The fact that the consumption of pork is prohibited in Islam is well known. For Muslims, it’s not just about a healthy soul but also a healthy body. We have all heard the phrase ‘You are what you eat.’ The simple idea is if you eat good, pure food you will stay fit and healthy. On the other hand, if you eat foods carrying toxins you may have unwanted health problems.

Consumption of pork is linked to numerous health problems. For the world’s 2 billion Muslims, the restriction of pork is not a lifestyle choice but rather a divine command. Obeying that command is an act of worship. Allah says:

إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةَ وَالدَّمَ وَلَحْمَ الْخِنزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ بِهِ فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

“He has only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and any (food) over which the name of other than Allah has been invoked. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,- then Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Surah An-Nahl, 115)

Description: God allows us to enjoy all the good lawful things and forbids us to partake of those things that are harmful to our beliefs, health, well being, or morals. Islam is a holistic way of life, taking into account physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being, each a separate but overlapping part of the structure of a human being. Allah says:

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ

“God created us with a purpose; to worship Him.” (Surah Adh-Dhariyat 51:56)

But He did not abandon us to a world of instability and insecurity. He gave us a book of guidance, the Quran, and the example of Prophets and Messengers to explain that trusting in God was the way for us to achieve success in this life and the hereafter. A Muslim spends his or her life endeavouring to please God by worshipping Him and obeying His laws, or rules. One of those rules is that eating pork, or pork products are forbidden. Allah says:

إِنَّمَا كَانَ قَوْلَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذَا دُعُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَن يَقُولُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

“Only is (the) statement (of) the believers when they are called to Allah and His Messenger to judge between them (is) that they say, “We hear and we obey.” And those [they] (are) the successful.” (Surah An-Nur 24:51)

Islam is a holistic way of life, taking into account physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being, each a separate but overlapping part of the structure of a human being. The other non-Muslims and atheists (disbelievers of God) will agree only if convinced through reason, logic, and science. Eating pork can cause no less than SEVENTY different types of diseases. Allah says:

إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةَ وَالدَّمَ وَلَحْمَ الْخِنزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ بِهِ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَلَا إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

“Only He has forbidden to you the dead animals, and [the] blood, and flesh, (of) swine, and what has been dedicated [with it] to other than Allah. So whoever (is) forced by necessity without (being) disobedient and not transgressor, then no sin on him. Indeed, Allah (is) Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:173)

A person can have various helminthes like roundworm, pinworm, hookworm, etc… One of the most dangerous is “Taenia Solium”, which is in layman’s terminology called tapeworm. It harbours in the intestine and is very long. Its ova i.e. eggs, enter the bloodstream and can reach almost all the organs of the body.

If it enters the brain it can cause memory loss. If it enters the heart it can cause a heart attack, if it enters the eye it can cause blindness, if it enters the liver it can cause liver damage. It can damage almost all the organs of the body.

Ever wondered why the meat of pigs, pork, has been prohibited in Islam? Why Muslims cannot eat pigs? Why pig has been labelled as the filthiest animal? Let us back this claim with scientific reasons.

• PIGS ARE ABSOLUTE GARBAGE GUTS, THEY’LL EAT ANYTHING FROM THEIR FECES, CANCER GROWTHS ON OTHER PIGS, DIFFERENT SORTS OF INSECTS, DECAYING ANIMAL FLESH AND DRINK THEIR URINE
• THE PIG’S MEAT ABSORBS TOXINS BETTER THAN ANY OTHER ANIMAL. THESE TOXINS SPOIL THE MEAT AND MAKE IT DANGEROUS
• THE PIG IS THE ONLY MAMMAL THAT DOES NOT SWEAT OR PERSPIRE, THUS, MEANING, THE SWEAT, AND TOXINS MERGE IN THE FLESH
• PIGS AND SWINE ARE SO POISONOUS THAT YOU CAN HARDLY KILL THEM WITH STRYCHNINE OR OTHER POISONS
• FARMERS WHO KEEP PIGS OFTEN OPEN THEM UP TO RATTLESNAKES NESTS, BECAUSE EVEN A SNAKE BITE CAN NOT POISON A PIG
• WHEN A PIG DIES, THE MAGGOTS, BACTERIA, AND INSECTS EAT THE PIG’S FLESH FASTER THAN ANY OTHER ANIMAL
• THERE IS NO SAFE TEMPERATURE AT WHICH PORK CAN BE COOKED TO ENSURE THAT ALL THESE PARASITES, CYSTS AND EGGS WILL BE KILLED
• A PIG’S MEAT HOLDS TWICE AS MORE FAT AS BEEF, WHICH OBVIOUSLY, IS NOT GOOD FOR THE HUMAN BODY
• A COW, WITH 4 STOMACHS, DIGESTS ITS FOOD IN GOOD TIME – WHILST, THE PIG
• TAKES 4 HOURS TO DIGEST ITS FOUL FOOD, WHICH TURNS INTO FLESH
• PIGS CARRY ABOUT 30 DISEASES THAT CAN BE EASILY PASSED TO HUMANS. THIS IS WHY ALLAH COMMANDED US TO NOT EVEN TO TOUCH THEIR CARCASS

