digital divide network - article database

"A Man Becomes What He Eats"

There are certain food and drinks specified by Allah, and Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) as forbidden. The prohibition of these food and drinks is not by any means an arbitrary action or an unwarranted decree of Allah. It is the first and foremost the best interest of man and for his own benefit.

The prohibition of eating pork in Islam is relevant in this context. According to physicians and medical experts, pork is a harmful diet. Consumption of swine-flesh creates lowliness in character and destroys moral and spiritual faculties in a man. it also causes several harmful diseases.

Pig Is One of the Filthiest Animals on Earth

Take a look at the nature of the pig for example. The pig is naturally lazy and indulgent in sex, it is dirty, greedy and gluttonous. It dislikes sunlight and lacks the spirit and will to "fight." It eats almost anything, even human excreta or anything foul and unwholesome. Amongst all animal flesh, pork is the favored cradle of harmful germs. Pork also serves as a carrier of diseases to mankind. It is for this reason that its flesh is not suitable for consumption.

In 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 neighbor excreta.

Pork Prohibited in Qur’an

The Qur’an 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[...]" [Surat Al-Maidah 5:3]

The above verse of the Holy Qur’an are sufficient to satisfy a Muslim as to why pork is forbidden.

The following is not part of the answer, just to advise the Christian brothers that pork is also prohibited in their religion.

Pork Prohibited in Bible

The Christian is likely to be convinced by his religious scriptures. The Bible prohibits the consumption of pork, in the book of Leviticus

"And the swine, though he divide 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]

Consumption of Pork Causes Several Diseases

Dr. Glen Shepherd wrote the following on the dangers of eating pork in Washington Post (31 May 1952)

• "One in six people in USA and Canada have germs in their muscles - trichinosis 8 from eating pork infected with trichina worms. Many people who are infected shows no symptoms. Most of those, who do have, recover slowly. Some die; some are reduced to permanent invalids. All were careless pork caters".

Click to enlarge

• He continued "No one is immune from the disease and there is no cure. Neither antibiotics nor drugs or vaccines affect these tiny deadly worms. Preventing infection is the real answer."

• Eating of pork can cause no less than seventy different types of diseases. A person can have various helminthes like roundworm, pin-worm, hookworm, etc.

• One of the most dangerous is Taenia Solium, which is in lay man’s terminology called tapeworm. It harbors in the intestine and is very long. Its ova i.e. eggs, enter the blood stream 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 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.

Muslims follow the divine law which is much higher than the medical advice. The Glorious Qur'an says:

"So eat of the lawful and good food which Allah has provided for you, and thank the bounty of your Lord if it is Him you serve. He has forbidden for you only carrion and  blood and swine-flesh and that which has been immolated in the name of any other than Allah; but he who is driven thereto, neither craving nor transgressing, Lo! then Allah is Forgiving, Merciful" (Surat An-Nahl 114-115)