A Jain's objections, answered
Step 1 of 8
Why do Muslims eat meat and sacrifice animals?
Jain teaching on harm
Non-harm (ahimsa) is the first vow. A lay Jain may never eat meat. Intended harm is wholly forbidden, harm binds the soul of the one who does it, and plants are enough to live on.
The case for it
A lay Jain may never eat meat. Refusing it is the plainest expression of ahimsa (Jaini, pp. 167-168).
Where it falls short
No one who becomes Muslim has to eat meat. But what counts as food is set by the One who made the animal. Of the cattle He said, "eat what Allah hath provided for you" (6:142; 16:5).