedom to do anything you like. Doors always open. Nobody will be sorry. Nobody will shed tears!
February 16th, 2013 at 3:03 pm
Govt. plans to build a mosque similar to the AL AQSA MOSQUE in Katankundi.
Original Al Aqsa mosque is in Israel. Al Aqsa is also a terrorist group in Israel.
After this we may lose a good friend – Israel for glorifying such a barbaric thing in SL.
February 16th, 2013 at 5:48 pm
go to hell muslim Ministers U acuse sinhalese But once upon atime ASGIRIYA VIHARAYA gave u aland to build u r mosque
We should have have treated u the same way that u treat other religionists—
U know what it is …KILLING… we were foolish to help u
February 16th, 2013 at 6:05 pm
Donno why Rajapakse wants to build mosques when there are so many in the country. ( Scared of UNHCR – Arab votes ?)
What we need is at least one Synagogue, which can operate couple of drones.
Wonder whether there is a jewish community in Sir lanka.
Lorenzo De Fonseka would like to enlighten us.
February 16th, 2013 at 10:21 pm
Nanda, Lorenzo, there is a Jewish community in neighbouring Kerala, South India, which has been present over 2000 years. They would have had dealings with ancient Sri Lanka prior to the invention of Islam in year 666 AD. Singapore also has a thriving Jewish community. Apparently, some of the Portuguese and other Europeans that arrived in the island during colonialism were Jewish by religion but due to persecutions in Europe, did not publicise the fact. I read somewhere that there used to be a synagogue in Kollupitiya during the colonial days.
February 16th, 2013 at 11:19 pm
Thanks Voice. This one may have been converted to a mosque lately.
February 16th, 2013 at 11:27 pm
Some good work by Bodu Bala Sena. YoniBilla should be banned.
http://www.ceylontoday.lk/16-24545-news-detail-ban-the-burqa.html
February 16th, 2013 at 11:28 pm
That is correct. Sri Lanka had a Jewish community from historical times. There was a Synagogue in Kollupitiya until around 1970. But it was reestablished in 2006. Rabbi Crombie is Sri Lanka’s chief Rabbi today. Interested people with good intentions can visit the Chabad Centre in Greenpath Avenue, Kollupitiya. No malice please as they are distinguished Sri Lankans and expatriates.
Some names attributed to the Portuguese are actually Jewish names.
e.g. Fonseka, de Fonseka , de Fonceka, Salgado
A Jewish explorer by the name Benjamin about a thousand years ago stated Sri Lanka had a large Jewish community at that time. Benjamin of Tudella estimated 3,000 Jews in Sri Lanka in 1130 AD.
Sri Lanka’s coffee plantations were established by the de Worms brothers. They were the cousins of the famous Rothschilds who established a global banking empire.
Famous Jews in recent times include Kalashuri Ann Ranasinghe, Prof. Kumari Campbell and the Keunamans.
February 17th, 2013 at 1:01 pm
Well done BODU BALA SENA.
BAN Yonibillah!!! Absolutely!
February 17th, 2013 at 1:23 pm
May182009 (aka Kumar Moses)
I’m surprised you did not post this link
Secrets of Ceylon: What Happened to the Jews of Sri Lanka?
http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/secrets-of-ceylon-what-happened-to-the-jews-of-sri-lanka/
February 17th, 2013 at 3:15 pm
Possibly muslims responsible for the demise of this heritage.
Michael Van Dort ( the Tall Cricketer) comes into the mind.
February 17th, 2013 at 10:20 pm
If my non muslim brothers dont want Halal ,buy non-Halal. It is only a guidance for us to practice our Faith,to do the correct thing. If you have any any evidence that the ACJU is acting against the inerest of SL. you can always inform the Law, to straighten out matters. All you good people making unfounded allegations is like the saying all fart and no shit (SORRY!) But please calm down and THINK! Let the law of the land do the needful.
February 18th, 2013 at 2:36 am
Why should there be halal in SL?
There is NO NEED. If Muslims want to eat halal, they can go back to Saudi.
SAY NO TO HALAL HELL or go to halal-land (Saudi).
February 18th, 2013 at 8:34 am
I am sure the vast majority of our Sri Lankan Muslim brothers harbour no hatred towards our handful of few Sri Lankan Jewish brothers. I have been saddened to hear some Sri Lankan Muslims come on this forum and say hateful things about our Jewish brothers, unprovoked and for no reason at all. Why must they harbour such hatred? Buddhists are thought to harbour no hatred towards any community. I exhort our Muslim brothers to learn from the great Buddhist teaching.