Problems with Pork and Why You Should Avoid Pork:

• Swine influenza virus infections in humans
• The Pig’s problematic digestive system
• Muscle pain and tenderness
• Headache
• High fever
• General weakness
• Sensitivity to light
• Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
• Swelling of the eyelids or face
• Trichinosis Dangers, worm parasite is found in pork

Increased Cancer Risk from Bacon and Other Processed Pork:

• Ethiopian Orthodox
• Hebrew Roots
• Messianic Jews
• Rastafarian
• Seventh-Day Adventists
• United Church of God

Avoiding pork for these groups is based on Leviticus 11, Deuteronomy 14, Isaiah 65 and Isaiah 66.

Allah Almighty says about Pork prohibited in the Holy Quran:

The Quran prohibits the consumption of pork in no less than 4 different places. It is prohibited in 2:173, 5:3, 6:145 and 16:115.

• “Forbidden to you (for food) are dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah.”(Al-Qur’an 5:3)
• “When God and His Messenger have decreed a matter, they (the believers) should not have any option in their decision.  And whoever disobeys God and His Messenger; he has indeed strayed into a plain error.” (Quran 33:36)
• “He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah.” (An-Naĥl 16:115)

Pork prohibited in the Bible

The Quran prohibits the consumption of pork in many verses including 2:173, 5:3, 6:145 and 16:115.

“I do not find within that which was revealed to me [anything] forbidden to one who would eat it unless it is a dead animal or blood spilt out or the flesh of swine – for indeed, it is impure – or it is [that slaughtered in] disobedience, dedicated to other than Allah.” (Surah Al-‘Anam 6:145).

The Christian is likely to be convinced by these religious scriptures. The Bible prohibits the consumption of pork, in the book of Leviticus “And the swine, though he divides the hoof, and be cloven-footed, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you”.

“Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch, they are unclean to you.”[Leviticus 11:7-8]

Pork is also prohibited in the Bible in the book of Deuteronomy “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]

A similar prohibition is repeated in the Bible in the book of Isaiah chapter 65 verse 2-5.

Other dangerous helminths are Trichura Tichurasis. A common misconception about pork is that if it is cooked well, these ova die. In a research project undertaken in America, it was found that out of twenty-four people suffering from Trichura Tichurasis, twenty-two had cooked the pork very well. This indicates that the ova present in the pork do not die under normal cooking temperatures.

A believer understands that God is the Wisest and the Most Just; therefore, His rules are designed to benefit us in our daily needs, be they physical, emotional, or spiritual.  The Creator knows the best way for His creation to live in this world and prepare for the next.  It is not permissible for a Muslim to consume pork under any circumstances except in cases of dire necessity, such as, if a person’s life depends on eating it.  In cases of dire necessity, prohibited things are permitted.

God allows us to enjoy all the good lawful things and forbids us to partake of those things that may be harmful to our beliefs, health, well being, or morals.  Consequently, Muslims are acutely aware of the dangers of eating things that are forbidden and therefore make concerted efforts to seek out permissible food, even if it involves extra effort or expense.

DISEASES CAUSED BY PORK IN DETAIL

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 correctly as a religion of God.

