Muslims and pork

[noura 0]

because we are asking *why* Allah commanded it.... that's all If you don't question authority, you're just following along blindly -

[morocco4ever 63]

Why do we question something that Allah has commanded?

Is there something wrong with understanding the reasons we are commanded to do things? Nobody said we weren't following it, just wanted to know why. What about people that are contemplating conversion. Would you tell them that its wrong to ask? I don't think you would have successful conversions if people don't understand the religion, do you?

[Pam&Mbaye 0]

It was said earlier in a post that if you don't question authority then you're just following along blindly. In this case since it is the command of Allah then HE is the authority that you are questioning, which I think is a dangerous thing to question Allah. I do understand the reason for the question as to someone wondering why Muslims don't eat pork, however what I do find a bit uncomfortable for me is the thread carried on with theories of why we don't eat pork. We can wonder all day as to the reason why Allah has commanded something but the bottom line is that it is a command, that is the point I was trying to make. Please do forgive me if my question was taken the wrong way. However in saying that, I would like to post a reminder and say that insha'Allah we will never go beyond the limits of Islam.

Abû Hurayrah relates that he heard Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) say: “Whatever I prohibit you from doing, refrain from it, and whatever I command you to do, do of it what you are able. Those who came before you only perished on account of their excessive questioning and their disagreeing with their Prophets.” [sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim]

“Whoever obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allah.” [sûrah al-Nisâ’: 80]

“Whatever the Messenger gives you take it, and whatever he forbids you abstain from it.” [sûrah al-Hashr: 7]

Allah says: “O you who believe! Ask not questions about things which, if made plain to you, may cause you trouble. But if ye ask about things when the Qur'ân is being revealed, they will be made plain to you, Allah will forgive those: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing.” [sûrah al-Mâ’idah: 101]

[sarachid 0]

It was said earlier in a post that if you don't question authority then you're just following along blindly. In this case since it is the command of Allah then HE is the authority that you are questioning, which I think is a dangerous thing to question Allah. I do understand the reason for the question as to someone wondering why Muslims don't eat pork, however what I do find a bit uncomfortable for me is the thread carried on with theories of why we don't eat pork. We can wonder all day as to the reason why Allah has commanded something but the bottom line is that it is a command, that is the point I was trying to make. Please do forgive me if my question was taken the wrong way. However in saying that, I would like to post a reminder and say that insha'Allah we will never go beyond the limits of Islam.

Abû Hurayrah relates that he heard Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) say: “Whatever I prohibit you from doing, refrain from it, and whatever I command you to do, do of it what you are able. Those who came before you only perished on account of their excessive questioning and their disagreeing with their Prophets.” [sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim]

“Whoever obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allah.” [sûrah al-Nisâ’: 80]

“Whatever the Messenger gives you take it, and whatever he forbids you abstain from it.” [sûrah al-Hashr: 7]

Allah says: “O you who believe! Ask not questions about things which, if made plain to you, may cause you trouble. But if ye ask about things when the Qur'ân is being revealed, they will be made plain to you, Allah will forgive those: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing.” [sûrah al-Mâ’idah: 101]

great post

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Several reasons to avoid pork:

1. improperly-cooked pork is the biggest source of trichinosis (while it can be gotten from bear-meat, the total population of ALL species of bears combined is much lower than the pig population for China or US ALONE)
   
2. Pigs are OMNIvores (while the diet of farm pigs is controlled, you cannot assume that the same will not be able to escape the pen and eat other stuff) unlike cattle/goats/sheep/deer/antelope (reindeer are used as livestock in Scandinavia, and antelope are sometimes "ranched" in parts of Africa where cattle-raising isn't possible) which are obligate-herbivores
   
3. The muscle-tissue of a pig is shaped like a fishhook (which means that it will not be digested as quickly)
   
4. It has an awful smell, which pervades EVERYTHING that's cooked with it
   

[morocco4ever 63]

It was said earlier in a post that if you don't question authority then you're just following along blindly. In this case since it is the command of Allah then HE is the authority that you are questioning, which I think is a dangerous thing to question Allah. I do understand the reason for the question as to someone wondering why Muslims don't eat pork, however what I do find a bit uncomfortable for me is the thread carried on with theories of why we don't eat pork. We can wonder all day as to the reason why Allah has commanded something but the bottom line is that it is a command, that is the point I was trying to make. Please do forgive me if my question was taken the wrong way. However in saying that, I would like to post a reminder and say that insha'Allah we will never go beyond the limits of Islam.

