WHY PORK IS FORBIDDEN/HARAM IN ISLAM

 

Religious and Medical Reasoning

· Religious Facts from the Holy Books:

 

 

 

From Holy Quran:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Holy Bible (Injeel)  & Holy Torah (Torayt:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 BIBLICAL ASPECT OF THE PROHIBITION

 

 Old Testament

 

     The Jews and the different Christian sects and denominations believe in the Old Testament. Adherents   of   other   religions alleged that the prohibition was already superseded by the New Testament. This cogent argumentation is inconclusive. No one can specifically point out that Jesus Christ (AS) lifted the prohibition. On the contrary, He upheld it He declared:

 

 

“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets:
I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them." 
(Matthew 5:17 RSV)

 

Jesus Christ (PBUH) was obviously referring to the existing Law of his time, the Mosaic Law! -
In which the Law prohibiting pig as article of food is mentioned.
(Leviticus 11:7-11)

 

“As for any beast that is a splitter of the hoof but is not a former of the cleft and not a chewer

of the cud, they are unclean for you. Everyone touching them will be unclean. "

(Leviticus 11:26)

 

 

      In addition, the book of Prophet Isaiah said:

 

“Who sit in tombs, and spend the night in secret places who eats swine’s flesh and broth of

abominable things is in their vessels;... These are a smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns

all the day. " 
         (Isaiah 65:4,5b RSV)

 

 

 The New Testament

        Despite the Biblical injunction prohibiting pork as food, still  people  of other religious persuasions insist  on  finding ways  and  reasons  to justify their  consumption  of  prohibited animals  arguing  that  said  Biblical  prohibition  was  already superseded  in  the New Testament when in  certainly, no  one  can

specifically point out that Jesus Christ (A.S) indeed lifted the prohibition. On the contrary, Jesus (A.S) declared:

 

“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets.

I have come not to abolish but to fulfill them. "
 (Matthew 5:17)

 

      The fact is, we will find in Mark 5:1-20 that Jesus (A.S) even permitted the foul spirits (evil spirits) possessing a man to enter into the herb of swine. Since the  flesh  of  pig  is unlawful  for  the  Jews, to  eat  and  since  it  is   considered unclean, (Leviticus 11:7-8) consequently, the Jews are not to  keep or  raise  them. This Biblical account states that Jesus (A.S) punished the owners of the swine; destroyed their   unlawful livelihood and at the same time showed that pig is the habitat of unclean spirits.

 

       The only provision in the New Testament alluded to their argument is in Act 10:10-16.  Without reading   the   whole context, one would be inclined to interpret it to mean that God abrogated His previous command found on Deuteronomy 14:3-8. An alleged  apparition  of Peter on Acts 10:11-16  is  alleged  to supersede  Deuteronomy 14:3-8, however, nowhere in the Bible  is  it mentioned  that  Peter actually slaughtered and ate  the  unclean animals  he saw in his apparition. The correct interpretation of

this apparition was shown to him in Acts 10:25-28. Acts 10:11-16 therefore, carries   an   allegorical    connotation r referring explicitly to the Gentile nations or non-Jewish nations.  Peter was  told  not to call the Gentiles common  and  unclean  because God's  mercy, blessing and forgiveness also encompasses  the  Non Jews and life eternal also awaits the penitent.

      In the Bible, Jesus (A.S) likened to a dog and  pig  those people whom after receiving divine teaching failed to profit from them and abuses them for self-serving purposes:

 

         “Do not give holy to dogs- they will only turn and attack you.
Do not throw your pearls in front of pigs-they will only trample them underfoot. "

                             ( Matthew 7:6 NEB)

 

 

      The  book  of   Isaiah   66:1-24, is an  oracle  of  the  new heavens  and  the  new earth  prepared  for the believers. Within the context, God condemns people’s practices such as eating   the flesh of pigs, reptiles, and rats.

 

“Those who sanctify and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one in

the midst, eating  swine's flesh and the abomination  and  mice, shall come to an

end together says the LORD. "

(Isaiah 67:17 RSV)

 

      Therefore, the prohibition on the eating of   unclean animals was not abrogated during the New Testament times. God will still punish the transgressors in the fire that will never quench. This will occur during the new heavens and the new earth.

 

 

 MUSLIMS FOLLOW THE DIVINE LAW

 

 Last Testament's Verdict on Prohibition Of Pork

 

     Islam means" submission to the will and command of God and a person who embraced this religion is called     “Muslim” which means “one who accepts and submits himself to the will of God. A  Muslim is obliged to be clean spiritually, mentally and physically. Abstention from eating flesh of swine is one of the obligation a Muslim must observe to attain purity of the soul and of the human nature.  The  believers in Islam, sincerely believe  in  the  Holy  Qur'an  as  the  Word of God, revealed to Prophet  Muhammad  (PBUH) which says:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     We should bear in our mind that the abstention from eating pork by the Muslims is based on hygienic grounds and of the cultivation of purity of character. Pork is not poisonous as to kill people right on  the spot but latent. It will destroy   slowly.  It is certainly not as nourishing as any other meat and it causes prolonged sufferings. Pondering on the wisdom of this saying: "Health is wealth” will lead you to better living and prosperity. The last Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said:

 

“There are two blessing which many people lose: health and the free time for doing good .The

stronger believer (in health) is more  blessed and  more  beloved  to  Allah  than  the  weak

believer. "

 

 

· Medical Facts of the Prohibition:

 

      Abstention from eating pork is a   measure to safeguard health. Of   all   the   domestic   animals, pig   is   the    most avaricious, eating anything including human excreta. It is  the cradle  of  harmful germs and parasites. Its meat is carrier of diseases to man, thus making it unfit for human consumption.

