Muslims Handling Swine and Canines

[BabyZee]

Originally Posted by BellXun

I have a question. A fundamental question.

Does muslims have a story or a reason for the action? like why pigs and dogs only, and not rabbits or snakes or monkey. Is there like a story or sumthing to it? I ask many friends before, they told me that they are 'unpure', some say they dont know but thats the rules, thats about all the answer i get.


Anyone can help me out. just curious. hehe.


:D

SOALAN
Saya ingin bertanya mengenai binatang anjing dan khinzir yang dianggap najis di dalam Islam. Kenapakah hanya anjing dan khinzir yang dianggap najis dan tidak binatang lain?

Apakah kisah atau peristiwa yang menjadikan anjing dan khinzir sebagai binatang yang dianggap najis?

Kita dilarang menyentuh anjing dan khinzir tetapi ada pendapat yang mengatakan kita masih boleh menyentuh anjing apabila binatang tersebut berada di dalam keadaan kering. Adakah ini benar?
************************************************** ***********************************

JAWAPAN
Di dalam al-Quran, Allah s.w.t. mengkategorikan khinzir sebagai binatang yang haram dimakan. Adapun anjing merupakan binatang yang membawa najis mughallazah (najis yang berat). Kedua-dua binatang ini adalah haram bagi umat Islam.

Namun perbahasan mengenai anjing agak panjang di kalangan ulama. Ini kerana ada ketikanya anjing boleh dimanfaatkan seperti mengajar memburu dan membantu di dalam menjalankan siasatan seperti mana anjing-anjing yang diajar oleh polis untuk mengawal keselamatan dan sebagainya.

Dalam pengharaman khinzir pula Allah s.w.t. berfirman yang bermaksud: Sesungguhnya Allah hanya mengharamkan bagimu bangkai, darah, daging babi, dan binatang yang (ketika disembelih) disebut (nama) selain Allah. Tetapi barang siapa dalam keadaan terpaksa (memakannya) sedang dia tidak menginginkannya dan tidak (pula) melampaui batas, maka tidak ada dosa baginya. Sesungguhnya Allah Maha Pengampun lagi Maha Penyayang. (al-Baqarah: 173)

Di dalam memanfaatkan anjing Allah s.w.t. berfirman yang bermaksud: Mereka menanyakan kepadamu: Apakah yang dihalalkan bagi mereka? Katakanlah: Dihalalkan bagimu yang baik-baik dan (buruan yang ditangkap) oleh binatang buas yang telah kamu ajar dengan melatihnya untuk berburu; kamu mengajarnya menurut apa yang Telah diajarkan Allah kepadamu [1]. Maka makanlah dari apa yang ditangkapnya untukmu [2], dan sebutlah nama Allah atas binatang buas itu (waktu melepaskannya) [3] dan bertawakallah kepada Allah, Sesungguhnya Allah amat cepat hisab-Nya. (al-Maidah: 4)

[1] Maksudnya: binatang buas itu dilatih menurut kepandaian yang diperoleh daripada pengalaman; fikiran manusia dan ilham daripada Allah tentang melatih binatang buas dan cara berburu.

[2] Iaitu: buruan yang ditangkap binatang buas semata-mata untukmu dan tidak dimakan sedikitpun oleh binatang itu.

[3] Maksudnya: pada waktu melepaskan binatang buas itu disebut nama Allah sebagai ganti binatang buruan itu sendiri menyebutkan waktu menerkam buruan.

Hadis Rasulullah s.a.w. yang bermaksud: Apabila anjing meminum air atau (menjilat) pada bekas air kepunyaan salah seorang di antara kamu, maka hendaklah bekas air itu dibasuh sebanyak tujuh kali (menyamak) salah satunya dengan tanah. (Riwayat Muslim)

Adapun pengharaman anjing dapat dilihat melalui hadis Rasulullah s.a.w. di atas. Walaupun pada asasnya hadis ini menyuruh kita membersihkan bekas yang dijilat anjing tetapi ia membawa maksud yang luas sehingga para ulama mengistinbatkan (mengeluarkan hukum) bahawa jika mulutnya dikira membawa najis apatah lagi tubuhnya, serta apa-apa sahaja yang keluar daripada anjing dihukum najis.

Mengikut pendapat al-Syafieyyah jika anjing itu kering ia boleh disentuh, jika basah tidak boleh. Ini kerana kemungkinan kuman menjadi aktif dan mudah berpindah ke tubuh badan manusia. Adapun mazhab al-Malikiyyah berpendapat yang haram pada anjing hanyalah apa-apa yang keluar dari mulutnya sahaja ini kerana hadis Nabi s.a.w. di atas menyuruh kita menyamak bekas yang terkena air liur anjing sahaja.