February 18th, 2013 at 12:44 pm
Indians!!
February 18th, 2013 at 2:05 pm
Scientists Prove that the Islamic method of slaughtering Animals feel no pain
Let’s begin with a small introduction with the term HALAAL
What is Halaal ( هلال )?
Halal is an Arabic word meaning lawful or permitted. The opposite of halal is HARAAM (حرام ), which means unlawful or prohibited. Halal and haram are universal terms that apply to all facets of life. However, we will use these terms only in relation to food products, meat products, cosmetics, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, food ingredients, and food contact materials.
While many things are clearly halal or haram, there are some things which are not clear. Further information is needed to categorize them as halal or haram. Such items are often referred to as mashbooh, which means doubtful or questionable.
All foods are considered halal except the following (which are haram):
Swine/Pork and its by-products – Read more on WHY PORK IS PROHIBITED
Animals improperly slaughtered or dead before slaughtering
Alcoholic drinks and intoxicants
Carnivorous animals, birds of prey and certain other animals
Foods contaminated with any of the above products
Foods containing ingredients such as gelatin, enzymes, emulsifiers, and flavors are questionable (mashbooh), because the origin of these ingredients is not known.
Ref: Islamic Food and National Council of America
Let’s now move to the topic
The Islamic practice of slaughtering animals by means of a sharp cut to the front of the neck has frequently come under attack by some animal rights activists as being a form of animal cruelty, the claim being that it is a painful inhumane method of killing animals. In the West, it is required by law to stun the animals with a shot to the head before the slaughter, supposedly to render the animal unconscious and to prevent it from reviving before it is killed so as not to slow down the movement of the processing line. It is also used to prevent the animal from feeling pain before it dies.
German Research Studies Pain
It therefore may come as a surprise to those who have made such acclimation to learn of the results of a study carried out by Professor Wilhelm Schulze and his colleague Dr. Hazim at the School of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover University in Germany. The study: ‘Attempts to Objectify Pain and Consciousness in Conventional (captive bolt pistol stunning) and Ritual (halal, knife) Methods of Slaughtering Sheep and Calves’ concludes that Islamic slaughtering is the most humane method of slaughter and that captive bolt stunning, practiced in the West, causes severe pain to the animal.
In the study, several electrodes were surgically implanted at various points of the skull of all animals, touching the surface of the brain. The animals were allowed to recover for several weeks. Some animals were then slaughtered by making a swift, deep incision with a sharp knife on the neck cutting the jugular veins and the carotid arteries as well as the trachea and esophagus (Islamic method). Other animals were stunned using a Captive Bolt Pistol (CBP). During the experiment, an electroencephalograph (EEG) and an electrocardiogram (ECG) recorded the condition of the brain and the heart of all animals during the course of slaughter and stunning.
The results were as follows:
I – Islamic Method
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1. The first three seconds from the time of Islamic slaughter as recorded on the EEG did not show any change from the graph before slaughter, thus indicating that the animal did not feel any pain during or immediately after the incision.
2. For the following 3 seconds, the EEG recorded a condition of deep sleep – unconsciousness. This is due to the large quantity of blood gushing out from the body.
3. After the above-mentioned 6 seconds, the EEG recorded zero level, showing no feeling of pain at all.
4. As the brain message (EEG) dropped to zero level, the heart was still pounding and the body convulsing vigorously (a reflex action of the spinal cord) driving a maximum amount of blood from the body thus resulting in hygienic meat for the consumer.
II – Western method by C.B.P. Stunning
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Captive Bolt Pistol (CBP)
1. The animals were apparently unconscious soon after stunning.
2. EEG showed severe pain immediately after stunning.
3. The hearts of animals stunned by C.B.P. stopped beating earlier as compared to those of the animals slaughtered according to the Islamic method resulting in the retention of more blood in the meat. This in turn is unhygienic for the consumer.
