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_001.jpg) In Part 1 we discussed the primary reason for Muslims abstaining
from eating pork and pork products, and that is, that God has forbidden it. As
the Creator of humankind and all that exists, God knows what is good for us, and
He has sent guidance enabling us to make wise decisions. Just as a computer
would not work properly if it were incorrectly programmed, a human being is not
able to function if he is not nourished correctly. Islam is a holistic
religion that recognises the interconnectedness of spiritual, emotional, and
physical health. What a person eats and drinks has a direct bearing on their
overall health and well-being.
Virologists have long been aware that the pig is an
ideal breeding ground for influenza, so it is no surprise that the latest
threat, swine flu, originated in pigs. Microbiologist and immunology expert,
Dr Graham Burgess
says, “Viruses that would normally grow in the chicken can potentially grow in
the pig and ones that grow in humans will potentially grow in pigs. So we
consider the pig a great mixing pot for viruses and this is where it can play a
real role in generating new viruses".
The pig is known to harbour parasites as well as
bacteria and viruses. Cysticercosis is an infection caused by the pork
tapeworm, Taenia solium. Infection occurs when the tapeworm larvae enter
the body and form cysticerci (cysts). When cysticerci are found in the brain,
the condition is called neurocysticercosis. This tapeworm in pigs is found
worldwide but is most problematic in poor and developing countries were pigs
are allowed to roam freely and often eat human faeces. This infection can
occur even in modern developed countries but the CDC reports that it is very
rare in Muslim countries where eating pork is forbidden.
Trichinellosis, also called trichinosis, is caused by
eating raw or undercooked meat of animals infected with the larvae of a species
of worm called Trichinella. Infection occurs most commonly in certain
wild carnivorous (meat-eating) animals but it may also occur in domestic
pigs. The CDC warns that if a human eats meat containing infective
Trichinella cysts, the acid in the stomach dissolves the hard covering of the
cyst and releases the worms.
The worms pass into the small intestine and, in 1-2
days, become mature. After mating, adult females lay eggs. These eggs develop
into immature worms, travel through the arteries, and are transported to
muscles. Within the muscles, the worms curl into a ball and encyst (become
enclosed in a capsule). This infection occurs when these encysted worms are
consumed in meat. The number of cases of trichinellosis throughout the world
has steadily decreased due to an awareness of the dangers of eating raw and
undercooked pork products and legislation prohibiting feeding raw meat garbage
to pigs.
Pigs are omnivores,
which means they consume both plants and animals. Pigs will scavenge and eat
any type of food, including dead insects, worms, tree bark, rotting carcasses,
garbage, and even other pigs. Pigs have very few sweat glands so therefore they
are unable to completely rid their bodies of toxins. New evidence indicates
that farming practices are leading directly to the spread of human bacterial
infections.
Pigs often live in the small spaces and fetid conditions
that exist in many modern factory farms and studies are revealing that pigs frequently
harbour antibiotic resistant staph bacteria. This drug resistant bacterium is
now entering our food supply and recent investigations in the United States of America indicate that 49% of pigs and 45% of pig workers now harbour these bacteria
responsible for killing more then 18,000 people in the US every year.
“He has forbidden you only dead animals, and blood, and the
flesh of swine...” (Quran 2:173)
“For that surely is impure” (Quran 6:145)
Muslims refrain from eating pork and pork products
because God has forbidden it. However a little investigation into the anatomy and
lifestyle of the pig reveals that it is certainly an unclean animal. Those
interested in consuming healthy, natural, and pure foods would do well to
abstain from pork and pork products.
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