What are Muslims' views on the vegan diet?

I'm Muslim and I was vegan for a while in the past. I wasn't doing it because I felt it was wrong to eat animals. I live in a country where animals are not mistreated. However, I didn't want the extra hormones/chemicals in my body. I do not think that choosing to be vegan contradicts any of the rules of Islam. It's just a lifestyle choice.

Islam is a religion of moderation.  It doesn't encourage extremes in anything especially diet.  The Qur'an tells us that most meats are lawful/permissibly to eat (with exceptions to pork or the flesh or animals that died as opposed to were killed to eat).  There are hadith however that recommend not indulging in too much of any food and others which specify not eating a lot of meat and limiting our intake of meat (I believe some hadith even recommend like once a month).  Islam also places high value on maintaining your health so ideally you will follow a diet that is nutritious and meets whatever dietary and health needs you have.  If you consult with a doctor that recommends you eat more meat then you should follow the doctors advice.  If your doctor recommends you follow a vegan diet then that's okay too.  The main thing is to always try to do things in moderation and to maintain your health. Now for people who seek to be vegan because of the cruelty to animals or the waste involved... Islam demands that animals be treated kindly and with compassion and that when we eat them they should be killed in a way that will cause less pain and drain the blood from the meat (which is why cutting the neck is the method prescribed as it's quick and the blood drains).  In addition Islam encourages not wasting the meat or any part of the animal.  Finding use for as many parts of the animal as possible is ideal as this minimizes wastefulness.

Usually my first response is "Do you eat eggs?" I belong to a muslim minority college where there are 70% muslim students and we have an amazing veg canteen there! Diet has never been an issue of discussion as such but we do crack a few jokes about what pleasure vegans miss in their diets! We usually suggest tasty non veg food to people but we never judge people on their diet! :)

There is nothing wrong with a vegan diet from an Islamic point of view. Enjoy your diet. :)

Optional in ISLAM. ISLAM does not force you to eat animals.

it all depends on how you read ut to it, but certain rituals require animal sacrifice. While you can miss out on those based on some personal opinions. I think you would have a hard time explaining that to family, and friends. Unless most are non religious.