{"fatawa":{"id":8494,"title":"A Christian is asking about the reason for the prohibition on pork","slug":"a-christian-is-asking-about-the-reason-for-the-prohibition-on-pork","order":"","question":"Why does Islam forbid pork, when the pig is one of the creations of God?.","answer":"Praise be to Allaah.  \r\nFirstly: \r\n\r\nOur Lord has forbidden eating pork in definitive terms. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): \r\n\r\n\u201cSay (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\u2019s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering)\u201d\r\n\r\n[al-An\u2019aam 6:145] \r\n\r\nBy 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): \r\n\r\n\u201c\u2026he allows them as lawful At\u2011Tayyibaat (i.e. all good and lawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons and foods), and prohibits them as unlawful Al\u2011Khabaa\u2019ith (i.e. all evil and unlawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons and foods)\u201d\r\n\r\n[al-A\u2019raaf 7:157] \r\n\r\nWe 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\u2019s oddness. \r\n\r\nSecondly: \r\n\r\nWith regard to the physical harm caused by eating pork, modern science has proved a number of things, such as the following: \r\n\r\n\u200e    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 increased 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.\r\n\r\n\u200e    Pork meat and pork fat contribute to the spread of cancers of the colon, rectum, prostate and blood.\r\n\r\n\u200e    Pork meat and pork fat contribute to obesity and related diseases that are difficult to treat.\r\n\r\n\u200e    Eating pork leads to scabies, allergies and stomach ulcers.\r\n\r\n\u200e    Eating pork causes lung infections which result from tapeworms, lungworms and microbial infections of the lungs. \r\n\r\nThe 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. \r\n\r\nThe 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. \r\n\r\nEating 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. \r\n\r\nIt is well known that there are some diseases that are unique to humans and are nor 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):  \r\n\r\n\u201cHe 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\u2019s 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\u201d\r\n\r\n[al-Baqarah 2:173] \r\n\r\nThese 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. \r\n\r\nBut 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. \r\n\r\nLook 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\u2019 al-Kitaab wa\u2019l-Sunnah by Lu\u2019lu\u2019ah bint Saalih, p. 635 ff. \r\n\r\nBut we ask you once again: Isn\u2019t pork forbidden in the Old Testament which forms part of your Holy Book? \r\n\r\n\u201cDo not eat any detestable thing. These are the animals you may eat\u2026 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.\u201d\r\n\r\n(Deuteronomy 14:3-8) \r\n\r\nSee also Leviticus 11-1-8. \r\n\r\nWe 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. Does\u2019t it say in the Bible that the Messiah said: \r\n\r\n\u201cDo 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.\u201d\r\n\r\nMatthew 5:17-18? \r\n\r\nWith 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: \r\n\r\n\u201cA large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus: \u2018Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.\u2019 He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs.\u201d\r\n\r\nMark 5:11-13 \r\n\r\nPerhaps you will say that this is abrogated, and that Peter said such and such and Paul said such and such\u2026? \r\n\r\nThis 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? \r\n\r\nLet 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? \r\n\r\nThirdly: \r\n\r\nWith 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? \r\n\r\nIs 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. \r\n\r\nIs it not the duty of the created being, the slave, to say to his Lord, whenever He commands him to do something: \u201cWe hear and we obey\u201d? \r\n\r\nYou may enjoy its taste and want to eat it, and those around you may enjoy it, but doesn\u2019t Paradise deserve some sacrifice on your part of that which your heart desires?.\r\n\r\nIslam Q&A","status":1,"created_at":"2014-11-12T21:51:57.000000Z","updated_at":"2014-11-12T21:51:57.000000Z","language_id":1,"fatawacate_id":231,"parent_id":8493,"author_id":"","books":[],"articles":[],"videos":[],"audios":[],"author_name":"","category_name":"\u062f\u0639\u0648\u0629 \u063a\u064a\u0631 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0633\u0644\u0645\u064a\u0646","category_slug":"","get_date":"2014-11-12"},"translations":[],"fatawa_books":[],"fatawa_articles":[],"fatawa_videos":[],"fatawa_audios":[],"url":"http:\/\/www.islamland.com\/eng\/api\/fatawas\/8494"}