 

CHARACTER OF PIG

 

     All types of animals are lawful to be eaten whether those living on land or in the water except those animals specifically forbidden in the Holy Writings revealed by the Almighty Creator and the sayings of the Prophet with clear and well defined injunctions.

     Pig belong to the forbidden animals, and not allowed to be eaten by the believers. Pig eats almost anything dirty and they are very lazy animals. It is the most avaricious of all domestic animals. Amongst all animals, pig is the cradle of harmful germs. Its meat serves as carrier of diseases to mankind. It is   this very reason that made it unfit for human consumption.

 

 DISEASES CAUSED BY PORK

 

    The following lists show germs or parasites that are found in pork and some diseases caused by them. Many of these diseases are contagious while some are proven fatal. This proves that the more science advances the more Islam is shown correct as a religion of God.

 

 PARASITIC DISEASES

 

   a)  TRICHINELLA  SPIRATIS  ( Trichina worms )

       It is the most dangerous parasite to man (Rheumatism and muscular pain). The infected persons shown no symptoms, recover very slowly some die, some reduced to permanent invalids. No one is immune from this disease and there is no cure.

 

   b)  TAENIA SOLIUM  ( Pork tape worm )

        The worm causes malnourishment of the person leading to anemia, diarrhea, extreme depression melancholia    and digestive disturbances.  Cysticercosis means that larva enter  the  blood  stream then settle down in one or more of the vital organs of the  body,  for  example: brain, liver, lungs or spinal cord.  They grow and   encapsulate, inducing pressure to the system around, resulting in dangerous diseases    (diarrhea, digestive disorder, anemia, chronic invalidation).

 

   c)  ROUND WORMS

           Examples: Ascaris, which   may  lead   to   digestive  disturbances, appendicitis, obstructive jaundice.

 

   d)  HOOK WORMS

           Examples:Ancylostomiasis,  which   may    lead    to anemia, oedema, heart   failure   or retarded

                 growth  ( mental  and  physical), tuberculosis,diarrhea and typhoid.

 

   e)  SCHITOSOMA JAPONICUM

                 Bleeding, anemia and other syndromes, If ova are settled in the brain or spinal cord, paralysis and death may occur

 

   f)  PARAGOMINES WESTERMAINI

           Infestation leading to bleeding   of   the    lungs (endenve haemoptysis)

 

   g)  PACIOLEPSIS BUSKI

            Digestive   disturbances    leading   to   persistent diarrhea; generalized oedema

 

   h)  CLONORCHIS SINENSIS

          chlonorchiasis-obstructive jaundice, liver enlargement

 

   i)  METASTRONGYLUS APRI

          Causes bronchitis, abscess of the lungs

 

   j)  GIGANTHORINCHUS GIGAS

          Cause   anemia and digestive disorders.

 

   k)  BALATITIDIUM COLI

            Causes acute dysentery and general weakness

 

 BACTERIAL DISEASES

 

      1. Tuberculosis

      2. Fusiformis necrofurus: causing foot-rot which  is  very difficult to heal.

      3. Salmonella Cholera suis: causing cholera

      4. Paratyphoid

      5. Bruceellosis: Acute, sub acute and chronic. It may  lead to permanent disabilities.

      6. Swine Erysipelas: causing Erypelas in man.

 

 Viral Diseases

      1. Small pox: is a source of infection to man.

      2. Japanese B-encepphalitis: It is the source of infection

      3. Influenza, foot mouth disease, gas tro-enteritis of  the new born babies.

 

Protozoal   Diseases:  Toxo plasma goundii- It is a very dangerous diseases. A new born baby of an infected woman may die within few days or weeks after delivery. But if he survives, he may develop blindness or deafness. In adult chronic exhaustive fever with enlarged liver and spleen may occur. Pneumonia or celebro- spinal meningitis which may lead to death or madness. The patient may become blind and deaf too.

 

Fats in Pigs:

                            Pork contains more fats than other meats. Therefore, people who are fond of pork are more obese than others.  Cholesterol is higher in their blood thus making them more prone to asthereosclerosis cardiovascular accidents and sudden death.

 

Other Diseases: 

                                            Flesh of the pork is hard to digest and may lead to chronic digestive disturbances. Pimples, boils, cysts are common in   pork   eaters. These are some of the parasites and diseases found   in pork and/ or the skin of pigs and certainly there are many more.  There is still no means of killing these parasites, in the tissues, neither has anyone found a method of expelling them, even   produced any specific treatment for the diseases.

 

 

Conclusion

 

     From   what  we  have  read  from  the  Scriptures  of   the Jews,  Christians, scientific findings, Last Testaments (The Holy Qur'an) and  the saying of the Last Prophet Muhammad (SAW)  about  health and the flesh of the swine, we now come now to the conclusion that eating of swine flesh or  PORK IS SIN AND SICKNESS.  Therefore, we must protect ourselves for it is a fact that health is a   trust and best  blessing bestowed upon us by Allah.

 

 

 

Links Related to Above Mentioned Information:

 

· To Find the Text from Holy Quran

 

 

· To Find the Text from Holy Bible

 

 

· To find the Text from Holy Torah

 

 

· Definition of Swine

 

HUSSAINI ASSOCIATION OF CALGARY-CANADA

 

Why Pork is Haram in Islam

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