shuque@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Sumon Huque) (11/23/90)
Could anyone give me a few solid convincing arguments that rationalize our position on not eating Pork. I am often confronted on this issue, and I have yet to come across a suitable reply. Thanks ***************************************************************************** Sumon I. Huque Computer Science & Engineering Box 783, 3820 Locust Walk University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 19104-6134 (215) 573-7881 Internet: shuque@eniac.seas.upenn.edu , huque@next.sas.upenn.edu Bitnet: shuque@pennsas *****************************************************************************
SX43%LIVERPOOL.AC.UK@evans.ucar.edu (Fazal R Ellahi) (11/27/90)
As-Salaamu alaikum, In article <1990Nov22.183944.21990@wpi.WPI.EDU>, shuque@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Sumon Huque) says: > >Could anyone give me a few solid convincing arguments that rationalize >our position on not eating Pork. I am often confronted on this issue, and >I have yet to come across a suitable reply. There is a simple, conclusive, and short answer to this one, which is that as a Muslim I believe the Qur'an to be the verbatim Arabic speech of Allah, the One Who created me and everything else in creation. In it He has commanded me not to eat pork, among other things. Period. Now, as to the wisdoms behind this prohibition. Well, as we believe, Allah is absolute (mutlaq?). His commands are full of Wisdom. We cannot limit that Wisdom by saying that, for example, such and such is THE reason why we are forbidden to eat pork. What we can do is to look into the matter and discover that _this_ property of pork, or _that_ or _the_other_ are PART of the wisdom associated with the order not to eat pork. But they can't be the sole reason. I will now give some comments about pigs and pork, in the light of the above. Firstly, I think I should clarify that it is the eating of pig flesh which is described as an abomination, and forbidden, in the Qur'an. Pigs themselves as creations of Allah are not condemned or regarded as evil or anything. That, however, doesn't stop a lot of Muslims to shudder with horror at the sight of a pig ! :-) The major point I would like to make is I think the close similarity beween the biological make-up of pigs and ourselves. This may be surprising to some, but the pig is given the nickname (in anatomical circles) of 'the horizontal man'. A visiting academic who gave a seminar in our department a few years ago told us that after the theoretical modelling had been done (for some process occurring in the liver of a human being,the model was tested on the liver of a pig, because the anatomy was so similar. I have been told that the word for Humans in the language of cannibals is 'Long Pig', apparently because we taste the same. (Seriously). Pigs are also naturally very intelligent. Pigs are also the only animal which acts as the host for a certain type of worm which then infects humans who eat the infected pig meat. I forget the name of the parasite, but ask any butcher in the high street and he'll probably know (I think it is the tape worm). Apparently studies have shown that people who eat pork suffer from certain effects; they are more prone to violence for example. In a prison there was a test done whereby half the prisoners were fed on pork and half not, and the effects were discerned this way. I have heard that other effects include not being affected by the opposite sex, but have not had any evidence shown me about this. But the bottom line is the fact that it is forbidden to eat the flesh of a pig in the Qur'an, except under very special circumstances (starvation..), and that is THE reason why we don't eat pork. With Peace, Fazal.
