If you are a Muslim or follow Islam, you know that eating pork is haram. But why? Is there any specific reason behind this? What will happen if a Muslim eats pork?
There aren’t any clear reasons mentioned in the Quran as to why Muslims should not eat pork. But the holy script mentions that Muslims should not eat any Maytah (dead animals) and the blood and the flesh of swine (pork).
Although the Quran does not specify why Muslims should not eat it, Muslims avoid eating pork without inquiring much about the reason behind it. However, many scholars have come up with their own interpretation of why this is a haram practice. So let’s read further and find them out.
Why Does Islam Condemn Eating Pork?
The prohibition of eating pork is mentioned in four different verses in the Quran. These verses are- Suratul al Maida verse 3, Suratul Al Baqarah verse 173, Suratul al Aman verse 145, and Suratul al Nahl 16:115.
For any Muslim, it is enough to know that certain practices are not permissible or haram in Islam. Most of them don’t bother much to know the reason why Allah or the messengers of God have forbidden such acts.
As per the Quran, Muslims should not eat any dead meat and blood or flesh of swine. However, there are exceptions when Muslims can eat pork. For instance, if you are starving and nothing else is accessible, you can eat pork to meet your hunger.
Eating pork in such extreme conditions won’t be considered haram. But no true Muslim should eat it out of gluttony or to satisfy their taste buds.
The scientific reasoning as to why you should not eat pork is because it contains pinworms, roundworms, hookworms, Helminths, tapeworms, and other microorganisms. Tapeworm is the most dangerous, and it can prove fatal for humans.
If tapeworms enter your body, they may reach all organs and cause memory loss, blindness, heart attack, liver damage, etc. Even though some say that eating cooked pork does not have such risks, studies carried out by various researchers show that a lot of people have suffered from Taenia Trichuriasis even while they ate cooked pork.
Also, Muslims believe that pigs are one of the filthiest animals on earth. They eat and live in muck, faeces, and filth. Therefore, eating pork can pose various health risks.
Additionally, eating pork is associated with the symbol of corruption in Islam, which is why they have the pork barrel system. According to Islamic law, eating pork and corruption are considered the same and are not permitted.
One of the hadiths of Amr ibn-al compared eating pork and playing dice and considered both filthy practices. He said,
“Someone who plays dice for a bet is like a person who eats pig meat. Someone who plays it without betting is like someone who washes his hands in pig’s blood.”
حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، عَنْ حَبِيبٍ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ قَالَ: اللاَّعِبُ بِالْفُصَّيْنِ قِمَارًا كَآكِلِ لَحْمِ الْخِنْزِيرِ، وَاللاَّعِبُ بِهِمَا غَيْرَ قِمَارٍ كَالْغَامِسِ يَدَهُ فِي دَمِ خِنْزِيرٍ..
Conclusion
I hope you found the answer to why pork is haram. There are different opinions among scholars as to why it is banned, and some of these are backed by scientific reasoning. Irrespective of the logic, eating pork is haram, and no true Muslim approves of consuming it.
