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 .
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 Quran
refers to this prohibition in four Quranic verses namely : (2/173,5/9,6/145 and
16/115) . In addition to this religious prohibition, there are many other
reason which corroborate this prohibition. Muslim scientists have proved
that eating the flesh of pigs is extremely harmful, especially in hot climates
The Quranic verses which prohibit eating the flesh of pigs add to it the
prohibition of eating carrion and blood, and the danger of eating carrion and
blood is an undeniable fact as a result of the microorganisms 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 organisms yet no one
can predict what the future holds. Scientist took centuries to discover one
disease and God Almighty who created man Knows what is Good for him and what
harms him. The Following Quranic verse emphasizes this fact :
“But
over all endued with knowledge is One, The All-Knowing” (12/ 76) .
3- Islam takes into consideration the necessities which may arise in certain
circumstances and it permits what had been prohibited such as eating the flesh
of pigs. This is declared in the following Quranic verse:
“But
if one is forced by necessity without willful disobedience. Nor transgressing
due limits, then he is guiltless. For God is Oft-Forgiving , Most Merciful”
(2/173).