Western-Style Slaughtering and Mad Cow’s Disease
Not only is this method of stunning animals before the slaughter severely painful as shown by the previous experiment, but there is also a rising concern that this method may be a factor in the spread of mad cow’s disease from cattle to humans as it was discovered in recent research carried out at Texas A&M University and by Canada’s Food Inspection Agency, that a method called pneumatic stunning (which is the firing of a metal bolt into the cow’s brain followed by a pulverizing burst of 150 pounds of air pressure) delivered a force so explosive that it scattered brain tissue throughout the animal. This news is disturbing since the brain tissue and spinal cord are the most infectious parts of an animal with mad cow disease, which causes fatal Swiss cheese like holes in the brain of the infected animal. It is more disturbing to find out that around 30 to 40 percent of American cattle are stunned by pneumatic guns.(fromhttp://www.khilafatworld.com/2011/11/scientists-prove-that-islamic-method-of.html)
February 18th, 2013 at 3:15 pm
Sewermeer,
As you say Halal killing is killing an animal by draining its blood. But when this happens, the NERVOUS SYSTEM of the animal is STILL WORKING. The animal CONTINUES TO FEEL THE PAIN.
That is why halal is a BARBARIC way of killing.
Don’t assume the INVENTOR of halal was a SCIENTIST of animal anotomy!! He was NOT.
Pork is more halal than any other meat. Can’t understand why this discrimination is. You should NOT discriminate between meats.
February 18th, 2013 at 3:25 pm
Sawmeer says “Scientists Prove that the Islamic method of slaughtering Animals feel no pain”
Sad to hear a (supposed?) Sri Lankan talk like this. They have absolutely no empathy with other beings and think only of gratifying their 5 senses – and calling it “religion”. Recall how king Ashoka had a charter of rights for animals and all beings? We should re-examine this in light of todays world.
Sawmeer answer us this. Imagine for a moment if one minute you are with your family on the farm. Next minute you are set upon by people you thought you could trust. YOU were forcibly tied up, arms and legs in front of your family who are now crying in fear and asking to let you go. Without even having time to say goodbye to your family, you are dragged to some dark butchers hall full of blood. You hear the screams of other people and grow more afraid. Next thing children start kicking you. Salivating old people/young people/everybody looks at you with no compassion just ill-will, waiting for you to die. Someone grabs your neck, chants some horrid guttural sound then you feel the cold steel of a knife. An innocent person, wondering what these people could want. Will they release you and give you lunch and a drink and take you home? (If animals could talk, what would they ask Allah?) You look at them pleading, as if to ask. Then suddenly you feel the cut right across your throat. Is this still SCIENTIFICALLY PAINLES if it happens to you? No they have cut your throat little enough for the blood to start spurting out. You might be crying out for help. They are waiting for all the blood to drain out of your body while you lie helplessly. Children then come and laugh and kick you some more egged on by their decrepit elders. You are crying out and left to bleed to death? PAINLESS? Meditate about it, if you can. Is this what Allah, all compassionate wants? Or is it the depraved desire of a medeival desert dweller blasphemously pretending to be Allah?
So according to Sawmeer and his halal scientists, the animal feels no pain. Yes, even less than a stun gun by a butcher! All “scientifically” proven with the help if Saudi donations perhaps, for us to rest easy.
This makes me sick. I NEVER touch such meat. No Sri Lankan should have to touch such tainted meat.
There is no room whatsoever for this aspect of halal in Sri Lanka or even India. It should be banned throughout the WHOLE WORLD including in Saudi Arbaria. Harmless forms of halal are okay but not this kind of torture.
I respect those Muslims who are peaceful and their right to practice harmless aspects of their religion. Proponents of slaughter aspect of halal should weigh their desire to eat halal meat with the sentiments of members of other religious communities opposing animal torture and enter into a mature and respectful dialogue with them.
February 18th, 2013 at 3:33 pm
Now I understand why the Saudi Saadus cut the neck out of poor Rizana Nafeek humanely.
This stupid Muslims are brainwashed to think that only the phisical pain that matters.
How about pain of leaving your mother, fathers, sons , daughters and friends instantly ?
These dumbos must think with whaever the brain they have that the mental suffering is greater and the animals too grieve.
February 18th, 2013 at 4:31 pm
WHY THESE ISLA MEEYONTA CAN’T EAT WHAT WE ALL ATE ALL THIS TIME?
