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Why did Islam prohibit eating the flesh of pigs?
1. Islam was not the first religion to prohibit the eating of the flesh of pigs. The Jewish religion prohibited it at an earlier date. In Europe and America Jews do not eat the flesh of pigs, except in very rare cases, and nobody criticizes them. On the contrary, they respect their adherence to their faith. On most flights in the U.S.A. Jews demand Jewish or Kosher food and they are served without any remarks of criticism, because the Western World respects the religious observances of the Jewish faith. With the advent of Christ, he declared that he had not come to change the religious laws of the Jews, so it is only logical to assume that the flesh of pigs was also prohibited in Christianity. (Qardawi, Yusuf, The permitted and the prohibited, Qatar, 1978, p.42)
2.
Islam also prohibited eating the flesh of pigs and this prohibition is in keeping with the same prohibition of the previous Divine faiths. The Qur-an refers to this prohibition in four Qur-anic verses, namely: 2/173, 5/9, 6/145 and 16/115.
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 |
He has forbidden You Only the Maytatah (dead animals), and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that which is slaughtered as a scrifice for others than Allah (or has been slaughtered for idols, etc., on which Allah's Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering). but if one is forced by necessity without wilful disobedience nor transgressing due limits, Then there is no sin on Him. Truly, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. |
| Surah (Chapter) al-Baqarah (The Cow) 2:173 |
وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ ۙ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ |
Allah has promised those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah - Islâmic Monotheism) and do deeds of righteousness, that for them there is Forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise). |
| Surah (Chapter) al-Ma"idah (The Table Spread with Food) 5:9 |
قُل لَّا أَجِدُ فِي مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ مُحَرَّمًا عَلَىٰ طَاعِمٍ يَطْعَمُهُ إِلَّا أَن يَكُونَ مَيْتَةً أَوْ دَمًا مَّسْفُوحًا أَوْ لَحْمَ خِنزِيرٍ فَإِنَّهُ رِجْسٌ أَوْ فِسْقًا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ بِهِ ۚ فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ |
Say (O Muhammad ): "I find not In that which has been inspired to Me anything forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be Maytatah (a dead animal) or blood poured forth (by slaughtering or the like), or the flesh of swine (pork, etc.) for that surely is impure, or impious (unlawful) meat (of an animal) which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah (or has been slaughtered for idols, etc., or on which Allah's Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering). but Whosoever is forced by necessity without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits, (for Him) Certainly, Your Lord is OftForgiving, Most Merciful." |
| Surah (Chapter) al-An'am (The Cattle) 6:145 |
إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةَ وَالدَّمَ وَلَحْمَ الْخِنزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ بِهِ ۖ فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ |
He has forbidden You Only Al-Maytatah (meat of a dead animal), blood, the flesh of swine, and any animal which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah (or has been slaughtered for idols etc. or on which Allah's Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering). but if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, and not transgressing, then, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. |
| Surah (Chapter) an-Nahl (The Bee) 16:115 |
3. In addition to this religious prohibition, there are many other reasons which corroborate this prohibition. Muslim scientists have proved that eating the flesh of pigs is extremely harmful, especially in hot climates. The Qur-anic verses which prohibit eating carrion and blood, and the danger of eating carrion and blood is an undeniable facts as a result of the micro-organisms and toxins they contain. Although recent scientific methods have succeeded in treating the flesh of pigs in such a way as to render it free of micro-organism. No one can predict what the future holds. Scientists took centuries to discover one disease, and God Almighty, who created man, knows what is good for him and what harms him, the following Qur-anic verse emphasizes this fact: “But over all endued with knowledge is One, The All-Knowing.” 12/76
...وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِي عِلْمٍ عَلِيمٌ |
| ...but over all those endowed with knowledge is the All-Knowing (Allah). |
| Surah (Chapter) Yusuf 12:76 |
4. Islam takes into consideration the necessities which may arise under certain circumstances and it permits what had been prohibited such as eating the flesh of pigs. This is declared in the following Qur-anic verses: “But if one is transgressing due limits, then he is guiltless. For God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” 2/173
Islamic Facts Refuting the Allegations against Islam, By Professor Dr. Mahmoud Hamdy Zakouk - Minister of Al-Awqaf (Endowments),Chairman of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Egypt |