zix@cs.nott.ac.uk (Zafer Iqbal) (11/29/90)
In article <1990Nov22.183944.21990@wpi.WPI.EDU> shuque@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Sumon Huque) writes: > >Could anyone give me a few solid convincing arguments that rationalize >our position on not eating Pork. I am often confronted on this issue, and >I have yet to come across a suitable reply. > >Thanks > >***************************************************************************** >Sumon I. Huque Computer Science & Engineering >Box 783, 3820 Locust Walk University of Pennsylvania >Philadelphia, PA 19104-6134 (215) 573-7881 >Internet: shuque@eniac.seas.upenn.edu , huque@next.sas.upenn.edu >Bitnet: shuque@pennsas >***************************************************************************** It is very dangerrous to rtry to rationalize why we have certain commands in Islam and why we have to do certain actions which seem irrational to us. There are many commands which have had reasons given as to why we do them (the reasons are given in the Qur'an or Sunnah) e.g., a reason is given for the prohibition of alcohol &c but many commands are not explained e.g., fasting, no of prayers &c The simple answer to your question is that we do not know why. If a reason was givwen, the prohibition would only hold for that reason and as soon as the reason no longer held the prohibition weould no longer hold! E.g. if we say that we don't eat pork 'cos it is full of germs, and if scientists were able to "clean" it in such a manner so that there were no germs, then we should be able to eat it but obviously we still would not be able to eat it!!! The only aspects of Islam you need to explain using your ration, intellect &c is that there exists a creator and that the Qur'an is from the creator and it has not been corrupted over the ages. Once you have convinced anyone of these facts, following Islam is rational, following the commands whether you understand them or not! Wasalam, Zaf
bakken@cs.arizona.edu (Dave Bakken) (11/30/90)
In article <1990Nov27.152402.28445@nntp-server.caltech.edu> SX43%LIVERPOOL.AC.UK@evans.ucar.edu (Fazal R Ellahi) writes: >As-Salaamu alaikum, >In article <1990Nov22.183944.21990@wpi.WPI.EDU>, shuque@eniac.seas.upenn.edu >(Sumon Huque) says: >>Could anyone give me a few solid convincing arguments that rationalize >>our position on not eating Pork. I am often confronted on this issue, and >>I have yet to come across a suitable reply. [lotsa discussion about pigs being similar to man, being intelligent, pork having worms, and pork maybe causing voilence] >But the bottom line is the fact that it is forbidden to eat the >flesh of a pig in the Qur'an, except under very special circumstances >(starvation..), and that is THE reason why we don't eat pork. Could a cultural reason also be that, in Arabia (and many other places) at the time of Muhammad, pigs were disgusting, filthy animals that ran around eating garbage and everything in sight? I've heard this but I can't remember where. -- Dave Bakken, bakken@cs.arizona.edu, uunet!arizona!bakken, +1 602 621 4976 ``Not every adult will feel comfortable seeking personal finance information from the toy where the Super Mario Brothers live.'' Wall Street Journal, on Nintendo's plans to network game machines and then sell other services.
SX43@liverpool.ac.uk (12/03/90)
In article <1990Nov29.175800.9470@nntp-server.caltech.edu>, bakken@cs.arizona.edu (Dave Bakken) says: >Could a cultural reason also be that, in Arabia (and many other >places) at the time of Muhammad, pigs were disgusting, filthy animals >that ran around eating garbage and everything in sight? I've heard >this but I can't remember where. Two points.. 1) The Islamic injunctions usually go counter to the prevailing customs in Arabia. One only has to look at the extreme persecution and intolerance with which the first muslims were treated.. 2) In the wild, pigs are supposed to be quite clean and hygienic creatures; it's when they are put in overcrowded pens in farms where more pigs = more profits that they become the dirty animal we see them as. For example, in the wild, pigs bury their excrement, far as I know, but cannot do that in the confined space of a farm. On farms, there is usually so little room that the sow is perpetually stuck in one position feeding the young.. it's a very cruel system. Oh, and I believe that pig meat has been forbidden in previous scripture too; Jews and Christians (early ones at least) didnt eat pig flesh. And I am suprised and saddened to see so many questions appearing in the vein of .. 'do muslims believe in the previous scriptures..'. I knew Islam was misunderstood, but not to this extent. I hope that this discussion group can serve a useful educational purpose. I have also seen lots of discussion on Islam in the s.c.arabic board. Maybe we could advertise the existence of s.r.islam (plus the fact it is moderated..) on s.c.arabic for people to post their questions here ? Peace, Fazal.
khan@remus.rutgers.edu (Farrukh Shah Khan) (12/05/90)
Here is the name of the bacteria which is found in pork and some other animals.
Bacteria: TRICHINELLA SPIRALIS.
Desease: TRICHINOSIS.
Symptoms: Within 2-28 days vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain.
Later muscular stiffness, fever, rashes.
Reference:"Food Service Sanitation"
EFNR Association
John Wiley and Sons.
--
Live long and prosper.
Farrukh Shah Khan.
khan@remus.rutgers.edu
"MEN MUST CHANGE BEFORE THE KINGDOMS"
(Jesus)
"Peace is as much an art to learn as war"
Sen. Matsunaga (Hawaii)