Imagine paying a premium for a cup of coffee that has been eaten, partially digested, and then excreted by an animal. While this may sound like a bizarre joke, this is the actual reality behind one of the world’s most expensive brews: Civet Coffee, also known as Kopi Luwak.
At first glance, Civet Coffee might seem like just another exotic variety. But the process behind it though as natural as can be, but is anything but ordinary—and definitely far from appealing. A civet, a cat-like mammal, is made to eat ripe coffee cherries. The beans, having passed through its digestive system, supposedly break down proteins and reduce bitterness, before being excreted by the animal. These beans are then collected from the civet’s droppings, cleaned, roasted, and sold at astronomically high prices.
The Brutal Reality Behind the Hype
The glossy marketing behind Kopi Luwak hides another grim truth. While promoters boast about beans being “wild-collected,” the reality is otherwise; as the vast majority of production nowadays comes primarily from factory farms. Civets, within these farms, are kept in cages, often in deplorable conditions, and force-fed coffee cherries in unnatural quantities. Deprived of their natural diet and surroundings, these poor animals suffer from stress, malnutrition, and diseases.
Behind the veneer of glittery branding lies human exploitation, greed, and utter cruelty. This then raises a deeper question: how can something rooted in suffering and filth be celebrated as refinement and sophistication, and become the choice of the social elite?
And this surely is not an isolated occurrence; it is symptomatic of a wider moral confusion. When man disconnects from Divine guidance, he inevitably begins crafting ethical (or rather unethical) systems shaped by profit, pleasure, and popularity. In such systems, the suffering of animals or the impurity of origin can easily be overlooked as long as the end product promises prestige, financial gains and sensory delight.
Consumption and Spiritual Consequences
What we consume affects more than just our bodies—it affects our hearts and souls too. We are required to eat what is halal and tayyib (lawful and pure), linking sustenance directly with ethical considerations.
Today, many assume that halal simply refers to the method of slaughtering an animal. In reality, halal encompasses everything that is lawful, wholesome, and beneficial, while avoiding what is harmful, exploitative, or impure, reflecting both physical purity and ethical responsibility in all aspects of life.
Seen from this perspective, food is not just fuel; it becomes part of our very essence and being, influencing our minds and spiritual state. When something is born of filth or cruelty, it can never be a source of good. Civet Coffee, no matter how expensive, is the opposite of tayyib. It enters the realm of khabith—impure, harmful, and unworthy of a conscientious person.
Even if one tried to argue that such coffee could somehow be “purified” by roasting, its origin and the cruelty involved leave no doubt about its true nature and status. It remains a product tainted both physically and ethically, despite the marketing and presentation. Its status is not only a matter of taste or preference—it reflects a failure in moral responsibility that we cannot ignore.
The Principle of Ihsan Toward Animals
Another dimension that is so conveniently ignored is our responsibility towards animals. Prophetic guidance teaches us that every act of kindness to a living being carries reward, and every act of cruelty is blameworthy. A woman was condemned for imprisoning a cat, while another person was promised forgiveness for giving water to a thirsty dog.
How then can the deliberate caging, force-feeding, and torment of civets for luxury consumption ever be justified? Such practices undoubtedly stand in stark contrast to ihsan—excellence in treating creation with mercy. Prophetic teachings elevate even small acts of kindness toward animals, whereas civet coffee normalises cruelty for the sake of novelty and profit.
The Trust of Khalifah
We humans have been given the designation of khalifah (custodians or caretakers) on earth, entrusted with responsibility toward all creation. This trust means that our choices must reflect stewardship, not exploitation. Chasing after trends that involve harming creatures for fleeting enjoyment is a betrayal of that trust.
Civet Coffee is a stark example of the ethical downfall and outright corruption: subjecting a harmless animal to unnatural conditions and justifying it with luxury branding. Such behaviour not only reflects humanity’s moral failure but is a stark reminder that desire has overtaken duty.
The Allure of Luxury vs. The Call of Purity
Part of the fascination with Civet Coffee lies in its rarity and price tag. In modern consumer culture, luxury is often confused with value, and deviation is mistaken for sophistication. Divine revelation, however, provides a counterweight to these illusions. It teaches us that true refinement is not in chasing exotic indulgences but in pursuing purity, moderation and altruism.
Man is not to be deceived by abundance or outward glitter:
“Say: Not equal are the impure and the pure, even though the abundance of the impure may please you. So fear God, O people of understanding, that you may be successful.” (Qur’an 5:100)
And this is not just related to food; it rather encompasses all aspects of life. The abundance of what is khabith—whether in wealth, trends, or desires—may dazzle the eye, but success lies in choosing what is tayyib—wholesome, clean, and aligned with Divine guidance.
A Higher Guidance for Modern Times
Human intellect is a gift, but it is not infallible. Left unguided, it can justify cruelty in the name of culture, or filth in the name of luxury. Revelation protects us from such delusions. It equips us with principles that remain timeless, shielding us from being swept away by every new trend.
Civet Coffee is just one example. Today it is this that is taking the fancy of the ‘sophisticated’. Tomorrow it may be another bizarre fad. What remains constant is the need for a Divine compass that distinguishes not only what nourishes the body, but also what purifies the soul.
Conclusion
So, the next time you encounter the enticing sign for “Civet Coffee,” pause and reflect. Is it truly a delicacy—or is it a deception dressed as luxury? Divine revelation calls us to something far greater: to live with purity, compassion, and God-consciousness in every choice we make.
True dignity is not in consuming what is born of cruelty and filth, but in choosing purity, compassion, and responsibility, aligning our lives with the eternal guidance that leads to success.
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