MUSLIMS' ABSTENTION FROM PORK EATING IS IN ADHERENCE TO THE QUR'ANIC LAW WHICH STATES:
Forbidden to you for (food) are: dead meat, blood and the flesh of the swine and that which hath been invoked the name other than Allah.
Holy Qur'an 5:4
Holy Qur'an 5:4
SUCH PROHIBITION IS ALSO FOUND IN THE BIBLE:
The pig also because it is a splitter of the hoof but there is no cud. It is unclean for you. None of their flesh must you eat and carcass you must not touch.
Deuteronomy 14:8 (Bible)
Deuteronomy 14:8 (Bible)
MEDICAL ASPECT OF THE PROHIBITION:
Abstention from eating pork is a measure to safeguard health. Of all the domestic animals, pig is the most avaricious, eating anything including human excreta. It is the cradle of harmful germs and parasites. Its meat is carrier of diseases to man, thus making it unfit for human consumption.
CHARACTER OF PIG:
Pig eats almost anything dirty and they are very lazy animals. It is the most avaricious of all domestic animals. Amongst all animals, pig is the cradle of harmful germs. Its meat serves as carrier of diseases to mankind. It is this very reason that made it unfit for human consumption.
DISEASES CAUSED BY PORK:
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 correct as a religion of God.
PARASITIC DISEASES
a) TRICHINELLA SPIRATIS (Trichina worms)
It is the most dangerous parasite to man (Rheumatism and muscular pain). The infected persons shown no symptoms recover very slowly some die, some reduced to permanent invalids. No one is immune from this disease and there is no cure.
b) TAENIA SOLIUM (Pork tape worm)
The worm causes malnourishment of the person leading to anemia, diarrhea, extreme depression melancholia and digestive disturbances. Cysticercosis means that larva enter the blood stream then settle down in one or more of the vital organs of the body, for example: brain, liver, lungs or spinal cord. They grow and encapsulate, inducing pressure to the system around, resulting in dangerous diseases (diarrhea, digestive disorder, anemia, chronic invalidation).
c) ROUND WORMS
Examples: Ascaris, which may lead to digestive disturbances, appendicitis, obstructive jaundice.
d) HOOK WORMS
Examples: Ancylostomiasis, which may lead to anemia, oedema, heart failure or retarded growth (mental and physical), tuberculosis, diarrhea and typhoid.
e) SCHITOSOMA JAPONICUM
Bleeding, anemia and other syndromes. If ova settled in the brain or spinal cord, paralysis death may occur.
f) PARAGOMINES WESTERMAINI
Infestation leading to bleeding of the lungs (Endenve haemoptysis)
g) PACIOLEPSIS BUSKI
Digestive disturbances leading to persistent diarrhea; generalized oedema.
h) CLONORCHIS SINENSIS
Chlonorchiasis-obstructive jaundice, liver enlargement.
i) METASTRONGYLUS APRI
Causes bronchitis, abscess of the lungs.
j) GIGANTHORINCHUS GIGAS
Cause anemia and digestive disorders.
k) BALATITIDIUM COLI
Causes acute dysentery and general weakness.
BACTERIAL DISEASES
1. Tuberculosis
2. Fusiformis necrofurus: causing foot-rot which is very difficult to heal.
3. Salmonella Cholera suis: causing cholera
4. Paratyphoid
5. Bruceellosis: Acute, sub acute and chronic. It may lead to permanent disabilities.
6. Swine Erysipelas: causing Erypelas in man.
VIRAL DISEASES
1. Small pox: Is a source of infection to man.
2. Japanese B-encephalitis: It is the source of infection
3. Influenza, foot mouth disease, gas tro-enteritis of the new born babies.
Protozoal Diseases: Toxo plasma goundii - It is a very dangerous diseases. A new born baby of an infected woman may die within few days or weeks after delivery. But if he survives he may develop blindness or deafness. In adult chronic exhaustive fever with enlarged liver and spleen may occur. Pneumonia or celebro- spinal meningitis which may lead to death or madness. The patient may become blind and deaf too.
Fats in Pigs:
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.
Other Diseases:
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.
BIBLICAL ASPECT OF THE PROHIBITION
Old Testament
The Jews and the different Christian sects and denominations believe in the Old Testament. Adherents of other religions alleged that the prohibition was already superseded by the New Testament. This cogent argumentation is inconclusive. No one can specifically point out that Jesus Christ (PBUH) lifted the prohibition. On the contrary, he upheld it he declared:
Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets: I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Matthew 5:17 RSV
Jesus Christ (PBUH) was obviously referring to the existing Law of his time, the Mosaic Law! - In which the Law prohibiting pig as article of food is mentioned.