Suruhan Rasulullah supaya bekas yang terkena air liur anjing disamak kerana mulut adalah tempat anjing memakan pelbagai benda serta terdedah kepada kekotoran, maka dilihat bahawa yang membawa bahaya adalah apa-apa yang keluar dari mulut anjing dan bukannya badan anjing tersebut. Kedua-dua ayat di atas serta hadis Rasulullah s.a.w. jelas kepada kita bahawa kedua-dua binatang itu adalah haram dalam Islam.

Dari sudut bahayanya pula kita sedia maklum akan bahaya gigitan anjing. Kesan gigitan anjing, jika tidak dirawat segera akan memudaratkan manusia.

Ini terbukti dari kajian yang diterbitkan di dalam jurnal sains barat, di mana mereka telah mengkaji tentang bahaya anjing sebagai binatang peliharaan.

Baginda sendiri menyuruh supaya dibunuh anjing gila kerana penyakit merbahaya yang mungkin merebak dalam masyarakat akibat gigitannya.

Seperkara yang ingin ustaz kongsikan ialah, walaupun kita tidak menemui fakta sains dalam membuktikan kemudaratan khinzir dan anjing, kita wajib patuh kepada perintah Allah s.w.t. dan perintah nabi-Nya yang menyuruh kita meninggalkan perkara yang tidak baik bagi manusia serta apa-apa yang boleh mengganggu sistem kesihatannya.

Islam itu indah dan cantik suka kepada kecantikan dan kebaikan kepada seluruh penganutnya.

bellxun, don't know if you're good in your malay but this is the reason why they're haram..
i'll add some more some story and facts more about this, hope if i miss something or have the wrong facts, someone might be able to correct me..
thanks...

[BabyZee]

Anjing dan babi diharamkan untuk memakan dagingnya dan ia adalah najis mugholazoh.

Pengharaman memakan daging babi - dalam surah al Baqarah ayat 172-173, surah al maídah ayat 3

Anjing itu najis kerana di sebut dalam hadith :

Apabila anjing menjilat mangkuk kamu, maka tumpahkanlah air yang di dalamnya dan basuhlah mangkuk itu 7 kali - riwayat Imam Muslim) dan banyak lagi hadith sahih yang bersangkutan dengannya.

Begitu juga membela anjing di dalam rumah, disebutkan di dalam hadith yang bererti : tidak masuk malaikat ke rumah yang ada di dalamnya anjing dan gambar (Hadith riwayat Bukhari dan Muslim).

Kenapa anjing dan babi haram?

Setiap perkara yg diharamkan oleh Allah SWT ada hikmah disebaliknya samada kita tahu atau pun tidak.kita boleh sebut mcm2 hikmah spt ada kuman dan sbgnya namun hakikat pengharaman itu kerana sabit di dalam al-Quran dan al-Hadis bahawasanya dua binatang ini diharamkan oleh Allah kepada manusia.kalau tidak ada ayat yg melarang maka hukumnya harus.boleh je kalau nk makan.kerana kaedah usul fiqh menyebut asal sesuatu itu harus kecuali ada dalil yg mengharamkannya..

Soal semua makhluk selawat ke atas Allah dan Rasul tidak menjadi masalah kerana pengharamnya adalah kepada kita bukan kepada Allah.Maksudnya di sisi Allah binatang yg dijadikan adalah sama.pengharamnya itu kepada kita manusia.hukum itu ke atas kita.walaupun babi dan anjing itu haram dimakan namun kita tidak boleh sewenang-wenangnya menyakiti kedua binatang ini.mentang2la dia haram kita buat khianat dkt dia.sepak atau sbgnya.ini dilarang dlm Islam.maknanya masih terjaga kehormatannya dlm Islam..

All of the information I cited from the web of iluvislam.com

[BabyZee]

perubatan islam dan bukti sains moden tulisan dr.danial zainal abidin..