Answer lies in the multiplication table. Now they have multiplied enough and feel the time is right to start islmaisation of Sri Lanka. Every country they went into in the world, they made THEM muslim countries. Iran, Egypt, Afganisthan, Pakisthan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Malaysia, Indonesia by breeding like rabbits and outnumbering natives. After natives became a minority, they had to face death or convert evnetually making them muslim countries. Anybody who thinks this lot is different are fooling themselves. They have taken over every town in the country and they are controlling the government thanks to two main parties bickering. This cancer is slowly killing Sinhalese, Tamils, Burghers etc. along with their religions.
February 18th, 2013 at 5:55 pm
There is LOT of confusion in SL.
SL tries to be EVERYTHING for EVERYONE. A stupid approach leading to confusion. It creates DIVISION.
Here are the examples no one can disagree!
If you are a Valla-alla-la caste Tamil from Jaffna you have a different law applied to you (Vesawalami law).
If you are NOT, you have no such law applied to you!
If you are a Muslims, one law applies to marriage/divorce, etc. (easier divorce)
If you are not, a DIFFERENT law applies to you. (VERY difficult divorce)
If you are Muslim, polygamy is OK.
If you are NOT Muslim, you will be JAILED for polygamy!!
If you are Sinhalese you sing Sri Lanka Maatha.
If you are Tamil you sing Sri Lanka Thaye.
If you are a Tamil, you have Tamil grievances.
If you are NOT a Tamil, you have NO Tamil grievances.
If you are Tamil, you are entitled to a political solution.
If you are NOT Tamil, no political solution for you!!
If you are Muslim, you have halal.
If you are Jewish you have NO kosher.
February 18th, 2013 at 8:45 pm
Hey,Lorenzo, Calm down!
How can you say we came from KSA? Maybe some of us did, but not ALL. And Our Holy Book in Ch.2, verse 256 says “There is no compulsion in Religion ” (La Ikraha Fid deen) Ok, you dont like halal, go for non halal.NO ONE IS FORCING ANYTHING ON YOU!. Even the Bible at one point says avoid flesh of Swine, and eat only permitted food,like the Kosher food of the Hebrews.
Lorenzo,and Nanda…..” Yonibillah” ? You guys too have a Yonibillah, as we do!
By the way my origin is from the far,far east!
February 18th, 2013 at 8:47 pm
Sorry,Lorenzo, Tell me How many Muslims do you know with many wives?
How many non-muslims do you know with many wives?
February 18th, 2013 at 9:32 pm
The Halal issue is threatening peace and possibly international relations too. Bodu Bala Sena has all the rights of TNA and SLMC to protest, organise and politicise their concerns. However, their (TNA, SLMC, BBS) agitations can lead to unrest.
It must be sorted out soon. The Ulama is authorised by a parliamentary act so they have the authority to issue Halal certificates. This is a global trend and we cannot detach from it. It is basic economics of supply and demand. An economic resolution is advisable.
The Ulama must furnish audited financial statements stating its revenue which runs into millions of rupees annually. Halal is an Islamic religious practice. Getting non-Muslims to foot this cost is unacceptable.
A concurrent levy should be imposed on all Halal certificate related payments. For instance if Company A pays Rs. 100,000 to the Ulama for its annual Halal certificate, it is obliged to pay another Rs. 100,000 as a levy to the government. As Halal advocates say, the charge is insignificant. This levy should go to finance activities to protect relics and other historical artefacts. That should satisfy both the Muslim community and the concerned sections of the Buddhist community. It will also prevent further fundamentalist demands.
February 19th, 2013 at 6:42 am
Fazara – Sawmeer. No point in hanging out with a bunch of losers.
February 19th, 2013 at 7:18 am
In reply to my Muslim brother, Fazara , it is evil, brutal to kill defenseless animals or humans for any reason. I would oppose killing even more strongly if pain is involved.Muslims even stone women to death even for petty crimes. Really this is very uncivilized conduct. At N NALANDA, Buddhists did not run away or fight back and all defenseless Buddhists were wiped out. People who follow religions do so because of blind faith and without verifiable evidence. Any religion including Buddhism and Islam are mind viruses, affecting the thinking of believers. Islam appears to be a stronger mind virus than Buddhism, as Islam has replaced Buddhism in countries in the silk route, India and Maldives.Initially, Halal is the first action of the mind virus. Next step is to kill non believers or infedals for Muslims to go to heaven. Sri Lanka will gradually be converted to a Muslim country and Buddhists will do nothing until the last Buddhist is killed or converted Muslim.
February 19th, 2013 at 7:34 am
Losers torture defenceless animals.
