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Monday 9th October 2006

Why pork is forbidden in Islam

Below is a conversation (could be hypothetical, but definitely worth a read) that Mr. Hashim, an old friend, forwarded about the medical aspects of why pork (and blood) is forbidden in Islam and why we follow a certain method of animal slaughter.

WHY IS PORK FORBIDDEN IN ISLAM?

Bob: Tell me why is it that a Muslim is very particular about the words
Halaal and Haraam; what do they mean?

Yunus: That which is permissible is termed Halaal and that which is not
Permissible is termed Haraam and it is the Quran which draws the
distinction between the two.

Bob: Can you give me an example?

Yunus: Yes, Islam has prohibited consumption of blood of any type. You
will agree that a chemical analysis of blood shows that it contains an
abundance of uric acid, a chemical substance which can be injurious to
human health.

Bob: You're right about the toxic nature of uric acid, in the human being.
It is excreted as a waste product and in fact we are told that 98% of the
body's uric acid is extracted from the blood by the kidneys and removed
through urination.

Yunus: Now I think that you'll appreciate the specially prescribed method
of animal slaughter in Islam.

Bob: What do you mean?

Yunus: You see, the wielder of the knife, whilst taking the name of the
Almighty, makes an incision through the jugular veins, leaving all other
veins and organs intact.

Bob: I see, this causes the death of the animal by a total loss of blood
from the body, rather than an injury to any vital organ.

Yunus: Yes, if the organs, example the heart, the liver, or the brain
crippled or damaged the animal could die immediately and its blood would
congeal in its veins and would eventually permeate the flesh. This implies
that the animal flesh would be permeated and contaminated with uric acid
and therefore very poisonous; only today did our dietitians realize such a
thing.



Bob: Again, while on the topic of food; why do Muslims condemn the eating
of pork or ham or any foods related to pigs or swine.

Yunus: Actually, apart from the Quran prohibiting the consumption of pork
bacon (pig flesh); in fact the Bible too in Leviticus chapter 11, verse 8,
regarding swine it says, "of their flesh (of the swine another name for
pig)shall you not eat, and of their carcass you shall not touch; they are
" unclean to you."
Further, did you know that a pig cannot be slaughtered at the neck for it
does not have a neck; that is according to its natural anatomy? A Muslim
reasons that if the pig was to be slaughtered and fit for human
consumption the Creator would have provided it with a neck.
"Nonetheless, all that aside, I am sure you are well informed about the
harmful effects of the consumption of pork, in any form, be it pork chops,
ham, bacon.

Bob: The medical science finds that there is a risk for various diseases
as the pig is found to be a host for many parasites and potential
diseases.

Yunus: Yes, even apart from that, as we talked about uric acid content in
the blood, it is important to note that the pig's biochemistry excretes
only 2% of its total uric acid content, the remaining 98% remains as an
integral part of the body. Further more, new study shows, that Pig's Milk
is Red not white, also pig meat could carry harmful disease / bacterial
easily.

Note: Islam forbids not only pork but meat of all those animals who eat
their own or some one else's body waste; the most commonly known animal in
this category is pig or swine whose meat is commonly known as pork.

At this point, this entertaining excerpt from the movie Pulp Fiction comes to mind which makes a good enough argument not to eat pork, without delving into the faith aspect (obscenity censored):

Vincent: "Want some bacon?"
Jules: "No man, I don't eat pork."
Vincent: "Are you Jewish?"
Jules: "No, I ain't Jewish, I just don't dig on swine, that's all."
Vincent: "Why not?"
Jules: "Pigs are filthy animals. I don't eat filthy animals."
Vincent: "Yeah, but bacon tastes good; pork chops taste good."
Jules:  "Sewer  rat  may taste like pumpkin pie, but I'd never know, because I'd never eat the filthy mot#%$0!r.
Pigs  sleep  and  root  in  shit,  that's a filthy animal. I don't wanna eat nothin' that ain't got enough sense to
disregard its own faeces."
Vincent: "How about a dog? A dog eats its own faeces?"
Jules: "I don't eat dog either."
........

 

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22:32pm

On 10th October 2006, at 11:48am PKT, Atif said:

Interesting.

On 19th October 2006, at 07:38am PKT, Daze said:

Hmm, never knew the reasoning behind this. Hmm, uric acid...

On 21st October 2006, at 10:07am PKT, tehmasp said:

heh...i love how you quoted pulp fiction.

On 21st October 2006, at 22:16pm PKT, Waqas said:

Good information. It would be helpful if you can find some source(s) for this information. Thank you.

On 25th October 2006, at 04:39am PKT, Junaid said:

very well stated.
I have been asked by many locals here but never able to satisfy them with reasons. now i know the real culprit.

On 25th October 2006, at 04:43am PKT, unknown said:

i want to know one more thing
If we purify meat and eliminate even a sigle drop of blood from any animal that has been slaughtered through normal ways ... without Islamic ways

On 26th October 2006, at 13:26pm PKT, Areeba Azeem said:

Great reply. Non-Muslim always try to condemn Islam. Some non-Muslim asked 20 questions regarding Islam and they were replied very nicely.