Daniel S.Shapiro,M.D,pengarah Clinical microbiology laboratories,boston medical center,merumuskan lebih 25 penyakit bleh dijangkiti daripada BABI.

antharax
ascaris suum
botulism
brucella suis
cryptosporidiosis
entamoeba polecki
erysipelothrix shusiopathiae
flavobacterium group IIb-like bacteriaRabies
scabies
pigbel

dan lain2...

sejak tahun 1997,ahli2 sains menemui beberapa kuman virus keluaran BABI yang dapat menjangkiti manusia.Kuman2 ini belum pernah dijumpai antaranya

porcine torovirus
porcine rotavirus atau variant 4F
h3n2 swine flu virus

Sebuah jurnal cina yang terkenal dahulu Yan Show Tan menyebut

"Pada saat kematian,perasaan takut akan memasuki hati babi dan nafasnya yang terakhir memasuki hempedunya.Semua daging adalah berkhasiat melainkan daging babi.jangan makan daging babi"

"daging babi meransang peyakit penyakit lama,menyebabkan kemandulan,penyakit sakit tulang dan lain-lain" dari buku Sheh Shen Lu oleh Sun See Mao ketika Dinasti Tang.

dan...

BBC news bertarikh 29 oktober,1999 menfokuskan penemuan ahli-ahli sains menunjukkan virus babi menjadi punca berlakunya wabak yang paling teruk dalam sejarah pada tahun 1918.

hope the infos above help anyone to understand more..
from time to time i'll try to find the facts in english version and add more infos on this..
if i have gotten any facts wrong than i'm truly sorry, please do correct the infos if it's wrong..
thanks..

[BabyZee]

Introduction
There is a widespread misconception that Muslims obtains from eating pork because pig is sacred and is worshiped as God in Islam. It is inconceivable that there are people whose mentality could go down to such a dismal low as to entertain or fabricate repulsive idea such as this. No intelligent, refined and self-respecting person would ever imagine himself deifying pig, an animal which lives on offal and pigsty. This pernicious misconception is the product either of the malicious intent to malign Islam and the Muslims in general; abysmal ignorance;whimsical intent; or utter disregard or violation of the Biblical prohibition. Muslims' abstention from pork eating is in adherence to the Qur'anic Law which states:

" Forbidden to you for (food) are: dead meat,
blood and the flesh of the swine and that
which hath been invoked the name other than
Allah. "
Holy Qur'an 5:4

Such prohibition is also found in the Bible:

" The pig also because it is a splitter of the
hoof but there is no cud. It is unclean for
you. None of their flesh must you eat and carcass
you must not touch. "
Deuteronomy 14:8 ( Bible)


Islam ( an Arabic word which means submission to the will of the Almighty God) has laid down the foundation for the best approach in keeping good health. In the Holy Qur'an (The Last Testament ) God exhorts the believers to select the best food and to stay away from any harmful food to maintain good health:

" Let him find out which is the best food
( to be had ) ... Eat of the best foods We
have provided for you . "

( Holy Qur'an 18:19;7:160 )

The main purpose of a True Religion must be to build an ideal community in this world ; a religion that promotes moral, political and economic well;social harmony and peace, as well as good health of its believers or followers.
Health means the physical and mental well-being and freedom from diseases and pain.There are several passages in the Bible,articulating that because of sin ( a transgression of the law of God) God afflicted human beings with maladies (Ps.103:3;Exodus 15:26 and Psalms 107:16-20).Islamic instructions and teachings espousing health consciousness have scriptural and scientific support.


MEDICAL ASPECT OF THE PROHIBITION

Abstention from eating pork is a measure to safeguard health.Of all the domestic animals, pig is the most avaricious, eating anything including human excreta. It is the cradle of harmful germs and parasites. Its meat is carrier of diseases to man, thus making it unfit for human consumption.

CHARACTER OF PIG

All types of animals are lawful to be eaten whether those living on land or in the water except those animals specifically forbidden in the Holy Writings revealed by the Almighty Creator and the sayings of the Prophet with clear and well defined injunctions.
Pig belong to the forbidden animals, and not allowed to be eaten by the believers. Pig eats almost anything dirty and they are very lazy animals. It is the most avaricious of all domestic animals. Amongst all animals, pig is the cradle of harmful germs. It's meat serves as carrier of diseases to mankind. It is this very reason that made it unfit for human consumption consumption.

DISEASES CAUSED BY PORK

The following lists show germs or parasites that are found in pork and some diseases caused by them. Many of these diseases are contagious while some are proven fatal.This proves that the more science advances the more Islam is shown correct as a religion of God.

