Definition of Pig as per Merriam Webster's Dictionary:
- a: A young domesticated swine not yet sexually mature; broadly: a wild or domestic swine b: an animal related to or resembling the pig
- a: Pork b: the dressed carcass of a young swine weighing less than 130 pounds (60 kilograms) c: Pigskin
- a dirty, gluttonous, or repulsive person
- a crude casting of metal (as iron)
- slang : an immoral woman
- slang usually disparaging : Police Officer
In order to understand why it is prohibited one must first appreciate the manner in which the animals are slaughtered.
In order for an animal meat to be classed as Halaal (made permissible) it must undergo the manner prescribed:
This method of slaughtering animals consists of a swift, deep incision with a sharp knife on the neck, cutting the Jugular Veins and Carotid Arteries of both sides but leaving the Spinal Cord intact.
This results in automatic total blood loss of the animal and no injuries to any of the vital organs. This method if performed correctly is painless for the animal.
Advantages of this method results in:
- A cleaner meat (no blood) - This is because Uric Acid is abundantly found in blood can lead to several harmful diseases. Some of the diseases are llisted below:
- Arthiritis - Can lead to Gout
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Diabetes
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Uric Acid Stone Formation
- Many others
The Animal does not feel any pain - as Dr. Zakir Naik quite rightly pointed out “the swift cutting of vessels of the neck disconnects the flow of blood to the nerve of the brain responsible for pain. Thus the animal does not feel pain. While dying, the animal struggles, writhers, shakes and kicks, not due to pain, but due to the contraction and relaxation of the muscles deficient in blood and due to the flow of blood out of the body”
No injuries to any of the vital organs of the animal.
Known Medical Facts about the Pig:
Medical Science finds that there is a risk for various diseases as the Pig is found to be a host for many parasites and potential diseases.
As we've already discussed Uric Acid in the blood, it is important to note tha the pig's biochemistry excretes only 2% of it's total uric acid content, the remaining 98% remains as an integral part of the body.
New studies show that Pig's Milk is Red and not White, also that pig's meat could carry harmful disease / bacterial easily.
- The Pig's anatomy shows that it does not have a neck, there is an internal jugular vein which is unreachable and therefore cannot be slaughtered in the Islamic manner
Other Facts:
The Pig is a filthy animal, no farmer can guarantee any pig hasn't eaten any rats, own excrete or any other body waste during the time which is not supervised.
It is important to note that Islam not only forbids pork meat but it forbids all meat of all those animals who eat their own or some one else's body waste; the most commonly known animal in this category is the Pig or Swine whose meat is commonly known as Pork.
Interestinly the Bible also forbids the flesh of swine in Levictious Chapter 11, verse 8.
Therefore no matter how clean the farms and environments on which it is raised may be, the pig is not by nature a clean-living animal. It often plays in, and even eats, its own excrement. Due to this and its biological structure, the pig produces much higher levels of antibodies in its body than other animals.
In addition, far higher levels of growth hormone are produced in the pig compared to those in other animals and human beings. Naturally, these high levels of antibodies and growth hormone pass across to and collect in the pig's muscle tissue. Pork meat also contains high levels of cholesterol and lipids. It has been scientifically proven that these significant amounts of antibodies, hormones, cholesterol and lipids in pork represent a serious threat to human health.
Article Source: http://www.truthexposed.co.uk/Why%20do%20Muslims%20not%20eat%20Pork.html
Thanking You
Sincerely,
Founder- President
Divine Abode- Al Ikhlas( The Purity)
International Sufi Festival India