Leviticus 11:7-11
As for any beast that is a splitter of the hoof but is not a former of the cleft and not a chewer of the cud, they are unclean for you. Everyone touching them will be unclean. "
Leviticus 11:26
In addition, the book of Prophet Isaiah said:
Who sit in tombs, and spend the night in secret places who eats swine's flesh and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;... These are a smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all the day
Isaiah 65:4,5b RSV
The New Testament
Despite the Biblical injunction prohibiting pork as food, still people of other religious persuasions insist on finding ways and reasons to justify their consumption of prohibited animals arguing that said Biblical prohibition was already superseded in the New Testament when in certainly, no one can specifically point out that Jesus Christ (PBUH) indeed lifted the prohibition. On the contrary, Jesus (PBUH) declared:
Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill them.
Matthew 5:17
The fact is, we will find in Mark 5:1-20 that Jesus (PBUH) even permitted the foul spirits (evil spirits) possessing a man to enter into the herb of swine. Since the flesh of pig is unlawful for the Jews, to eat and since it is considered unclean, (Leviticus 11:7-8) consequently, the Jews are not to keep or raise them. This Biblical account states that Jesus (PBUH) punished the owners of the swine; destroyed their unlawful livelihood and at the same time showed that pig is the habitat of unclean spirits.
The only provision in the New Testament alluded to their argument is in Act 10:10-16. Without reading the whole context, one would be inclined to interpret it to mean that God abrogated his previous command found on Deuteronomy 14:3-8. An alleged apparition of Peter on Acts 10:11-16 is alleged to supersede Deuteronomy 14:3-8, however, nowhere in the Bible is it mentioned that Peter actually slaughtered and ate the unclean animals he saw in his apparition. The correct interpretation of this apparition was shown to him in Acts 10:25-28. Acts 10:11-16 therefore, carries an allegorical connotation referring explicitly to the Gentile nations or non-Jewish nations. Peter was told not to call the Gentiles common and unclean because God's mercy, blessing and forgiveness also encompasses the Non Jews and life eternal also awaits the penitent. In the Bible, Jesus (PBUH) likened to a dog and pig those people whom after receiving divine teaching failed to profit from them and abuses them for self-serving purposes:
Do not give holy to dogs- they will only turn and attack you. Do not throw your pearls in front of pigs-they will only trample them underfoot.
Matthew 7:6 NEB
The New Heavens and the New Earth
The book of Isaiah 66:1-24, is an oracle of the new heavens and the new earth prepared for the believers. Within the context, God condemns people’s practices such as eating the flesh of pigs, reptiles, and rats.
Those who sanctify and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one in the midst, eating swine's flesh and the abomination and mice, shall come to an end together says the LORD.
Isaiah 67:17 RSV
Therefore, the prohibition on the eating of unclean animals was not abrogated during the New Testament times. God will still punish the transgressors in the fire that will never quench. This will occur during the new heavens and the new earth.
MUSLIMS FOLLOW THE DIVINE LAW
Last Testament's Verdict on Prohibition Of Pork
Islam means" submission to the will and command of God” and a person who embraced this religion is called “Muslim” which means “one who accepts and submits himself to the will of God. A Muslim is obliged to be clean spiritually, mentally and physically. Abstention from eating flesh of swine is one of the obligation a Muslim must observe to attain purity of the soul and of the human nature. The believers in Islam, sincerely believe in the Holy Qur'an as the Word of God, revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) which says:
Allah has forbidden you only what dies of itself and blood and the flesh of swine and that over which any other name than that of Allah has been invoked; but whoever is driven to (it), not desiring nor exceeding the limit, then surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
16:115
We should bear in our mind that the abstention from eating pork by the Muslims is based on hygienic grounds and of the cultivation of purity of character. Pork is not poisonous as to kill people right on the spot but latent. It will destroy slowly. It is certainly not as nourishing as any other meat and it causes prolonged sufferings. Pondering on the wisdom of this saying: "Health is wealth” will lead you to better living and prosperity.
The last Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said:
There are two blessing which many people lose: health and the free time for doing good ...The stronger believer (in health) is more blessed and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer.