PARASITIC DISEASES

a) TRICHINELLA SPIRATIS ( Trichina worms )
It is the most dangerous parasite to man ( Rheumatism and
muscular pain). The infected persons shown no symptoms, recover
very slowly some die, some reduced to permanent invalids. No one
is immune from this disease and there is no cure.

b) TAENIA SOLIUM ( Pork tape worm )
The worm causes malnourishment of the person leading
to anemia, diarrhea, extreme depression melancholia and
digestive disturbances. Cysticercosis means that larva enter
the blood stream then settle down in one or more of the vital
organs of the body, for example: brain, liver, lungs or spinal
cord. They grow and encapsulate, inducing pressure to the
system around, resulting in dangerous diseases (diarrhea,
digestive disorder, anemia, chronic invalidation).

c) ROUND WORMS
Examples: Ascaris, which may lead to digestive
disturbances, appendicitis, obstructive jaundice.

d) HOOK WORMS
Examples:Ancylostomiasis, which may lead to
anemia, oedema, heart failure or retarded
growth ( mental and physical), tuberculosis,
diarrhea and typhoid.

e) SCHITOSOMA JAPONICUM
Bleeding, anemia and other syndromes. If ova
are settled in the brain or spinal cord, paralysis
and death may occur.

f) PARAGOMINES WESTERMAINI
Infestation leading to bleeding of the lungs
( endenve haemoptysis)

g) PACIOLEPSIS BUSKI
Digestive disturbances leading to persistent
diarrhea; generalized oedema.

h) CLONORCHIS SINENSIS
chlonorchiasis-obstructive jaundice, liver enlargement.

i) METASTRONGYLUS APRI
Causes bronchitis, abscess of the lungs.

j) GIGANTHORINCHUS GIGAS
Cause anemia and digestive disorders.

k) BALATITIDIUM COLI
Causes acute dysentery and general weakness.

BACTERIAL DISEASES

1. Tuberculosis
2. Fusiformis necrofurus: causing foot-rot which is very
difficult to heal.
3. Salmonella Cholera suis: causing cholera
4. Paratyphoid
5. Bruceellosis: Acute, sub acute and chronic. It may lead
to permanent disabilities.
6. Swine Erysipelas: causing Erypelas in man.

Viral Diseases
1. Small pox: is was a source of infection to man.
2. Japanese B-encepphalitis: It is the source of infection
3. Influenza, foot mouth disease, gas tro-enteritis of the
new born babies.

Protozoal Diseases : Toxo plasma goundii- It is a very
dangerous diseases.A new born baby of an infected woman may die
within few days or weeks after delivery. But if he survives
he may develop blindness or deafness.In adult chronic exhaustive
fever with enlarged liver and spleen may occur. Pneumonia, or
celebro- spinal meninggitis which may lead to death or madness.
The patient may become blind and deaf too.

Fats In Pigs:
Pork contains more fats than other meats.
Therefore, people who are fond of pork are more obese than
others. Cholesterol is higher in their blood thus making them
more prone to asthereosclerosis cardiovascular accidents and
sudden death.

Other Diseases :
Flesh of the pork is hard to digest and may
lead to chronic digestive disturbances. Pimples, boils, cysts are
common in pork eaters. These are some of the parasites and
diseases found in pork and/ or the skin of pigs and certainly
there are many more. There is still no means of killing these
parasites, in the tissues, neither has anyone found a method of
expelling them, even produced any specific treatment for the
diseases.


BIBLICAL ASPECT OF THE PROHIBITION

Old Testament

The Jews and the different christian sects and denominations
believe in the Old Testament. Adherents of other religions
alleged that the prohibition was already superseded by the New
Testament.This cogent argumentation is inconclusive. No one can
specifically point out that Jesus Christ (PBUH) lifted the
prohibition. On the contrary, he upheld it he declared:


" Think not that I have come to abolish the law
and the prophets: I have come not to abolish
them but to fulfill them." (Matthew 5:17 RSV)

Jesus Christ (PBUH) was obviously referring to the existing
Law of his time , the Mosaic Law !- in which the Law prohibiting
pig as article of food is mentioned. ( Leviticus 11:7-11)

" As for any beast that is a splitter of the hoof
but is not a former of the cleft and not a chewer
of the cud, they are unclean for you. Everyone
touching them will be unclean. "
Leviticus 11:26


In addition, the book of Prophet Isaiah said:

" Who sit in tombs, and spend the night in secret
places who eats swine's flesh and broth of
abominable things is in their vessels;... These
are a smoke in my nostrils,a fire that burns
all the day. " ( Isaiah 65:4,5b RSV)


The New Testament
Despite the Biblical injunction prohibiting pork as food,
still people of other religious persuations insist on finding
ways and reasons to justify their consumption of prohibited
animals arguing that said Biblical prohibition was already
superseded in the New Testament when in certainly, no one can
specifically point out that Jesus Christ (PBUH) indeed lifted the
prohibition. On the contrary, Jesus (PBUH) declared:

