WHY PORK IS HARAM IN ISLAM?
PORK IS SIN AND SICKNESS
Author Uknown
Muslims'
abstention from pork eating is in adherence to the
Qur'anic Law which states: "Forbidden to you for (food)
are: dead meat, blood and the flesh of the swine and that
which hath been invoked the name other than Allah." Holy
Qur'an 5:4
Such
prohibition is also found in the Bible: " The pig also
because it is a splitter of the hoof but there is no cud.
It is unclean for you. None of their flesh must you eat
and carcass you must not touch. " Deuteronomy 14:8
(Bible)
Islam
(an Arabic word which means submission to the will of
the Almighty God) has laid down the foundation for the
best approach in keeping good health. In the Holy Qur'an
(The Last Testament ) God exhorts the believers to select
the best food and to stay away from any harmful food to
maintain good health: " Let him find out which is the best
food (to be had) ... Eat of the best foods We have provided for
you . " ( Holy Qur'an 18:19;7:160 )
The
main purpose of a True Religion must be to build an
ideal community in this world ; a religion that promotes
moral, political and economic well; social harmony and
peace, as well as good health of its believers or followers.
Health means the physical and mental well-being and freedom from
diseases and pain.There are several passages in the Bible,
articulating that because of sin (a transgression of the
law of God) God afflicted human beings with maladies
(Ps.103:3;Exodus 15:26 and Psalms 107:16-20). Islamic
instructions and teachings espousing health consciousness
have scriptural and
scientific support
MEDICAL
ASPECT 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.
It's meat serves as carrier of diseases to mankind. It is
this very reason that made it unfit for human
consumption 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
amenia, diarrhoea, 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
(diarrhoea, digestive disorder, amenia, 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 amenia, oedema, heart
failure or retarded growth ( mental and physical),
tuberculosis, diarrhoea and typhoid.
e) SCHITOSOMA JAPONICUM
Bleeding,
amenia 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 diarrhoea; generalized oedema.
h) CLONORCHIS SINENSIS
chlonorchiasis-obstructive jaundice, liver enlargement.
i) METASTRONGYLUS APRI
Causes bronchitis, abscess of the lungs.
j) GIGANTHORINCHUS GIGAS
Cause amenia 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 was a source of infection to man.
2. Japanese B-encepphalitis: It is the source of infection
3. Influenza, foot mouth disease, gastroenteritis 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.
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
(PBUH) 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 fulfil 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 (PBUH)
indeed lifted the prohibition. On the contrary, Jesus
(PBUH) 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 (PBUH) 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 (PBUH)
punished the owners of the swine; destroyed their
unlawful livelihood and at the same time showed that pig
is the habitat of unclean spirits.
MUSLIMS FOLLOW THE DIVINE LAW
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 both
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: " Allah has forbidden you only what dies of
itself and blood and the flesh of swine and that over
which any other name than that of Allah has been invoked;
but whoever is driven to (it), not desiring nor
exceeding the limit, then surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
" ( 16:115 )
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 destroys 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.
"
It
is not required of the believer to always find a
scientific justification for the divine prohibitions.
However, if they look and find it, they must share the
information, that will increase their faith. To the contrary,
lack of confirmation should not question the authenticity of the
Qur'an. We believe that all Qur'anic statements are true,
and if science has not confirmed some of them yet, it
will do so in the future,
WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE YOUR
BODY WHEN YOU EAT PORK