🏵️🏵️🏵️

From an Islamic perspective, Walter, killing animals for sport or pleasure is considered a sin and goes against our duty as stewards of God's creation.

In Islam, hunting is allowed only for subsistence and not for entertainment or to satisfy a personal preference.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "There are three things which are part of faith;

(1) To believe in Allah and His Messenger;

(2) To believe in the Day of Judgment;

(3) To believe in the fact that Allah has power over all things."

(Bukhari)

In another hadith, he said, "Whoever kills a sparrow or anything bigger than that without a just cause, Allah will require him on the Day of Judgment." (Muslim)

The Quran also emphasizes the importance of treating animals with kindness and compassion. It says,

"There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but forms part of God's scheme." (Quran 6:38)

After considering these teachings, it is evident that your unwillingness to engage in hunting is not solely a matter of personal preference but also a manifestation of your values. Your difficulty in reconciling your convictions with the societal norms portrays the difficulties of living a righteous life within the said environment.

However, it also underscores the importance of staying true to one's convictions, even in the face of external pressure. As you yourself note, "Only now do I wonder how many others there might have been growing up around me that preferred to live and let live. Had we shared our vulnerable secrets with each other, we might have had a completely different childhood." By being true to your beliefs and sharing your vulnerabilities with others who may share similar values, you can help create a more compassionate and just society for all creatures great and small.

🏵️🏵️🏵️