" Think not that I have come to abolish the law
and the prophets. I have come not to abolish but
to fulfill them. " ( Matthew 5:17 )

The fact is, we will find in Mark 5:1-20 that Jesus (PBUH)
even permitted the foul spirits (evil spirits) possessing a man
to enter into the herb of swine. Since the flesh of pig is
unlawful for the Jews, to eat and since it is considered
unclean, (Leviticus 11:7-8) consequently, the Jews are not to keep
or raise them. This Biblical account states that Jesus (PBUH)
punished the owners of the swine;destroyed their unlawful
livelihood and at the same time showed that pig is the habitat of
unclean spirits.
The only provision in the New Testament alluded to their
argument is in Act 10:10-16. Without reading the whole
context, one would be inclined to interpret it to mean that God
abrogated His previous command found on Deuteronomy 14:3-8. An
alleged apparition of Peter on Acts 10:11-16 is alleged to
supersede Deuteronomy 14:3-8, however, nowhere in the Bible is it
mentioned that Peter actually slaughtered and ate the unclean
animals he saw in his apparition. The correct interpretation of
this apparition was shown to him in Acts 10:25-28. Acts 10:11-16
therefore, carries an allegorical connotation,r eferring
explicitly to the Gentile nations or non-Jewish nations. Peter
was told not to call the Gentiles common and unclean because
God's mercy, blessing and forgiveness also encompasses the Non
Jews and life eternal also awaits the penitent.
In the Bible, Jesus(PBUH) likened to a dog and pig those
people whom after receiving divine teaching failed to profit from
them and abuses them for self-serving purposes:

" Do not give holy to dogs- they will only turn and
attack you. Do not throw your pearls in front of
pigs-they will only trample them underfoot. "
( Matthew 7:6 NEB)


The New Heavens And The New Earth

The book of Isaiah 66:1-24, is an oracle of the new
heavens and the new earth prepared for the believers. Within
the context, God condemns people's practices such as eating the
flesh of pigs, reptiles, and rats.

" Those who sanctify and purify themselves
to go into the gardens, following one in
the midst, eating swine's flesh and the
abomination and mice, shall come to an
end together says the LORD. "
(Isaiah 67:17 RSV)

Therefore, the prohibition on the eating of unclean
animals was not abrogated during t he New Testament times.God
will still punish the transgressors in the fire that will never
quench. This will occur during the new heavens and the new earth.


MUSLIMS FOLLOW THE DIVINE LAW

Last Testament's Verdict On Prohibition Of Pork

Islam means" submission to the will and command of God "
and a person who embraced this religion is called " Muslim "
which means " one who accepts and submits himself to the will of
God.A Muslim is obliged to be clean both spiritually, mentally
and physically. Abstention from eating flesh of swine is one of
the obligation a Muslim must observe to attain purity of the
soul and of the human nature. The believers in Islam, sincerely
believe in the Holy Qur'an as the Word of God, revealed to
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) which says:

" Allah has forbidden you only what dies of itself
and blood and the flesh of swine and that over
which any other name than that of Allah has been
invoked; but whoever is driven to (it), not
desiring nor exceeding the limit, then surely
Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. " ( 16:115 )

We should bear in our mind that the abstention from eating
pork by the Muslims is based on hygienic grounds and of the
cultivation of purity of character. Pork is not poisonous as to
kill people right on the spot but latent. It will destroys
slowly. It is certainly not as nourishing as any other meat and
it causes prolonged sufferings. Pondering on the wisdom of this
saying: "Health is wealth " will lead you to better living and
prosperity. The last Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said:

" There are two blessing which many people lose:
health and the free time for doing good ...The
stronger believer (in health) is more blessed
and more beloved to Allah than the weak
believer. "

Conclusion

From what we have read from the Scriptures of the christians, scientific findings, Last Testaments (The Holy Qur'an) and the saying of the Last Prophet Muhammad (SAW) about health and the flesh of the swine, we now come now to the conclusion that eating of swine flesh or PORK IS SIN AND SICKNESS. Therefore, we must protect ourselves for it is a fact that health is a trust and best blessing bestowed upon us by Allah.

Taken from this site.
Well, i wouldn't say that pork is a sin but eating or touching it is unlawful(haram) for muslim..
hope this won't creat any tension in this forum as this is just a knowledge to shared..
the most important is is to hold to what you believe and beside that God loves all animals as he's the creator of all and at the same time no matter what religion or where we came from, all animals desreve our compassionate are care mostly in time needed to do so..