1. TRICHINELLA SPIRITS ( Trichina worms ): It is the most dangerous parasite to man (Rheumatism and muscular pain). The infected persons showed no symptoms recover very slowly some died, some were reduced to permanent invalids. No one is immune from this disease and there is no cure.
2. TAENIA solium (Pork tapeworm): The worm causes malnourishment of the person leading to anaemia, diarrhoea, extreme depression melancholia, and digestive disturbances. Cysticercosis means that larva enters the bloodstream then settle down in one or more of the vital organs of the body, for example, the brain, liver, lungs or spinal cord. They grow and encapsulate, inducing pressure to the system around, resulting in dangerous diseases (diarrhoea, digestive disorder, anaemia, chronic invalidation).
3. ROUNDWORMS: Examples: Ascaris, which may lead to digestive disturbances, appendicitis, obstructive jaundice.
4. HOOKWORMS: Examples: Ancylostomiasis, which may lead to anaemia, oedema, heart failure or retarded growth (mental and physical), tuberculosis, diarrhoea, and typhoid.
5. SCHISTOSOMA JAPONICUM: Bleeding, anaemia and other syndromes; if ova are settled in the brain or spinal cord, paralysis and death may occur.
6. PARAGOMINES WESTERMAINI: Infestation leading to bleeding of the lungs (endive hemoptysis)
7. PROLEPSIS BUSKI: Digestive disturbances leading to persistent diarrhoea; generalized oedema
8. CLONORCHIS SINENSIS: Clonorchiasis-obstructive jaundice, liver enlargement
9. METASTRONGYLUS APRI: Causes bronchitis, abscess of the lungs
10. GIGANTHORINCHUS GIGAS: Cause anaemia and digestive disorders.
11. BALATITIDIUM COLI: Causes acute dysentery and general weakness

The main reason pork is forbidden for Muslims is because it says in the Holy Quran that some food is allowed, while others are explicitly declared haram, which means forbidden. And pork is one of those forbidden foods. However, there is an exception that is written in the Holy Quran as well where it states that you can eat it if you are starving and there is nothing else to eat but pork. This is also by the Jewish faith, according to their laws and traditions of eating kosher meat.

Scientific Facts Why Pork Haram in Islam:

1. The pork as tapeworm house: Eating pork has a risk of tapeworm infection (cysticercosis). Because pork contains the seeds of tapeworms and Trachea lolipia body that can move to humans who consume them.
2. The pigs are leaking urine bags: Prof. A.V. Nalbandov said that the bag of urine (urinary vesica) pigs are leaking so that his urine seeps into the meat.
3. Pigs do not have a neck: Physiologically, pigs are not supportive of slaughter. Why pigs do not have a neck. While Islam gives syariat slaughter animals on his neck. when slaying an animal on the neck, all blood will be out maximally but when to slay animal from another body part the blood still contains on its body, causing some bacteria to result from a dead body and blood fast increasing.
4. The most voracious animal’s Pigs: Pigs devour whatever food is in front of them. He is the most voracious animal in the world. Even if the food had a habit, he spat the food in the stomach and eat back to satisfy his greed.
5. Pigs dirtiest animals: If there was garbage in front of the pig, he will eat garbage. Even pigs also ate dirt. Until his faeces were eaten.
6. Pig accommodate a lot of germs: Besides containing tapeworm (Taenia solium), pork also contains spiral worms (Trichinella spiralis), hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale), worms lung (pulmonary Paragonimus), until the cholera bacteria (Salmonella choleraesuis) and virus mange (scabies).
7. DNA pigs resemble humans: The discovery of the facts of pig DNA most similar to humans, eating pork can easily pass on bad behaviour pigs to humans. Besides greedy, pig behaviour ever observed by Muhammad Abduh is not having jealousy. When two pigs male and one female pig entered the enclosure, two boars were not scrambled but rather help each other to marry a female pig.
8. The pork is hard to digest humans: Although soft, it was difficult to digest pork by human digestion. This is because pork contains harmful fats.
9. Swine Flu is a virus carrier: In the body of the pig, which was originally AI virus does not mutate into a virulent H1N1 / H5N1 virulent and contagious to humans.
10. Pork is the main cause of anal cancer and colon: The percentage of rectum and the colon cancer patients increased dramatically in countries whose inhabitants eat pork, especially in European countries, the USA, China and India. Whereas in Muslim countries, the percentage is very low.

