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Saturday 5 May 2018

Prohibition of Pork


Prohibition of pork or pig / swine's flesh in Islam is taken as something strange by the non Muslims as they find it no harm to eat it in abundance without ever knowing its prohibition not by Islam alone but all other religions who received prophets and messengers with heavenly scriptures. Now that is a different thing that following religion in its true letter and spirit is dwindling due to liberal view of life and setting aside commandments of the Allah Almighty, God to other religions.

As a Muslim, I know foe sure it has been forbidden by Allah for Muslims to consume pork in any measure as it is strictly forbidden.
[So] O you who have believed, eat from the good things which We have provided for you and be grateful to God if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.  He has only forbidden to you the flesh of swine, dead animals, blood, and that which has been dedicated to other than God.  But whoever is forced [by necessity], neither desiring [it] nor transgressing [its limit], there is no sin upon him.  Indeed, God is Forgiving and Merciful. Surah Al Baqarah 2:172 - 173
And isn't this commandment enough to desist from eating pork? Remember when Allah forbade Adam (and Eve) not to eat the fruit from the forbidden tree. And when they did, how the wrath and anger of Allah befell on them and they were expelled from the Heavens. So going by the same logic, if Allah forbids eating of pork, it should be taken in the same spirit and desisted from under any circumstances.

Although the swine or the pig is from the goat family with divided hoof, it is the only animal which has been forbidden to eat by the Muslims. But is it only Quran that carries such commandment from Allah or other heavenly scriptures like Torah and Bible too have commandments from Allah as regard prohibition of pork? I had to look around and came across references from Torah and Bible to this effect, substantiating the similar commandment from Allah in the Holy Quran: 
"And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be cloven footed, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. 8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch, they are unclean to you." Leviticus 11:7-8
"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 14:8
Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch, they are unclean to you.” [Leviticus 11:7-8] 
In Bible, an incident has been quoted wherein Prophet Eesa (Jesus, peace be upon him) sent demeans or evil spirits to a herd of pigs - this rises no doubt as an unclean and detestable animal was chosen for evil spirits.

Here this incident is quoted in Matthews 8:28-34:
When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding.The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.
Now a question arises why Allah has forbidden pork specifically and we know that no Heavenly Commandment can be without any reason. Allah has given his knowledge and wisdom to find the why of this prohibition. I looked around on the INTERNET to find out the reason why and here is a gist of my findings:
  • Pigs are known to be unclean and "unethical animals.' For they show cannibalistic behaviors by eating carrion, their own dead carcasses as well as consuming food scraps, insects and their own fecal matter. Pigs are even known to kill and eat their own young.
  • 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.
  • The pigs lack sweet glands that allow flushing out the poison in the blood stream. Thus these poisons get enriched into pork and thus harms human health.
  • Pigs harbor large concentrations of viruses and parasites because of their scavenger lifestyle. These pathogenic organisms create dangerous health complications. Pigs are the primary hosts or carriers of viruses and parasites like Menangle virus, Hepatitis E virus (HEV), Nipah virus, Taenia solium tapeworm and PRRS (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome) which are known to cause gastrointestinal stress leading to fever and possibly a fatal infection
  • Pork is also held responsible for the onset of damamagiong and dangerous diseases like Hepatitis E, , Liver Cancer and Cirrhosis Multiple Sclerosis and Yersinia

There is so much material available that gives an insight into the harmful effects of pork. The Holy commandment from Allah has not been a mere warning - the wisdom and research in science has given the answer. It is for us to know that Allah does not forbid man of any of its gifts. While Allah's commandment is enough for the believers to desist from eating pork, science gives answers for those with weak conviction and faith.

Listen to a learned Islamic scholar on prohibition of pork:

Read more from these References: | 1 | 2 | 3 |
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1 comments:

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