Al-Ma'arri strongly advocates for vegetarianism and compassion towards animals. He believed that inflicting pain on any living being was morally wrong, extending his ethical concerns beyond humanity to encompass all creatures, a rare stance for his era.
Quote by Al-Maarri: “Do not eat flesh, nor cause suffering to innocent creatures.”
Do not eat flesh, nor cause suffering to innocent creatures.
Insight
Historical Context
Al-Ma'arri was a lifelong vegetarian and ascetic, refusing to consume animal products. His ethical stance, detailed in works like "Luzumiyat," reflected a deep sensitivity to suffering and a challenge to prevailing social norms.
About the Author
Syrian poet and philosopher born in 973 CE in Ma'arra al-Nu'man, considered one of the greatest and most controversial Arab poets, whose work challenged religious authority and conventional morality with biting scepticism. His collection Luzum ma la yalzam (The Necessity of What Is Unnecessary) is a landmark of Arabic literary pessimism.
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