February 19th, 2013 at 1:12 pm
We can see losers dying in their millions in Iraq, Pakistan, Chechnya, (next is Iran) etc., etc, for torturing animals.
KARMAM!!
What goes around comes around.
February 19th, 2013 at 1:43 pm
Some diplomts already left the country because there is no Halallah.
Feb 19, Colombo: The Saudi Arabian Ambassador in Sri Lanka, Abdulaziz bin Abdul-rahman Al Jammaz has left for the home country without informing Sri Lankan authorities officially, Sri Lankan media had learned.
Wlekum Sallam , please go !
February 19th, 2013 at 10:07 pm
Ben, Assalaamu Alaikum!b\ ( it only means “Peace be with you!) You have to agree with me there is extremism in all religions, people who misinterpret their Holy Books.The incident recently in KSA also could have a different end if our guys had approached the subject properly. Remember, we were given about 7 years to come up with a proper soluton. anyway,Ben, we have got used to consuming permitted ( I did not use the thahanam vachaney) flesh, but I can defintely say that habit is also becoming less nowadays. Just wondering,Ben, If 50%of the people who are not supposed to eat flesh really stops consuming flesh, ,75% of the Muslim beef stalls will have to close down. So its up to my non-muslim community leaders to effectively educate them to avoid eating flesh. Dont tell me you are taught only not to kill, but can eat something which has already been killed! The de-merit of killing an animal falls equally on the person eating it. Salaams!
Maghribi – We try to explain to our brothers!
February 20th, 2013 at 6:14 am
Fazara attempts to shrewdly divert responsibility of cruelty to animals from the butchers of halal to practitioners of other religions. According to him, cruel torture and slaughter is not the fault of Muslims engaging in halal but of Buddhists, Hindus and Christians consuming meat having no option but to consume HALAL meat only thus equating a beast killed by stunning it first and not glorifying in the violence (intent) with the gory sadism and pain of halal (getting joy from the pain). Unlike in Islam, Buddhists are not “prohibited” to do things on pain of cruel punishments. People are seen as responsible for their actions with the knowledge of their consequences and to work out their own salvation. You could say people are habitually consuming meat and through ignorance. This doesnt mean the torture and pain of the animals can be increased and sadistic butchery is excused! The best approach is immediate banning sadistic bleeding death of animals as totally unnessary even for eating meat. Rather than forcing peoples actions, to stop eating meat much better and more lasting if they shed their ignorance of their own accord. Its surprising Sri Lankans (?) displaying ignorance of Sri Lankan culture. I suspect some of our “halal brothers on lankaweb are part of an organised “tag team” of believers from Muslim countries. This is an open forum and thats fine but acknowledge it and learn a bit about our culture before making recommendations to us infidels.
February 20th, 2013 at 8:57 am
Zone Xenophobic Feces hanging about nothing to contribute to a positive change.
February 20th, 2013 at 12:45 pm
If all halal eaters LEAVE SL just like the Saudi diplomat, there will be peace.
Halal animal torture is a SIN.
Those who eat halal will end up halal.
February 20th, 2013 at 1:05 pm
“By Al Arabiya with AFP
Egypt has issued an arrest warrant on Sunday against the Salafi preacher, who recently said it was “halal” (permissible) to rape female protestors, charging him with the defamation of religion, an Al Arabiya correspondent reported.
Ahmad Mahmoud Abdullah, known as “Abu Islam” owner of the private television channel of “al-Ummah,” sparked further controversy after he attacked women and Christianity.
He is already on trial for tearing up a bible during a protest outside the American embassy in Cairo in September over a short film made in the United States that insulted the Prophet Mohammed.”
Those who eat halal will end up halal!
February 20th, 2013 at 2:25 pm
Now there is no way that Rajapakse act against Allah or Hallal until the stupid fight at UN.
In the meantime there is inteligence finding LTTE supporters instigating, aiding and organising Sinhalaloids against Muslims , so that easy defeat at the UN fight. Saudi is definitely going vote against us this time.
This Eelaam war is now stronger than ever diplomatically. Hela Bodu people should rally together to win this fight somehow.
February 20th, 2013 at 3:17 pm
Nanda,
Saudi voted AGAINST us last time.
