PORK IS SIN AND SICKNESS


Introduction


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

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)


    Islam (an Arabic  word  which means submission to the  will of  the Almighty God) has laid down the foundation for  the  best approach  in keeping good health. In the Holy Qur'an (The Last Testament ) God exhorts the believers to select the best food and to stay away from any harmful food to maintain good health:

           "Let him find out which is the best food
           ( to be had ) ... Eat of the best foods We
           have provided for you."


                          ( Holy Qur'an 18:19;7:160 )       

   The main purpose of a True Religion must be to build an ideal community in this world ; a religion that promotes moral, political and economic well; social harmony and peace, as well as good health of its believers or followers. Health means the physical and mental well-being and freedom from diseases and pain.There are several passages in the Bible, articulating  that because of sin ( a transgression of the law of God) God afflicted  human beings with maladies (Ps.103:3;Exodus 15:26  and Psalms 107:16-20). Islamic instructions and teachings espousing health consciousness have scriptural and scientific support
               
            
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

     All  types of animals are lawful to be eaten whether those living on land or in the water except those animals specifically forbidden in the Holy Writings revealed by the Almighty Creator and  the  sayings  of the Prophet with  clear  and  well  defined injunctions. Pig  belong to the forbidden animals, and not allowed to be eaten by the believers. 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. It's meat serves as carrier of diseases to mankind. It is this very reason that made it unfit for human consumption 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 are  settled in  the  brain  or spinal  cord, paralysis and 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 was a source of infection to man.
      2. Japanese B-encepphalitis: 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 meninggitis 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 arasites, 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 Isa (Jesus) (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)

     ISA (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 persuations 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 Isa (Jesus) (PBUH) indeed lifted the prohibition. On the contrary, Isa (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 Isa (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, Isa (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 t he 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 both 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  destroys 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."


Conclusion

     From what  we  have  read  from  the  Scriptures  of   the christians, scientific findings, Last Testaments (The Holy Qur'an) and  the saying of the Last Prophet Muhammad (SAW)  about  health and the flesh of the swine, we now come now to the conclusion that eating of swine flesh or  PORK IS SIN AND SICKNESS.  Therefore, we must protect ourselves for it is a fact that health is a trust and best  blessing bestowed upon us by Allah.