From Ravikant Jagtap P

Why Christianity and islam allow meat eating? Some of my friends tell me that it is written in Quran that one is not muslim who don’t eat meat in 40days and cow is created by Allah for eating. Is it true? Why they don’t believe in reincarnation is there clear reference in bible and quran for this?

Islam – Quotes on Vegetarianism

Respect for animals:

Seest thou not that it is Allah Whose praise all beings in the heavens and on earth do celebrate, and the birds (of the air) with wings outspread? Each one knows its own (mode of) prayer and praise, and Allah knows well all that they do. 
              Sura 24:41

“The Holy Prophet Muhammad (S) was asked by his companions if kindness to animals was rewarded in the life hereafter. He replied: ‘Yes, there is a meritorious reward for kindness to every living creature’.” (Bukhari)

STATUS OF ANIMALS

“There is not an animal on earth, nor a bird that flies on its wings – but they are communities like you.” (The Quran, 6:38)

PHYSICAL INJURY

“The Holy Prophet (S) forbade the beating or the branding of animals. Once he saw a donkey branded on its face and said: ‘may Allah condemn the one who branded it’.” (Muslim)

ANIMAL BAITING AND BLOOD SPORTS

“The Holy Prophet (S) forbade the setting up of animals to fight against each other.” (Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi)

“The Holy Prophet (S) condemned those who pinion or restrain animals in any other way for the purpose of target shooting. (Al-Masburah and Al-Mujaththamah).” (Muslim)

CAGING

“The Holy Prophet (S) said: ‘It is a great sin for man to imprison those animals which are in his power’.” (Muslim)

VIVISECTION

According to tradition (Hadith Mishkat 3:1392), Mohammed taught that “all creatures are like a family of God; and He loves the most those who are the most beneficent to His family.”

Compulsory to eat meat?

‘I find not in the Message received by me by inspiration any meat forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it…” Sura 6:145

“You are prohibited to eat flesh, blood & other things of a dead animal that is cut without reciting the names of Allah or is killed after severe beating or it is brutally slaughtered  or somebody else has executed it , or it is dead due to a fall ,or some wild beast has eaten some of its chunk , or it is cut on a rock , or it is given as a sacrifice , or is killed by a sharp arrow. The Koran declares meat of such animal to be prohibited.(5.3)

As far as sacrificing the animal is concerned, the process of sacrifice should be complete within three strokes of a knife. It is mandatory to recite the kalma once while striking every time. It is essential to move the knife around its neck three times without hitting any bones. The food the animal had before the sacrifice should not come out & there shouldn’t be any noise before cutting the animal. If any of the above isn’t followed, the meat and the sacrifice becomes unlawful (haram).