Abul-‘Ala’ al-Ma‘arri: A Pioneer of Compassion and Vegan Philosophy
Abū’l-‘Alā’ al-Ma‘arrī (973–1057), the celebrated Syrian philosopher and poet, stood as one of the earliest and most influential advocates for animal rights in recorded history. A staunch vegan, he expressed profound pity for animals, urging humanity to treat them with kindness and to abstain from their exploitation. His ideology resonated strongly through his writings, including his famous couplet: "People catch the flea and kill it; with the other hand they give alms to the poor. Better it is to free the flea (and not to kill it) than to give alms to the poor."
Al-Ma‘arrī’s ethical framework was rooted in a deep-seated compassion for all living beings.
In his epistles and in his collection of poetry, Luzūmiyyāt, he laid bare his motivations for renouncing meat and adopting a life of asceticism.
His philosophy of non-violence toward animals was far ahead of its time, echoing sentiments that modern-day vegan movements continue to champion.
Influences: Cross-Cultural Inspirations
The philosophical underpinnings of al-Ma‘arrī’s veganism likely stemmed from a blend of Hindu and Greek philosophies. Brahmanism, with its ethos of non-harm and animal reverence, had a far-reaching influence that extended to the Islamic world. Likewise, ideas from Greek thinkers such as Pythagoras and Diogenes the Cynic were transmitted through Arabic translations, enriching Islamic philosophical discourse. Even Stoic thinkers like Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus may have left their imprint on al-Ma‘arrī’s works, as scholars like Ghali have suggested.
Reflections in Popular Culture
Al-Ma‘arrī’s impact extended beyond his own era, finding mention in contemporary literature such as Naguib Mahfouz’s novel Bidāya wa Nihāya (The Beginning and The End, 1949). Mahfouz humorously highlights the intersection of poverty and vegetarianism through the plight of a struggling Cairo family during the 1930s. For the family, avoiding meat becomes an economic necessity rather than a philosophical choice. A witty exchange in the novel draws a parallel between the family’s circumstances and al-Ma‘arrī’s ideals, positioning him as a merciful philosopher who abstained from meat out of compassion for animals.
In one humorous moment, Hasan, the eldest son, complains about their monotonous diet: "اﻟﻔﻮل ﻏﺬاﺋﻲ اﻟﻮﺣﯿﺪ، ﻓﻮل، ﻓﻮل! اﻟﺤَﻤﯿﺮ ﺗﺠﺪ ﺷﯿًﺌﺎ ﻣﻦ اﻟﺘﻨﻮﯾﻊ" ("I eat nothing but beans. Beans. Always beans. Even donkeys get a change in diet.")
Later, when Hasan returns with money, he asks his family: "ﻣﺘﻰ أﻛﻠﺘﻢ اﻟﻠﺤﻢ آﺧَﺮ ﻣﺮة؟" ("When did you last eat meat?")
Hussein, one of the brothers, replies sarcastically: "اﻟﺤﻖﱡ أﱠﻧﺎ ﻧﺴﯿﻨﺎ، دﻋﻨﻲ أﺗﺬﱠﻛﺮ ﻗﻠﯿًﻼ .. ﺗﺘﺨﺎﯾﻞُ ﻟﻌﯿﻨﻲ ﺷﺮﯾﺤُﺔ ﻟﺤﻢ ﻓﻲ ظﻼم اﻟﺬﻛﺮﯾﺎت، وﻟﻜﻦ ﻻ أدري أﯾﻦ وﻻ ﻣﺘﻰ؟ ﻧﺤﻦ أﺳﺮٌة ﻓﻠﺴﻔﯿﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻣﺬھﺐ اﻟﻤﻌِّﺮي" ("To tell you the truth, we've forgotten. Give me a moment to try to remember. If I draw on obscure memories, I'm able to visualize the last slice of meat I've eaten. But I don't remember when or where. We're a philosophical family. Following the principles of al-Ma‘arrī.")
When Hasan asks who al-Ma‘arrī is, Hussein explains: "ﻛﺎن ﻓﯿﻠﺴﻮًﻓﺎ رﺣﯿﻤﺎ، وِﻣﻦ أي رﺣﻤﺘﮫ أﻧﮫ اﻣﺘَﻨﻊ ﻋﻦ أﻛﻞ اﻟﻠﺤﻮم رﺣﻤًﺔ ﺑﺎﻟﺤﯿﻮان" ("A merciful philosopher. So merciful toward animals that he abstained from eating their flesh.")
Hasan humorously concludes: "Now I understand why the government opens schools. It does this to make you hate eating meat so as to have all the meat for itself."
This witty dialogue combines humor, social critique, and reflections on human-animal relationships, underscoring the socio-economic pressures tied to food in Egypt.
Legacy of a Visionary
Abū’l-‘Alā’ al-Ma‘arrī's philosophy remains a testament to the enduring power of compassion and intellectual inquiry. Through his poetic brilliance and unwavering advocacy for animal welfare, he challenged the norms of his time and left an indelible mark on ethical thought. His legacy persists, inspiring dialogues on humanity’s relationship with animals and the moral implications of dietary choices.
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