Pork Is Forbidden: But Why?
Question
Dear scholars of Islam, as-Salamu `alaykum! I would like to know why eating pork is prohibited in Islam, despite the fact that some people claim that pigs are very useful, especially when compared to the slow rate of energy conversion to flesh (7% only) whereas the rate of pig’s conversion to flesh is 20%? I just want to know the wisdom behind the prohibition of pork in Islam. Jazakum Allah Khayran!
Answer:
we’d like to make it clear that every committed Muslim should accept Allah’s Commands willingly, even without realizing the wisdom behind the Divine rule in question. If man manages to realize the wisdom behind certain prohibited things, it is well and good. If his mind lacks comprehending that Divine Wisdom, then he should accept the truth as it is, keeping in mind that Allah Almighty is the Omniscient of that which is beneficial to His Creatures.
When Allah Almighty prohibits something for His servants, He does so certainly out of His overflowing mercy on them, to save them from all what may bring them harm; He is indeed Ever-Kind and Most Glorious!
As regards the reason why eating pork is prohibited, we’d like to cite for the words of Dr. Zakir Naik, the president of Islamic Research Foundation, Mumbai. He states the following:
“The fact that consumption of pork is prohibited in Islam is well known. The following points explain various aspects of this prohibition:
1. Pork prohibited in the Qur’an:
The Qur’an prohibits the consumption of pork in no less than 4 different places. It’s prohibited in 2:173, 5:3, 6:145 and 16:115. For instance, Allah says: “Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked a name other than that of Allah.” (Al-Ma’idah: 3)
The above verses of the Glorious Qur’an are sufficient to satisfy a Muslim as to why pork is forbidden.
2. Pork prohibited in the Bible:
Addressing the Christian who is likely to be convinced by his religious scriptures, the Bible prohibits the consumption of pork, in the book of Leviticus: “…and the swine, as he divideth the hoof, and be cloven footed, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch, they are unclean to you.” (Leviticus chapter 11 verse 7 and 8)
Pork is also prohibited in the book of Deuteronomy: “And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you. Ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcass.” (Deuteronomy chapter 14 verse 8)
A similar prohibition is repeated in the book of Isaiah chapter 65 verse 2-5.
3. Consumption of pork causes several diseases:
The other non-Muslims and atheists will agree only if convinced through reason, logic and science. Eating of pork can cause no less than seventy different types of diseases.
A person can have various helminthes, like roundworm, pinworm, hookworm, etc. One of the most dangerous is Taenia Solium, which in a layman’s terminology is called tapeworm. It harbors in the intestine and is very long. Its ova, i.e. eggs, enter the blood stream and can reach almost all the organs of the body. If it enters the brain it can cause memory loss. If it enters the heart it can cause heart attack and if it enters the eye it can cause blindness. If it enters the liver it can cause liver damage. It can damage almost all the organs of the body.
Another dangerous helminthes is Taenia Trichuriasis. A common misconception about pork is that if it is cooked well, these ova die. In a research project undertaken in America, it was found that out of twenty-four people suffering from Taenia tichurasis, twenty two had cooked the pork very well. This indicates that the ovas present in the pork do not die under normal cooking temperature.
4. Pork has fat building material:
Pork has very little muscle building material and contains excess of fat. This fat gets deposited in the vessels and can cause hypertension and heart attack.
5. The pig is one of the filthiest animals on earth:
The pig is one of the filthiest animals on earth. It lives and thrives on muck, filth and dirt. In the villages they don’t have modern toilets and the villagers excrete in the open air. Very often excreta are cleared by pigs.
Some may argue that in advanced countries like Australia, pigs are bred in very clean and hygienic conditions. Even in these hygienic conditions the pigs are kept together in sties. No matter how hard you try to keep them clean they are filthy by nature. They eat and enjoy their own as well as their neighbor’s excreta. ”
The above answer is excerpted with slight modifications from http://www.islamicvoice.com
You can also read:
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Why pork is forbidden in Islam
Below is a conversation (could be hypothetical, but definitely worth a read) that Mr. Hashim, an old friend, forwarded about the medical aspects of why pork (and blood) is forbidden in Islam and why we follow a certain method of animal slaughter.
WHY IS PORK FORBIDDEN IN ISLAM?
Bob: Tell me why is it that a Muslim is very particular about the words
Halaal and Haraam; what do they mean?
Yunus: That which is permissible is termed Halaal and that which is not
Permissible is termed Haraam and it is the Quran which draws the
distinction between the two.
Bob: Can you give me an example?
Yunus: Yes, Islam has prohibited consumption of blood of any type. You
will agree that a chemical analysis of blood shows that it contains an
abundance of uric acid, a chemical substance which can be injurious to
human health.
Bob: You're right about the toxic nature of uric acid, in the human being.
It is excreted as a waste product and in fact we are told that 98% of the
body's uric acid is extracted from the blood by the kidneys and removed
through urination.
Yunus: Now I think that you'll appreciate the specially prescribed method
of animal slaughter in Islam.
Bob: What do you mean?
Yunus: You see, the wielder of the knife, whilst taking the name of the
Almighty, makes an incision through the jugular veins, leaving all other
veins and organs intact.
Bob: I see, this causes the death of the animal by a total loss of blood
from the body, rather than an injury to any vital organ.
Yunus: Yes, if the organs, example the heart, the liver, or the brain
crippled or damaged the animal could die immediately and its blood would
congeal in its veins and would eventually permeate the flesh. This implies
that the animal flesh would be permeated and contaminated with uric acid
and therefore very poisonous; only today did our dietitians realize such a
thing.
Bob: Again, while on the topic of food; why do Muslims condemn the eating
of pork or ham or any foods related to pigs or swine.
Yunus: Actually, apart from the Quran prohibiting the consumption of pork
bacon (pig flesh); in fact the Bible too in Leviticus chapter 11, verse 8,
regarding swine it says, "of their flesh (of the swine another name for
pig)shall you not eat, and of their carcass you shall not touch; they are
" unclean to you."
Further, did you know that a pig cannot be slaughtered at the neck for it
does not have a neck; that is according to its natural anatomy? A Muslim
reasons that if the pig was to be slaughtered and fit for human
consumption the Creator would have provided it with a neck.
"Nonetheless, all that aside, I am sure you are well informed about the
harmful effects of the consumption of pork, in any form, be it pork chops,
ham, bacon.
Bob: The medical science finds that there is a risk for various diseases
as the pig is found to be a host for many parasites and potential
diseases.
Yunus: Yes, even apart from that, as we talked about uric acid content in
the blood, it is important to note that the pig's biochemistry excretes
only 2% of its total uric acid content, the remaining 98% remains as an
integral part of the body. Further more, new study shows, that Pig's Milk
is Red not white, also pig meat could carry harmful disease / bacterial
easily.
Note: Islam forbids not only pork but meat of all those animals who eat
their own or some one else's body waste; the most commonly known animal in
this category is pig or swine whose meat is commonly known as pork.
Link:
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