February 20th, 2013 at 3:24 pm
What the Buddha Said About Eating Meat
Ajahn Brahmavamso
Since the very beginning of Buddhism over 2500 years ago, Buddhist monks and nuns have depended on almsfood. They were, and still are, prohibited from growing their own food, storing their own provisions or cooking their own meals. Instead, every morning they would make their day’s meal out of whatever was freely given to them by lay supporters. Whether it was rich food or coarse food, delicious or awful tasting it was to be accepted with gratitude and eaten regarding it as medicine. The Buddha laid down several rules forbidding monks from asking for the food that they liked. As a result, they would receive just the sort of meals that ordinary people ate – and that was often meat.
Once, a rich and influential general by the name of Siha (meaning ‘Lion’) went to visit the Buddha. Siha had been a famous lay supporter of the Jain monks but he was so impressed and inspired by the Teachings he heard from the Buddha that he took refuge in the Triple Gem (i.e. he became a Buddhist). General Siha then invited the Buddha, together with the large number of monks accompanying Him, to a meal at his house in the city the following morning. In preparation for the meal, Siha told one of his servants to buy some meat from the market for the feast. When the Jain monks heard of their erstwhile patron’s conversion to Buddhism and the meal that he was preparing for the Buddha and the monks, they were somewhat peeved:
“Now at the time many Niganthas (Jain monks), waving their arms, were moaning from carriage road to carriage road, from cross road to cross road in the city: ‘Today a fat beast, killed by Siha the general, is made into a meal for the recluse Gotama (the Buddha), the recluse Gotama makes use of this meat knowing that it was killed on purpose for him, that the deed was done for his sake’…” [1].
Siha was making the ethical distinction between buying meat already prepared for sale and ordering a certain animal to be killed, a distinction which is not obvious to many westerners but which recurs throughout the Buddha’s own teachings. Then, to clarify the position on meat eating to the monks, the Buddha said:
“Monks, I allow you fish and meat that are quite pure in three respects: if they are not seen, heard or suspected to have been killed on purpose for a monk. But, you should not knowingly make use of meat killed on purpose for you.” [2]
There are many places in the Buddhist scriptures which tell of the Buddha and his monks being offered meat and eating it. One of the most interesting of these passages occurs in the introductory story to a totally unrelated rule (Nissaggiya Pacittiya 5) and the observation that the meat is purely incidental to the main theme of the story emphasizes the authenticity of the passage:
Uppalavanna (meaning ‘she of the lotus-like complexion’) was one of the two chief female disciples of the Buddha. She was ordained as a nun while still a young woman and soon became fully enlightened. As well as being an arahant (enlightened) she also possessed various psychic powers to the extent that the Buddha declared her to be foremost among all the women in this field. Once, while Uppalavanna was meditating alone in the afternoon in the ‘Blind-Men’s Grove’, a secluded forest outside of the city of Savatthi, some thieves passed by. The thieves had just stolen a cow, butchered it and were escaping with the meat. Seeing the composed and serene nun, the chief of the thieves quickly put some of the meat in a leaf-bag and left it for her. Uppalavanna picked up the meat and resolved to give it to the Buddha. Early next morning, having had the meat prepared, she rose into the air and flew to where the Buddha was staying, in the Bamboo Grove outside of Rajagaha, over 200 kilometres as the crow (or nun?) flies! Though there is no specific mention of the Buddha actually consuming this meat, obviously a nun of such high attainments would certainly have known what the Buddha ate.
However there are some meats which are specifically prohibited for monks to eat: human meat, for obvious reasons; meat from elephants and horses as these were then considered royal animals; dog meat – as this was considered by ordinary people to be disgusting; and meat from snakes, lions, tigers, panthers, bears and hyenas – because one who had just eaten the flesh of such dangerous jungle animals was thought to give forth such a smell as to draw forth revenge from the same species!
Towards the end of the Buddha’s life, his cousin Devadatta attempted to usurp the leadership of the Order of monks. In order to win support from other monks, Devadatta tried to be more strict than the Buddha and show Him up as indulgent. Devadatta proposed to the Buddha that all the monks should henceforth be vegetarians. The Buddha refused and repeated once again the regulation that he had established years before, that monks and nuns may eat fish or meat as long as it is not from an animal whose meat is specifically forbidden, and as long as they had no reason to believe that the animal was slaughtered specifically for them.