[BabyZee]

Question: Since pigs are regarded as filthy animals, should we allow our children to see them at zoos and at farms, where they might become too familiar with these animals? Is it alright to allow our children to watch nature programs and television dramas featuring pigs? Is it permissible to allow them to watch animated cartoons featuring pig-like cartoon characters? Since pigs and dogs are impure and should not be kept in the house as pets, is it wrong to allow our children to play with plush toys in the shape of pigs and dogs?

Answered by the Fatwa Department Research Committee - chaired by Sheikh `Abd al-Wahhâb al-Turayrî

Pigs and dogs are creations of Allah. They are animals. They take the same ruling as other animals except where Islam provided special rulings for them. There are rulings regarding the impurity of pigs and the saliva of dogs, and that it is prohibited to eat the flesh of these animals.

However, these rulings do not extend beyond that limit. It is not prohibited to look at these animals, to watch shows about them, or even to show kindness to them.

Indeed, the Prophet (peace be upon him) informed us that a prostitute was forgiven and granted Paradise because she showed mercy to a dog that was dying of thirst and filled her shoe with water and gave it to the dog to drink. [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (3467) and Sahîh Muslim (2245)]

Toy pigs and dogs take the same ruling as toys made in the shape of other animals. They are permissible.

The proof that toys in the image of people and animals are permissible comes in the hadîth where `Aishah said: “I used to play with dolls in front of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) with my friends …” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (6130) and Sahîh Muslim (2440)]

And Allah knows best.

Question: Al-Salâm `Alaykum. I am very fond of dogs. Can I keep one in my house?

Answered by Sheikh Sulaymân al-`Îsâ, professor at al-Imâm University in Riyadh

Al-Salâm `Alaykum wa Rahmah Allah wa Barakâtuh.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade keeping dogs as well as selling and buying them.

Ibn Qudâmah said in his book al-Mughnî (volume 4 page 281): “It is unlawful to keep dogs for other purposes than hunting, herding or farming”.

Therefore, a Muslim may not keep a dog except for a dire need such as protection if one’s house in a remote place away from other people. If a blind person needs to have a dog as a guide or for protection, then that would also be permissible.

A Muslim should not play with dogs. The saliva of a dog is impure (najas). The way to remove this impurity is to wash the affected are seven times, one time with dirt. It does not matter whether the contaminated area is a dish, an article of clothing, or the skin. A person who comes in contact with the saliva of a dog must purify the affected area correctly in order for him to be able to perform prayers.

Question: Is it permissible to feed my cats cat food which is not halâl? They do not come in to the house and are fed outside.

Answered by Sheikh Yûsuf al-Qâsim

It is permissible to feed house pets with meat that has not been properly slaughtered. They may also be given food that is deemed impure in Islamic Law provided that there is no risk of that food harming the animal.

In the Hanafî legal text Badâ’i` al-Sanâ’i` (1/78), it reads: “Imam Abû Hanîfah held the opinion that it is permissible to feed dogs a dough made of flour which is mixed with impure water. This is because whatever becomes impure is unlawful for human consumption, but it may still be utilized.”

This is the opinion held by most prominent scholars.

It is related by Ibn `Umar that the people, while on a journey with the Prophet (peace be upon him), stopped to rest in the land of Thamûd (Hijr). They filled water from its well and made dough with this water. However, the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered them to pour out the water and feed the dough to their camels. [Sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim]

Scholars cite this as evidence that it is permissible to feed substances to animals that are not permitted in Islamic Law for human consumption.

And Allah knows best.

This Q&A's was taken from islamtoday.com

[BabyZee]

Why Islam Forbids Pork?
By: Rashid Shamsi
(The Muslim World League Journal, Rajab 1420 - October 1999)


Food and drink have direct effect on our health. That is why Islam has prescribed regulations about our food and drink. It lays great emphasis on our physical as well as moral health, because both of these are equally important for a healthy society. The abstention from eating pork is one of the steps taken by Islam to practise hygiene and to attain purity of soul.

Islam, for the cultivation of inner faculties, insists upon the cleanliness of body and the purification of soul through Salaat (prayers) Zikr (remembrance of Allah) and other devotional duties. Islam teaches us how to attain the virtues and how to give up bad habits because both good and bad grow in the man according to his upbringing, education and environment.

A human being has natural desires: food, sleep and sex being the three primary ones. He has also other natural emotions: sorrow, happiness, love, fear, disgust and avarice etc. Islam doesn't recommend the complete abrogation of these impulses but offers a method of controlling them through religious education and discipline.

