Pork is considered haram (forbidden) for Muslims to consume based on clear prohibitions found in Islamic scripture The Quran specifically prohibits the consumption of pork in three different verses. Let’s take a closer look at what Wikipedia says about why pork is haram in Islam
Prohibition in the Quran
According to Wikipedia, the Quran contains clear passages that prohibit the consumption of pork.
Here are some examples:
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“He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah.” (Quran 2 173)
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“I do not find in what has been revealed to me anything forbidden for anyone who wants to eat unless it be carrion, blood outpoured, or the flesh of swine – that is detestable…” (Quran 6:145)
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“The only things made unlawful are the carrion, blood poured forth, and the flesh of swine…” (Quran 16:115)
So the Quran specifically singles out the flesh of swine as being haram for consumption by Muslims No other reason is provided in these verses besides the direct prohibition
Prohibition in Hadiths
The hadiths or narrations about the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad reinforce the prohibition on pork found in the Quran.
For example, one hadith states:
“The Prophet prohibited the eating of the meat of beasts having fangs.” (Bukhari)
Since pigs have fangs, their meat would be included in this prohibition.
Another hadith states:
“The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited eating the meat of domesticated donkeys on the day of Khaybar.” (Bukhari)
According to scholars, the Prophet was foretelling that the Muslims would soon conquer Khaybar where pork was a staple food, and he prohibited the consumption of pork even before the Muslims arrived there.
Prohibition in Other Abrahamic Faiths
The avoidance of pork is not exclusive to Islam. Judaism and some sects of Christianity also prohibit pork consumption.
Wikipedia explains:
“Pork is a food taboo among Jews, Muslims, and some Christian denominations. Swine were prohibited in ancient Syria and Phoenicia, and the pig and its flesh represented a taboo observed, Strabo noted, at Comana in Pontus.”
So the pork taboo pre-dates Islam and was known in the ancient Middle East. Islam continued this prohibition as part of its dietary laws.
Reasons for the Prohibition
There are several theories about why pork was prohibited across many religions in the Middle East. Here are some reasons cited by Wikipedia:
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Pigs are omnivorous scavengers that will eat anything including carrion and refuse. This was deemed unclean.
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Pigs require abundant water and shaded forests to thrive. These conditions were scarce in the arid climate of the Middle East, so pigs were not an ecologically suitable livestock.
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Pigs can destroy their ecosystem if allowed to breed abundantly and threaten native wildlife. Maintaining large pig herds was not considered environmentally sustainable.
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The habits of pigs were considered unhygienic. Their tendency to wallow in mud was thought to foster diseases.
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Pigs were associated with the underworld and evil supernatural forces in some ancient Middle Eastern cultures like Phoenicia.
So in essence, the prohibition arose due to cultural taboos, ecological unsuitability, and concerns about hygiene and cleanliness. The Quran and Hadiths reinforced these ancient prohibitions on consuming pork that existed even prior to Islam.