The Vinaya, then, is quite clear on this matter. Monks and nuns may eat meat. Even the Buddha ate meat. Unfortunately, meat eating is often seen by westerners as an indulgence on the part of the monks. Nothing could be further from the truth – I was a strict vegetarian for three years before I became a monk. In my first years as a monk in North-East Thailand, when I bravely faced many a meal of sticky rice and boiled frog (the whole body bones and all), or rubbery snails, red-ant curry or fried grasshoppers – I would have given ANYTHING to be a vegetarian again! On my first Christmas in N.E. Thailand an American came to visit the monastery a week or so before the 25th. It seemed too good to be true, he had a turkey farm and yes, he quickly understood how we lived and promised us a turkey for Christmas. He said that he would choose a nice fat one especially for us… and my heart sank. We cannot accept meat knowing it was killed especially for monks. We refused his offer. So I had to settle for part of the villager’s meal – frogs again.
Monks may not exercise choice when it comes to food and that is much harder than being a vegetarian. Nonetheless, we may encourage vegetarianism and if our lay supporters brought only vegetarian food and no meat, well… monks may not complain either!
May you take the hint and be kind to animals.
References:
[1] Book of the Discipline, Vol. 4, p. 324
[2] ibid, p. 325
Ajahn Brahmavamso
(Newsletter, April-June 1990, Buddhist Society of Western Australia.)
February 20th, 2013 at 4:56 pm
Can someone please explain how these people survived all these years in our country without eating? We didn’t have halal for these uninvited guests all these years. But they somehow managed to stay alive. What we should understand is pushing the halal agenda is the slow islmisation of the country. That is what we should debate about and how these crafty to the core people’s agendas to go about it. First step should be to highlight their multiplying. And then having muslim only schools to hide the ‘output’. And then putting up eyesore moques in every street corner to drive out Sinhalese and Tamils from the areas so they can ‘overrun’ them in double quick time. Now they have seen their ‘hard work’ bearing fruit, so want to expedite the islamisation. They are taking us down the road old Afganisthan, Pakisthan, Iran, Egypt.etc. etc. for sure. Issue isn’t our religion is better than theirs or their religion is better than ours. We stick to ours you stick to ours. Do as Romans do when in Rome. Be citizens of Sri Lanka for once. Do not multiply. Do not put up mosques in every corner. Don’t push halal agenda. Don’t forget you ate all these years without any fuss, without any harm to yourselves. Don’t try to make our country, your country! Look at what you have done to Afganisthan, Pakistha after stealing them.
February 20th, 2013 at 5:01 pm
Maghribi says: “Zone Xenophobic Feces hanging about nothing to contribute to a positive change.”
Instead of bandying about tired old slogans about xenophobia, Maghribi might like to explain how torturing an animal to death is justified as ESSENTIAL to Islam. You might be able to argue that eating meat is essential but that doesnt involve torturing animals to death in order to eat meat. Nobody is forcing Muslims (or anybody else) to be vegetarian. It would be a minor concession for Muslims to alter their style of animal slaughter within Sri Lanka to acknowledge the sensitivities of other communities in the island. Yet you find the hardline Muslims that wont budge or give any sign of compromise. This is what makes some people suspect they are funded by the Saudis.
Where does it say in the Koran that bleeding animals to death is ESSENTIAL to the practice of Islam? For Jews, where in the Torah does it say that torturing animals kosher style is essential for food? Very many Jews are opposed to this too. It says in the Christian Bible too about bleeding animals to death, stoning adulterers to death etc. NO Christian in their right mind takes this seriously today because there is a whole body of theology, particularly in the New Testament and the sayings of Jesus etc that would show that these rituals were developed by ancient desert dwellers who thought that their god wanted this but reading the scriptures overall one can see a much bigger picture about gods love. If Muslims believe Jesus is a prophet of god, why dont you learn a bit more about what he teaches about compassion? Doesnt halal include different rules for food, not just for meat and most of these are harmless traditions that nobody would object to – but the moment one objects to torture of animals, they start pointing fingers about xenophobia, etc etc. Only uneducated fools blindly accept cruel practices under the belief that Allah wants it. Some people even says that the Koran encourages rape. Where in the Koran does it say that rape is a recommended punishment against women? What sort of Allah would want this? If you read the Koran properly you most probably would not be able to justify many of these cruelties.
Muslims and Buddhists (and others) within Sri Lanka must enter into a meaningful dialogue without resorting to threats and insults. LTTE diaspora is busy behind the scene putting us against each other with a view to maligning the country internationally and destroying ALL of us Buddhists, Muslims etc etc.