The prohibition of eating pork in Islam is relevant in this context. There is a saying in English that "a man becomes what he eats." According to physicians and medical experts, pork is a harmful diet. Consumption of swine-flesh creates lowliness in character and destroys moral and spiritual faculties in a man.


Body and Soul Body and Soul

The life of a man is a compound of body and soul. Anything, which is harmful for the body, hurts the soul as well. Consumption of swine-flesh reduces the feeling of shame and as such the standard of modesty. Those nations, which consume pork habitually, have a low standard of morality with the result that virginity, chastity and bashfulness are becoming a thing of the past in Europe today. The number of unwed mothers is on the increase despite of the use of pills and other contraceptives.

According to a report, 60 to 70% of girls in Sweden become mothers before marriage. The formula of "skin to skin is no sin" is taking its toll but there is hardly any feeling of shame or remorse over the end-result. Since the European nations have become addicted to wine and pork, sexual freedom with all its attendant evils has got ingrained in their culture. Consequently, homosexuality has been legalized by the British Parliament.

The Holy Qur'an has prohibited the swine-flesh, hence the Muslims would not dare touch it. The Bible has also forbidden swine-flesh, but Christians disregarded this order and started consuming it. The Europeans now proclaim that pork is a very powerful diet, rich in protein. Some of them further argue that since there is a great scarcity of food-stuff in the world and swines are available in abundant quantity, they should be consumed in the diet to overcome the food shortage. If this argument is true, why don't they use dog's meat as dogs too are available in abundance? The Europeans perhaps hate the mere mention of dog's meat in the same way as the Muslims shun pork.

Another wrong notion about swine-flesh is that its consumption lengthens life-span, although this is a pure myth and absurdity. On the contrary, people, who abstain from pork and liquor, have a longer span of life. The Muslims in Central Asia bear a testimony to this truth.

However, in the consumption of flesh Muslims are required to be selective and to distinguish between Halaal (Lawful) and Haraam (Unlawful). This step leads automatically to the deeper understanding of the need for the cultivation of a pure human nature. As blood is virtually our life-stream and whatever we consume ultimately affects the blood system, it is, therefore, necessary to exercise choice in the selection of our food and drinks as part of the requirements of the Shariah.

There are certain food and drinks specified by Allah, and His Messenger Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as forbidden. The prohibition of these food and drinks is not by any means an arbitrary action or an unwarranted decree of Allah. It is the first and foremost a divine intervention in the best interest of man and for his own benefit.

The reasons behind the Divine intervention are numerous. They are of a nature intellectual and spiritual, moral and mental, physical and economic. And the sole purpose is to show man how to develop himself according to an upright course of life in order to be a healthy unit in the structure of the family, then of society and eventually of humanity at large.

Reliable medical doctors and social scientists are able to realize how those food and drinks forbidden by Islam are harmful and destructive to the human spirit and morality as well as to the physique and moral fibre of man and to verify the benefits of Islamic legislations on the subjects.

The prohibition is based on the aim of the purification of one's nature, because food, when consumed, doesn't merely enter the stomach and intestines and become excreta. It is absorbed and metabolized into the system and circulated to all parts of the human body, including the brain, and this in no small way affects man's nature.

Take a look at the nature of the pig for example. The pig is naturally lazy and indulgent in sex, it is dirty, greedy and gluttonous. It dislikes sunlight and lacks the spirit and will to "fight." It eats almost anything, be it human excreta or anything foul and unwholesome. Amongst all animal flesh, pork is the favoured cradle of harmful germs. Pork also serves as a carrier of diseases to mankind. It is for this reason that its flesh is not suitable for consumption.

Some people have argued that the "modern pig" reared in farms is given only clean foods, therefore, its flesh should be consumable. The answer is that you may feed the pig on clean, wholesome food, but you can't change its nature. It is still a pig and will always stay so. A pig is not a plant and you cannot change it by bud-grafting.


Medical Reports Medical Reports

Dr. E. Kazim. M.D. in his article "Medical aspects of forbidden foods in Islam" (July 1981 issue of Muslim Journal has described diseases carried or caused by the flesh of the swine.

He writes:

The pig is a scavenger. It is an omnivorous animal. It eats everything. There are many diseases carried from swine to man, particularly parasite infestations. Lately extensive research has been focused on senility-old age is characterized by hardening of inner lining of the blood vessels of the heart, brain etc. a process called atheroselerosis. When a clot forms, it results in coronary thrombosis or a heart attack, cerebral thrombosis or stroke.