Please check here:

http://www.apni-mehfil.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1067833110#post1067833110

On 30th October 2006, at 18:34pm PKT, mansoor said:

I would appreciate the sources about the scientific proofs and information whihc are quoted. coz i have difficulty telling ppl abt these things with authenticity but otherwise nice work.

salaam
Mansoor.

On 6th November 2006, at 10:28pm PKT, Sajjad said:

This was forwarded to me by someone so I can't get the exact sources. However, I found some other info on the net. Here is a good one, with the sources mentioned:

Great facts on pork

This is written by the acclaimed speaker, Dr. Zakir Naik, though it is lacking in references or solid evidence:

Why is Pork Forbidden?

On 25th November 2006, at 07:23am PKT, Rapheal Lamontagne said:

what u think will u still stay away

On 26th February 2007, at 07:01am PKT, Diab said:

Thank you so much for your great effort.Allah supports you. This is the first time to know this great information about this kind of meat,Pork.Really this kind is rotten and I dont know why the others eat it. Whats their motivation? I dont know!!!!!!!!!!!!

On 4th April 2007, at 17:59pm PKT, Haider Khan said:


Dear,
Assalam-u-alikum,
Me & my team had a party at a restaurant. All others were non-muslims except me. The restaurant served veg as well as non-veg dishes(They also served pork). Although, nobody amoung us ordered pork, but I didn't ate anything there. Coz, the pork must also be cooked in the same kitchen.
My friends told me although u don't eat pork, but why didn't u had veg. What should I tell them?

On 6th April 2007, at 05:04am PKT, geoff said:

They should clean utensils and dishes when preparing food so in practice there shouldnt be cross contanimation. However you cant be 100% sure so best ask the owner otherwise just tell your mates the truth. If they are mature enough to respect your needs then they should accept it else i wouldnt eat with people who dont respect my needs hence i dont call them friends.

Happy Eating

On 1st May 2007, at 16:06pm PKT, syamim said:

good information...i hope to get more information regarding islam

On 15th May 2007, at 13:47pm PKT, Madiha Ghafoor said:

Also pig is an homosexual animal.

On 15th June 2007, at 04:45am PKT, arief said:

if you're right that pork meat are that harmful, why people eating them every day everywhere seems to be ok?

On 20th June 2007, at 07:03am PKT, hamada said:

why in all reasons for not being allowed to eat swine dosent anybody anywhere mention the fact that in the holy quran it is told to us that allah had cursed a tribe into monkeys and swine and maybe that if they looked at human anotomy versus pig anotomy will find same size internal organs to scentifacly back this up...?

On 28th June 2007, at 16:11pm PKT, Musavir said:

Asalaam-o-Alaykum,

Dear Frenz,One of my non-Muslim friends has raised some questions on the Quraanic prescriptions of marriage but due to my ignorance, I was not able to give a convincing reply. I request to kindly reply the queries from authentic sources.

1. Why has Islam permitted a maximum of just 4 marriages and not more like 5 or 6? What is the reason behind that, he says if Quran is based on logic there must be some reason for this too and if not then it is not a Divine Book.

2. If Islam prohibits adultery and any relation outside marriage, then what is the concept of Slave girls, war girls and temporary marriage. How can they be permitted?
Hope to receive early response so that I can give back the reply to him.

Fee amanillah

On 28th June 2007, at 16:16pm PKT, Musavir Khan said:

Asalaam-o-Alaykum,
Dear Frenz,One of my non-Muslim friends has raised some questions on the Quraanic prescriptions of marriage but due to my ignorance, I was not able to give a convincing reply. I request to kindly reply the queries from authentic sources.

1. Why has Islam permitted a maximum of just 4 marriages and not more like 5 or 6? What is the reason behind that, he says if Quran is based on logic there must be some reason for this too and if not then it is not a Divine Book.

2. If Islam prohibits adultery and any relation outside marriage, then what is the concept of Slave girls, war girls and temporary marriage. How can they be permitted?
Hope to receive early response so that I can give back the reply to him.

Fee Amanillah

On 11th November 2007, at 20:18pm PKT, sartaj said:

arguments on pork n blood very weighty

On 16th November 2007, at 00:50am PKT, Anonymous said:

other foods which are high on purine which causes high level of uric acid in the blood are:
* Offal (e.g. kidneys, tripe, liver).
* Red meats.
* Shellfish, fish roe and scallops.
* Pulse foods including peas lentils and beans.

Do muslims not eat all these foods? Not sure if jews don't eat 'swine' for the same reason?

I think the argument that something eats shit therefore it's not for consumption is strange because that rules out almost any vegetable.

to much of anything is harmful for you so just moderate it don't just simply forbid it.

P.S. I don't really like pig meat except from ham.