BACTERIAL DISEASES

Tuberculosis Fusiformis necrofurus: causing foot-rot which is very difficult to heal.
Salmonella Cholera suis: causing cholera Paratyphoid Brucellosis: Acute, subacute and chronic. It may lead to permanent disabilities. Swine Erysipelas: causing Erysipelas in man.

• VIRAL DISEASES: Smallpox: is a source of infection in man. Japanese B-encephalitis: It is the source of infection Influenza, foot mouth disease, gastroenteritis in newborn babies.
• PROTOZOAN DISEASES: Toxoplasma ground- It is a very dangerous disease. A newborn baby of an infected woman may die within a few days or weeks after delivery. But if he survives he may develop blindness or deafness. In adults, chronic exhaustive fever with enlarged liver and spleen may occur. Pneumonia, or Cerebrospinal meningitis which may lead to death or madness. The patient may become blind and deaf too.
• OTHER DISEASES: The 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.

FATS IN PIGS

Pork contains more fats than other meats. Therefore, people who love pork are fatter than others. Cholesterol is higher in their blood thus making them flatter to atherosclerosis cardiovascular accidents and sudden death.

PIG IS THE MOST SHAMELESS ANIMAL

The pig is the most shameless animal on the face of the earth. It is the only animal that invites its friends to have sex with its mate. In America, most people consume pork. Many times after dance parties, they have swapping of wives; i.e. many say “you sleep with my wife and I will sleep with your wife.” If you eat pigs then you behave like pigs.

We look upon America to be very advanced and sophisticated. Whatever they do, we follow after a few years. According to an article in Island magazine, this practice of swapping wives has become common practice in South Asia.

THE PIG IS ONE OF THE FILTHIEST ANIMALS ON EARTH

The pig is one of the filthiest animals on earth. It lives and thrives on muck, faeces, and dirt. It is the best scavenger that I know that God has produced. In the villages, they don’t have modern toilets and the villagers defecate in the open air (Body releases) Very often these releases are cleared by pigs.

Some may argue that in advanced countries like Australia, pigs are bred in very clean and hygienic conditions. Even in these hygienic conditions, the pigs are kept together in sties. No matter how hard you try to keep them clean they are filthy by nature. They eat and enjoy their own as well as their neighbour’s excreta.

Pork is not dirty but rather regarded as impure, unhealthy and harmful for humans due to the fats, toxins, and bacteria it contains and the way the pig spends its life rolling around in the mud and its excrement. The specific aspect that pork is unhealthy has even been proven by scientists, such as Hans-Heinrich Reckeweg, who argued that western populations who eat pork carry more diseases than other populations who do not eat pork.

Processed pork can also be found in many other foods in the form of gelatin. And treatments such as radiation, which supposedly kills bacteria, might seem to make pork “cleaner” but the fact remains that the meat still comes from an animal Muslims are forbidden to eat.

Muslims living in western societies often face a challenge with this issue because they have a harder time finding halal meat and determining if animals have been slaughtered in an Islamic way, or if the food they buy contains any processed pork. The Creator knows the best way for His creation to live in this world and prepare for the next.

It is not permissible for a Muslim to consume pork under any circumstances except in cases of dire necessity, such as, if a person’s life depends on eating it. In cases of dire necessity, prohibited things are permitted. Allah says:

وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَن يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ وَمَن يَعْصِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا مُّبِينًا

“When God and His Messenger have decreed a matter, they (the believers) should not have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys God and His Messenger; he has indeed strayed into a plain error.” (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:36)

God allows us to enjoy all the good lawful things and forbids us to partake of those things that may be harmful to our beliefs, health, well being, or morals. Consequently, Muslims are acutely aware of the dangers of eating things that are forbidden and therefore make concerted efforts to seek out permissible food, even if it involves extra effort or expense.

We live in a Muslim country that holds on to its religious laws but at the same time wants to offer a variety of international products and foods to attract our culturally diverse population. Therefore, while it’s not easy to find pork, most hotels serve it. So, if you decide to eat pork, that is up to you.