Abû Hurayrah relates that he heard Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) say: “Whatever I prohibit you from doing, refrain from it, and whatever I command you to do, do of it what you are able. Those who came before you only perished on account of their excessive questioning and their disagreeing with their Prophets.” [sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim]

“Whoever obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allah.” [sûrah al-Nisâ’: 80]

“Whatever the Messenger gives you take it, and whatever he forbids you abstain from it.” [sûrah al-Hashr: 7]

Allah says: “O you who believe! Ask not questions about things which, if made plain to you, may cause you trouble. But if ye ask about things when the Qur'ân is being revealed, they will be made plain to you, Allah will forgive those: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing.” [sûrah al-Mâ’idah: 101]

I certainly understand what you are saying here, and to those that are already following the faith, it appears to be the commandment from Allah, and should be abided by.

I still have a hard time seeing this logic from a non muslim point of view however. If I am seriously investigating a new religion, and I truly in my heart want to find the right one, and I have questions as to what reasons are so that I can make an informed decision, then how can I do that if I am told not to ask? I would want to be a part of a religion that I undertand, not that I have to believe in it without it already being in my heart.

I am a logical person by nature. If someone tells me that something is wrong, and I have lived an entire life believing it is okay I would question why. I have to say that if I was chastised for asking I don't believe I would choose that religion to convert too. I would certainly hope that people that are sincerely checking into Islam won't get that response.

[rclouse 0]

Why do we question something that Allah has commanded?

Because it's a person telling us God has commanded it. Most of the suffering in the world is visited upon us by men of God saying "it is God's will".

[cbd2cai 0]

Several reasons to avoid pork:

1. improperly-cooked pork is the biggest source of trichinosis (while it can be gotten from bear-meat, the total population of ALL species of bears combined is much lower than the pig population for China or US ALONE)
   
2. Pigs are OMNIvores (while the diet of farm pigs is controlled, you cannot assume that the same will not be able to escape the pen and eat other stuff) unlike cattle/goats/sheep/deer/antelope (reindeer are used as livestock in Scandinavia, and antelope are sometimes "ranched" in parts of Africa where cattle-raising isn't possible) which are obligate-herbivores
   
3. The muscle-tissue of a pig is shaped like a fishhook (which means that it will not be digested as quickly)
   
4. It has an awful smell, which pervades EVERYTHING that's cooked with it
   

Well, I've never had a case of trichinosis as I always cook pork well done.

No problems digesting and I don't think pork smells bad . . . infact I think FISH smells ten times worse and makes me want to gag from the smell . . . no sushi for me!!

I thought garlic was the only thing that pervades everything that it is cooked with?? I don't get that one at all! FYI, I LOVE garlic . . . maybe a little bit of garlic with the pork would be good???

[sarachid 0]

Why do we question something that Allah has commanded?

Because it's a person telling us God has commanded it. Most of the suffering in the world is visited upon us by men of God saying "it is God's will".

what exactly is your point here??

[Bosco 1]

It was said earlier in a post that if you don't question authority then you're just following along blindly. In this case since it is the command of Allah then HE is the authority that you are questioning, which I think is a dangerous thing to question Allah. I do understand the reason for the question as to someone wondering why Muslims don't eat pork, however what I do find a bit uncomfortable for me is the thread carried on with theories of why we don't eat pork. We can wonder all day as to the reason why Allah has commanded something but the bottom line is that it is a command, that is the point I was trying to make. Please do forgive me if my question was taken the wrong way. However in saying that, I would like to post a reminder and say that insha'Allah we will never go beyond the limits of Islam.

Abû Hurayrah relates that he heard Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) say: “Whatever I prohibit you from doing, refrain from it, and whatever I command you to do, do of it what you are able. Those who came before you only perished on account of their excessive questioning and their disagreeing with their Prophets.” [sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim]

“Whoever obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allah.” [sûrah al-Nisâ’: 80]

“Whatever the Messenger gives you take it, and whatever he forbids you abstain from it.” [sûrah al-Hashr: 7]

Allah says: “O you who believe! Ask not questions about things which, if made plain to you, may cause you trouble. But if ye ask about things when the Qur'ân is being revealed, they will be made plain to you, Allah will forgive those: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing.” [sûrah al-Mâ’idah: 101]

Questions are the key to better understanding. There is a difference between questioning something and not adhering to it.

