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A Christian is asking about the reason for the
prohibition on pork
(English)
نصراني يسأل عن الحكمة وراء تحريم أكل لحم الخترير
(إنجليزي)
Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
محمد صالح المنجد
http://www.islamqa.com
2
Why does Islam forbid pork, when the pig is one of the creations of
God?
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
Our Lord has forbidden eating pork in definitive terms. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):
“Say (O Muhammad): I find not in that which has been revealed to me
anything forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be
Maytah (a dead animal) or blood poured forth (by slaughtering or the
like), or the flesh of swine (pork); for that surely, is impure or impious
(unlawful) meat (of an animal) which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others
than Allaah (or has been slaughtered for idols, or on which Allaah’s
Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering)…” [Al-An’aam:145]
By the mercy of Allaah and His kindness towards us, Allaah has permitted
us to eat all good things, and He has not forbidden anything but those
that are impure. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“…he allows them as lawful At-Tayyibaat (i.e. all good and lawful as regards
things, deeds, beliefs, persons and foods), and prohibits them as
unlawful Al-Khabaa’ith (i.e. all evil and unlawful as regards things, deeds,
beliefs, persons and foods)…” [Al-A’raaf:157]
We do not doubt for an instant that the pig is a dirty and filthy animal,
and that eating it is harmful to man. Moreover it lives on dirt and filth,
and it is something that is off-putting to those of a sound nature who
refuse to touch it, because eating it is either a cause or a sign of a person’s
oddness.
Secondly:
With regard to the physical harm caused by eating pork, modern science
has proved a number of things, such as the following:
Pork is regarded as one of the kinds of meat that contain the most
cholesterol, an increase of which in the bloodstream leads to an in3
creased likelihood of blocked arteries. The fatty acids in pork are also
of an unusual formation, when compared with the fatty acids in
other types of food, which makes them more easily absorbed by the
body, thus increasing cholesterol levels.
Pork meat and pork fat contribute to the spread of cancers of the
colon, rectum, prostate and blood.
Pork meat and pork fat contribute to obesity and related diseases
that are difficult to treat.
Eating pork leads to scabies, allergies and stomach ulcers.
Eating pork causes lung infections which result from tapeworms,
lungworms and microbial infections of the lungs.
The most serious danger of eating pork is that pork contains tapeworms
which may grow to a length of 2-3 meters. The growth of the eggs of
these worms in the human body may lead to insanity and hysteria if they
grow in the area of the brain. If they grow in the region of the heart that
may lead to high blood pressure and heart attacks. Another kind of worm
that is to be found in pork is the trichinosis worm that cannot be killed by
cooking, the growth of which in the body may lead to paralysis and skin
rashes.
The doctors have confirmed that tapeworm disease is regarded as one of
the serious diseases that may result from eating pork. It may develop in
the small intestine and after several months may grow into a large worm
whose body is composed of a thousand segments, with a length of 4-10
meters, which lives alone in the intestine of the infected person and part
of it may appear when he defecates. When the pig swallows and ingests
its eggs, they enter the tissues and muscles in the form of larvae sacs
containing fluid and the head of the tapeworm. When a person eats infected
pork, the larva turns into a complete worm in the intestine. These
worms cause weakness and vitamin B12 deficiency, which leads to a specific
type of anaemia, which may in turn cause nervous problems. In some
cases the larvae may reach the brain, causing convulsions, increased
pressure within the brain, epilepsy and even paralysis.
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Eating pork that is not thoroughly cooked may also lead to trichinosis
(infestation with a hairlike nematode worm). When these parasites reach
the small intestine, three to five days later many larvae appear which
enter the intestine and reach the blood, from which they reach most of
the tissues of the body. The larvae move to the muscles and form cysts
there, and the patient suffers intense muscle pains. The disease may develop
into infection of the cerebral membrane and brain, and infections
of the heart muscle, lungs, kidneys and nerves. It may be a fatal disease in
rare cases.
