The Wisdom Behind the Prohibition of Swine Flesh

Question :

I live in Sweden and pork is offered in the restaurants. I have been faced with the question from some people: Why was pork prohibited? And what is the reason? And what is the evidence for this? I request a complete reply to this.

Answer:

Pork has been forbidden by Allah, Most Glorified, Most High in several places in His Book, and the Muslims are in complete agreement regarding its prohibition. And Allah, Most Glorified, Most High has made clear the wisdom behind its prohibition in His Words:
"Say (O Muhammad): "I find not in that which has been revealed to me anything forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be Maitah (a dead animal) or blood poured forth (by slaughtering or the like), or the flesh of swine (pork); for that surely, is impure or impious (unlawful)."

So Allah, Most Glorified, Most High has explained the wisdom behind its prohibition, which is that it is Rijs, i.e., impure and it is harmful to man in his religion and in his body, and the Lord, the Almighty, the All-Powerful is the Creator and He knows the harms and benefits which exist in His creatures. So when Allah tells us that He has forbidden swine because it is impure, we know that this impurity is harmful to us in our religion and in our bodies. In that case, we say to every person who asks about the wisdom behind the prohibition of pork that it is because it is Rijs, i.e., impure, and harmful to the body and to one's religion.

It has been said that the character of this impure animal is that it has little jealousy. So that if a person eats it, his jealousy towards his Mahrams and his wife may be removed from him, because a person may be affected by what he eats. Have you not seen the prohibition of the Prophet of eating every predatory animal which possesses fangs and every bird which possesses talons? Because enmity and aggression are part of the nature of these predators and these birds. So it is feared that if a person eats them, he may acquire some of the characteristics. This is because man is affected by what he eats. So this is the wisdom behind the prohibition of pork.

This statement of ours to the person who does not believe in the Qur'an nor in the Rulings of Allah, we might also say to the person who believes in it but in order to satisfy his heart and increase his certainty. And to the believer, simply because of the fact that this is the Ruling of Allah and His Messenger, it becomes the ultimate wisdom for him. Allah, Most High says:
"It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger ﷺ have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision.

And He, Most High says:
"The only saying of the faithful believers, when they are called to Allah (His Words, the Qur'an) and His Messenger (), to judge between them, is that they say: "We hear and we obey." And such are the successful (who will live forever in Paradise). And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, fears Allah, and keeps his duty (to Him), such are the successful.

When 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, was asked why it is that the menstruating woman has to make up for the fasting she has missed, but she does not have to make up for the prayers, she replied that the reason for that is the Command of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.

So the believer is convinced by the ruling of the Islamic Law, simply by it being confirmed that it is a ruling from Allah and His Messenger, and he submits to that and accepts it.

However, if we are addressing a person who is weak in faith, or a person who does not believe in Allah and His Messenger, then in that case, it is necessary to seek the wisdom and explain it.

Therefore, it is necessary for the student of (Islamic) knowledge at this time, when conviction is weak and there is much argument therein, to have knowledge regarding the juristic wisdom upon which the rulings are built, so that he may convince those who dispute with him with evidence and justification, so that no doubts remain with the contradictor or the rebel. And Allah is the One Who is asked.