[peezey 0]

It was said earlier in a post that if you don't question authority then you're just following along blindly. In this case since it is the command of Allah then HE is the authority that you are questioning, which I think is a dangerous thing to question Allah. I do understand the reason for the question as to someone wondering why Muslims don't eat pork, however what I do find a bit uncomfortable for me is the thread carried on with theories of why we don't eat pork. We can wonder all day as to the reason why Allah has commanded something but the bottom line is that it is a command, that is the point I was trying to make. Please do forgive me if my question was taken the wrong way. However in saying that, I would like to post a reminder and say that insha'Allah we will never go beyond the limits of Islam.

Abû Hurayrah relates that he heard Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) say: “Whatever I prohibit you from doing, refrain from it, and whatever I command you to do, do of it what you are able. Those who came before you only perished on account of their excessive questioning and their disagreeing with their Prophets.” [sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim]

“Whoever obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allah.” [sûrah al-Nisâ’: 80]

“Whatever the Messenger gives you take it, and whatever he forbids you abstain from it.” [sûrah al-Hashr: 7]

Allah says: “O you who believe! Ask not questions about things which, if made plain to you, may cause you trouble. But if ye ask about things when the Qur'ân is being revealed, they will be made plain to you, Allah will forgive those: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing.” [sûrah al-Mâ’idah: 101]

bold is mine...these are key. No none is excessively asking or disagreeing.

[Pam&Mbaye 0]

Morocco4ever,

I can appreciate your question, if you were to re-read my statement I did qualify my statement with these words: "I do understand the reason for the question as to someone wondering why Muslims don't eat pork, however what I do find a bit uncomfortable for me is the thread carried on with theories of why we don't eat pork."

If you are to look at the latter part of my statement you will see where I said that what I find a bit uncomfortable for me is the thread of messages of theories of why we don't eat pork. Morocco4ever, probably the best place to get your questions answered if you are sincere in learning about Islam or even converting to Islam is to go to your local Islamic center and speak with the Imam there or someone of knowledge meaning a scholar or sheikh about Islam.

As for the rest of the comments on the forum, I find it very interesting that a simple question such as mine could spark such passion to the point that I almost feel as though I am being flamed by my Muslim brothers and sisters for sharing hadith and the Qur'an. I make no apologies for sharing the Qur'an with anyone as it is the PERFECT word of Allah in which there are no errors.

Yet another reminder from the Quran:

“The only thing the believers say when they are called to Allah and His Messenger to judge between is: ‘We hear and we obey.” [sûrah al-Nûr: 51] These are not my words but the words of Allah. I don't believe anyone can argue with the word of Allah.

Finally, to rclouse if I am reading your statement correctly: "Because it's a person telling us God has commanded it. Most of the suffering in the world is visited upon us by men of God saying "it is God's will".

I must correct you in that it is not me or a person telling you what God has commanded but the Qur'an is the word of Allah and if you don't believe the Qur'an is the word of Allah then astagfirullah. I am hoping that the words spoken by you are due to not know what is in the Qur'an. As for all of the suffering you mentioned in the world being visited upon us by men of God saying "it is God's will". What has happened and will happen during the past, present and future is indeed God's will, the word to describe this is qadr and once again the Qur'an speaks to qadr:

"No affliction befalls in the earth or in yourselves, but it is in a Book, before We create it; that is easy for God; that you may not grieve for what escapes you, nor rejoice (vaingloriously) in what has been given to you, God loves not any man proud and boastful." Hadid, 57:23.

Say: "Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is our Maula (Lord, Helper and Protector)." And in Allah let the believers put their trust. At-Tauba 9:51

Allah's word says it all, alhamdulillah

[Jenn! 918]

Not everyone in this forum is Muslim.

[deeshla 0]

Am I the only one here that thinks pork is succulent? Mmm.

[morocco4ever 63]

Am I the only one here that thinks pork is succulent? Mmm.

I am sure many like pork, but I am not one of them. I used to, but as I got older I just lost my taste for it. Maybe because Allah knew that my future was to marry a Muslim, who knows but Allah himself.

Pam&mbaye, I'm sorry if it offends you to read the discussions of this on this thread. We have both practicing Muslims as well as many other religions on this board. There is no disrespect intended at all to Islam, or the Quran, just a simple desire to learn more. Going to the local Islamic center to learn more isn't quite as easy for me. I do have my husband that can teach me though. But really, the best place to learn would be to read the Quran. I guess I just wanted other input as to what they have heard and believe. I don't take what everyone here says as law, just a discussion, thats all.

I'm sorry if you feel flamed by anyone here. We all have our opinions, and each of us should be respected for that. You believe in total obediance to Islam and I respect that. I am pretty new to the entire thing, and enjoy once in a while discussing.