Different dietary factors are responsible for atheroselerosis. Gross atheroma may be produced in rabbit by feeding it with cholesterol, but when you add lard (derived from hog fat) to the cholesterol, the incidence of atheroma is increased and thus you would produce coronary thrombosis, and myocardial infraction.

Besides, lard contains 2800 units of vitamin D per 100 grams and no vitamin A at all. Lately vitamin D has been held responsible for atheroma, by causing increased absorption of calcium in the blood vessels. In human beings, serum cholesterol is not dependent on the intake of cholesterol in the diet, but depends upon the proportion of animal fats in the diet, which elevates the beta-lipo protein level in the blood. Animal fats contain saturated fatty acids and these saturated fatty acids have been found to be as one of the causes of atheroma in man. Medium fat bacon contains 25% proteins and 55% fat.

According to medical research, the fat content in pork is more than any other meat (beef, mutton etc.) and it takes longer to digest. Dr. M Jaffer in an article in the Islamic Review (London) of January 1997 issue has listed 16 kinds of harmful germs, which have been discovered in pork in modern researches and the diseases, which could be caused by them. The number of patients suffering from tapeworm disease is the highest in the world among pork eating nations. Other diseases attributed to pigs are caused by tri-chinelia spirates and intestinal worms occupy first place among such nations too.

Dr. Glen Shepherd wrote the following on the dangers of eating pork in Washington Post (31 May 1952).

"One in six people in USA and Canada have germs in their muscles - trichinosis 8 from eating pork infected with trichina worms. Many people who are infected shows no symptoms. Most of those, who do have, recover slowly. Some die; some are reduced to permanent invalids. All were careless pork caters".

He continued "No one is immune from the disease and there is no cure. Neither antibiotics nor drugs or vaccines affect these tiny deadly worms. Preventing infection is the real answer."

After reading the statement of Dr. Shepherd, one can realize that there is no real guarantee of safety when eating pork that one would not be affected by trichina worm. That is why modern doctors advise three prohibitions during illness: no liquor, no pork and no smoking.

Muslims follow the divine law which is much higher than the medical advice. The Glorious Qur'an says, "So eat of the lawful and good food which Allah has provided for you, and thank the bounty of your Lord if it is Him you serve. He has forbidden for you only carrion and blood and swine-flesh and that which has been immolated in the name of any other than Allah; but he who is driven thereto, neither craving nor transgressing, Lo! then Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." (16:114-115)

The above is the order from the Creator of the universe and the Supreme Law-Giver. All Muslims are under the obligation to obey it. This is a plain and straightforward answer to those, who usually ask why Muslims abstain from eating pork. Nevertheless, there is no sin, if a Muslims is forced by famine or starvation to eat pork in order to save his life.

found another english article from islamic-world.net

[BellXun]

OMG OMG OMG OMG~!!

So many years (23years) have i eaten so many/much pork and didnt relise how harmfull it is to us humans. wow... Thanks babyzee... very very interesting info....learn alot... ... still not enough info about the dogs... the pig's story i think i m convinced... i will eat less pork from now on... bye bye char siu... bye bye siu yuk... bye bye bak kut teh.... hehehhee

wow.... its really some eye opening infos...

Thanks again.

[firdaruddin]

is it about handling canine?

here is one of my post.you can read it here..
http://forums.petfinder.my/showpost....8&postcount=20

[BabyZee]

Originally Posted by BellXun

OMG OMG OMG OMG~!!

So many years (23years) have i eaten so many/much pork and didnt relise how harmfull it is to us humans. wow... Thanks babyzee... very very interesting info....learn alot... ... still not enough info about the dogs... the pig's story i think i m convinced... i will eat less pork from now on... bye bye char siu... bye bye siu yuk... bye bye bak kut teh.... hehehhee

wow.... its really some eye opening infos...

Thanks again.

you're welcome..
no problem, i'm happy to help as i don't want people to have the wrong misconception, beside that i'm also a bit like you when coming to reasoning, like there must be a real reasons why certain things is like this or like that, etc etc..
i'll try to find more infos for dog but it's exactly the same concept as pigs that there are certain enzyme coming for dogs harmful to humans and for islam pigs and dogs are group as 'najis berat' which is unlawful (haram)..
however comparing to pigs, atleast for muslim we might be able to keep dogs but must be on the purpose such as guarding the house, however the dog is not allowed to enter the house and can only stay outside..
i'll add infos from time to time...

[chemonk]

there is a story i read from somewhere.. they said that rat are originally came from pig while cat are from tiger... you can see the similarity... rat doesn't have neck .. same goes to pig while.. cat.. obviously look like tiger.. but in small version...