February 20th, 2013 at 7:23 pm
Saw-Meeya,
Your topic was “What the Buddha Said About Eating Meat” and you copied some text from Ajahn Brahmavamso’s talks.
Do you know that “Ajahn Brahmavamso” and Buddha has no relationship unlike your MohoMud and Allah ?
Do you know that “Ajahn Brahmavamso” was expelled from his teachers linage in 2009 ?
You have no right to teach us Buddhism, so keep your fingers frozen.
There is no connection with Halal nonsence and Buddhism, so keep out of Buddhism and keep on eating Halal we have no problem in that.
DO not introduce nonsence to Buddhism which is far beyond eating food, sex, raping, killing, punishment , sucide bombing, cutting genital parts ,growing beards, wearing Yonibilla suits, shouting Allah Hullalah early morinings and endlss jargon writings by killers.
February 20th, 2013 at 7:31 pm
Lorenzo,
You keep saying this but wrong ! Tell me where your found this. Saudi voted against the resolution ( for Sri lanka)
Please see for yourself.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/86322827/Roll-Call-US-Resolution-Vote
Why could not we build more relationship with South Americans ?
February 21st, 2013 at 12:29 am
Voice123 is right LTTE diaspora lorenzu father emmanuel worshipper behind the scene pitting each other to malign the country
February 21st, 2013 at 1:15 am
Read about Rev. Ajahn Brahmavanso with interest. What he has mentioned as forbidden (HARAM) , is forbidden to us too! We have been consuming Halal right thru’out, the beef / meat we always take from Muslim stalls,at one stage we used to slaughter chicken, at our house, specially for our festivals. Remember at one time we (maybe you too!) had chicken on for a special occasion (say, a festival) And most of the butchers were mainly Muslims, so the beef was assumed to be halal. Actually “torturing” an animal to death is Haram, and the flesh too is forbidden. Remember one condition of slaughtering is that the knife used should be (very) sharp. If with a razor sharp knife a cut is made, pain is not felt (want proof?).And when the jugular vein is cut (the arteries are situated deep. You Know) the blood flows out,carrying with it the microorganisms, etc, which could harm people. With time,as at present, someone had to monitor the food available for us ; and hence the ACJU came to the fore to monitor what is permissable for muslims to consume. Admitted, maybe they are doing it too vigourously! But like I said earlier, If you dont want halal ,dont use halal. Let only those people who want halal use halal. There is no compulsion in any thing, only by conviction do it willingly.
God knows Best!
February 21st, 2013 at 8:07 am
Fazara says: “Actually “torturing” an animal to death is Haram, and the flesh too is forbidden. Remember one condition of slaughtering is that the knife used should be (very) sharp. If with a razor sharp knife a cut is made, pain is not felt (want proof?).”
– That might be the theory but what is the practice?
– This is something for the GOSL to monitor properly. Knives were spoken about in ancient times and scriptures because that is all that they had. Surely in this modern day and age, halal slaughter could be brought up to date with the times? What is the objection to a stun gun? You are correct, if more non-Muslims abstained from meat, then this animal slaughter issue would be less of an issue.
Maghribi, Father Emmanuel is a bogus “Christian” (Tamil racist pretending to be Christian for political benefit) from the “Church of Satan”. I am guessing that Lorenzo would like to exorcise him and all his bogus followers.
February 21st, 2013 at 1:22 pm
BTW, Indian Mujahideen has blasted 2 bombs close to Tamil Madu in Andra Pradesh. Fun begins. India gets what it spreads. The others will not escape punishment too.
Bogus father Emmanuel is sympathetic to Islamic terrorists (PKK).
February 21st, 2013 at 1:24 pm
Halal should also be haram. :))
February 22nd, 2013 at 2:29 am
Hey, guys you keep on saying ” Yoni”billah. Can anyone tell me what is “Yoni”, Maybe then we will realise we all have a Yonibillah.
Nanda, Muhammed was just a messenger of God,a human being, in no way related to Him.
We have not bad mouthed Lord Buddah, or Buddhism.So,please reciprocate. Keep this forum only on the subject at hand. Our faith says to respect other faiths, in no way say bad things about them, even as a joke.
yes, Voice123, the ACJU , with the monies they collect as licensing fees, they should try to improve our abbottoirs,send train our slaughterers the correct way to slaughter, and update the system.