ARE SIKHS ALLOWED TO EAT MEAT?
Yes. A Sikh can eat any kind of meat at any time, with the following exceptions:
1. Kutha meat is prohibited. Kutha meat is meat prepared specially according to Muslim rites. It involves facing the animal in a specific direction, saying a Muslim prayer, and slicing its throat causing it to slowly bleed to death. Sikhs are not permitted to eat this meat because eating such Muslim meat could be considered by some as accepting the Muslim faith (becoming a Muslim). Sikhs are not permitted to eat any food prepared by religious rites and prayers of a different faith, because there should never be a question that Sikhs will always maintain their distinctive religion.
2. All meat of any kind is totally forbidden in Langar. Use of meat in this case is prohibited because every religion has its own method of sanctifying it or not eating it at all. Some people are strict vegetarians at all times. Muslims prepare Halal meat but cannot eat pork. Most modern-day Hindus don't eat beef. Jews and Christians have their own restrictions on which kinds of meat can be eaten on which days. Although Sikhs have no such arbitrary rules,
langar is meant not just for Sikhs, but for people of all religions and all beliefs. A particular kind of meat or a particular method of preparation would suit only a limited number of people and not all of the Sangat. Many of the people in the Sangat, therefore, would not be able to eat Langar if meat were served there. To welcome all people on all the days, only vegetarian Langar is permitted. Meat cannot be cooked or served in Langar. Eggs and fish are considered a kind of meat by some, and hence, are also not allowed in Langar. All people have to be served without any discrimination and without any obligation to anyone. All are entitled to equal distribution. Special foods cannot be reserved for specific people in the Sangat or in the organization.
Thus, the prohibition of meat in Langar cannot be used as a basis for the claim that Sikhs in particular are prohibited from consuming meat.
To conclude, it should be mentioned that it is probably morally wrong to needlessly kill animals simply to enjoy special tastes, especially when an abundance of other food is available (usually at lesser expense). There is no question that a vegetarian diet is ideally suited for proper health. Further, the consumption of meat has historically been associated with persons of lower character according to the prevalent culture in India. Therefore Sikhism.com in no way recommends that any Sikh should or should not eat meat. However, we do advise all people that claiming the Sikh religion itself bans the consumption of meat is false. It is very important to distinguish the Sikh religion from "Hindustani" culture or the culture of any region of the world. While arguments can be made for both sides of the issue, the evidence is not clear-cut, and it appears in all probability that the consumption of meat is a non-issue for the Sikh religion (neither good nor bad, but simply irrelevant). Above all else, it is important for us to maintain Panthic unity despite any possible differences over this extremely insignificant question.
Reht Maryada Introductory Information
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7. Sikhs don't eat beef.
Some Sikhs are vegetarian, but this is personal choice. Sikhs may eat any type of meat including beef. The only food restriction for Sikhs is that they must not eat meat from an animal that has been ritually slaughtered. Examples of ritually slaughtered meat are the Muslim halal meat and Jewish kosher meat. In both cases God is invoked at the time of the animal's killing. Also, Sikhs must not eat food that has been offered to idols.[/FONT]
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