It is well known that there are some diseases that are unique to humans
and are not shared with any other animals except pigs, such as rheumatism
and joint pain. Allaah indeed spoke the truth when He said (interpretation
of the meaning):
“He has forbidden you only the Maytah (dead animals), and blood, and
the flesh of swine, and that which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others
than Allaah (or has been slaughtered for idols, on which Allaah’s Name
has not been mentioned while slaughtering). But if one is forced by necessity
without willful disobedience nor transgressing due limits, then
there is no sin on him. Truly, Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” [al-
Baqarah: 173]
These are some of the harmful effects of eating pork. Perhaps after studying
them you will not have any doubts that it is forbidden. We hope that
this will be the first step in your being guided towards the true religion.
So stop, research, look and think, objectively and fairly, seeking only to
find out the truth and follow it. I ask Allaah to guide you to that which is
best for you in this world and in the Hereafter.
But even if we did not know about the harmful effects of eating pork, this
would not change our belief that it is haraam in the slightest, or weaken
our resolve to abstain from it. You know that when Adam (peace be upon
him) was expelled from the Garden, it was because he ate from the tree
from which Allaah forbade him to eat. We do not know anything about
that tree, and Adam did not need to enquire into the reason why it was
forbidden to eat from it. Rather it was sufficient for him, as it is sufficient
for us and for every believer, to know that Allaah has forbidden it.
5
Look at some of the harmful effects of eating pork; look at the research of
the Fourth Annual Conference of Islamic Medicine, Kuwait edition, p. 731
ff; and al-Wiqaayah al-Sihhiyyah fi Daw’ al-Kitaab wal-Sunnah by Lu’lu’ah
bint Saalih, p. 635 ff.
But we ask you once again: Isn’t pork forbidden in the Old Testament
which forms part of your Holy Book?
“Do not eat any detestable thing. These are the animals you may eat…
The pig is also unclean; although it has a split hoof, it does not chew the
cud, you are not to eat their meat or touch their carcasses.”
(Deuteronomy 14:3-8)
See also Leviticus 11-1-8.
We do not need to quote evidence that pork is forbidden for the Jews. If
you have any doubt then ask people and they will tell you. But what we
think we need to draw you attention to is some other things that are also
mentioned in your Holy Book, this time in the New Testament which tells
you that the rulings of the Torah still apply to you and cannot be changed.
Doesn’t it say in the Bible that the Messiah said:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have
not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. I tell you the truth, until heaven
and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a
pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”
Matthew 5:17-18?
With this text, we do not need to look for another ruling on pork in the
New Testament, but we will add here another quotation which shows
definitively that pork is impure:
“A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons
begged Jesus: ‘Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.’ He gave
them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs.”
Mark 5:11-13
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Perhaps you will say that this is abrogated, and that Peter said such and
such and Paul said such and such…?
This is changing the words of Allaah and abrogating the Torah and the
words of the Messiah who confirmed to you that it would abide as long as
heaven and earth remain. Can this be abrogated by the words of Paul or
Peter?
Let us assume that this is true and that the prohibition was indeed abrogated,
but why are you criticizing this prohibition in Islam when it was
prohibited for you at first?
Thirdly:
With regard to your saying that if eating it is forbidden, then why did Allaah
create pigs? We do not think that you are serious, otherwise we
would ask you: why did Allaah create such and such of other things that
are harmful or repulsive? Rather we would ask you: why did Allaah create
the Shaytaan?
Is it not the prerogative of the Creator to command His slaves as He will,
and to rule them as He will? No one can overturn His ruling or change His
words.
Is it not the duty of the created being, the slave, to say to his Lord, whenever
He commands him to do something: “We hear and we obey”?
You may enjoy its taste and want to eat it, and those around you may
enjoy it, but doesn’t Paradise deserve some sacrifice on your part of that
which your heart desires?
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