All in all I must say
that I did not intend to do another Friday sermon on the subject of ‘Pork’, but
after last Friday’s sermon on this subject, and on what that Mullah Basharat
Naveed said, so I received several questions on the topic of ‘Pork’, from
people in Mauritius, and those of the neighbouring islands also such as Reunion
Island, Madagascar, the Seychelles and even Rodrigues. So through this Friday
sermon, I will answer those questions. Insha-Allah,
may Allah help me and give me the best answer to their question and that they
are satisfied; and may Allah (swt) illuminates their hearts to Islam, Ameen.
1st Question: Being Christian, I have no difficulty to eat pork and
I ask you then why are Muslims not allowed to enjoy this so delicious food, like
the Christians do?
I reply that this
question is somewhat surprising, because according to the scriptures, even
Christians are not allowed to eat pork. Well! Let’s see what the Bible says
about pork, “You must not eat their meat or
touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.” (Leviticus 11: 7-8). The same command is repeated in
Deuteronomy (14: 8).
So, to make a commentary
on these verses: the laws were inculcated and obeyed because they embodied the
divine will. Pork, though one of the most common foods is one of the worst. God
had forbidden Jews to eat pork, not merely to assert His authority, but because
it was not a healthy food for humans.
2nd Question: We, Christians want to know, what was the teaching of
Jesus Christ on this subject?
The teaching of Jesus
Christ was the same. He clearly said that the laws of the Old Testament were to
be obeyed without change. So the answer I give you not only concerns our
Christian brothers and sisters, but is also for all our Jewish brothers and
sisters.
So in response I say:
Jesus Christ (pbuh) said: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the
Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell
you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least
stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is
accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these
commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of
heaven…” (Matthew
5: 17-19)
There was another
question, where it is implied that the transmission of diseases is not due
solely to pork. Even beef and mutton contain some pathogens.
So what I can answer in
reply to that question, why limit your argument to beef and mutton? We know
that even vegetables contain infectious germs. But the fact is that pork is the
one meat that contains the most germs from all kinds of meat known to mankind.
The more we learn about it and the more we dread it!
Many of the germs or
parasites found in pork contagious, and others are fatal. This proves once
again that the more science progresses, the more it proves the accuracy of Islam
(its truthfulness/statements/commandments) in many respects. The current
science of parasitology cites a ciliated protozoan, pork tapeworm and trichina,
such a parasite worm, known to cause major diseases that pork transmit to
humans.
For example, the
ciliated protozoan is called by doctors as ‘Balantidium
Coli’. It is a parasite living in the large intestine, and is the largest
protozoan affecting man. In addition to the bacteria, pork is the main carrier
of the following germs and parasites:
1. Tapeworm.
2. Round Worm.
3. Hook Worm.
4. Faciolopsis Buski.
5. Paragonimus.
6. Glonorchis Sinensis.
7. Erisepelothrix
Rhusiopathia.
1. Tapeworm: Pork is a major source
of this infection. The incidence of infection of humans by pork tapeworm varies
across the world.
2. Round worm: This is a parasite about
23 to 26cm long, which is also called ‘traveller’ because it moves in different
organs of the human body and causes a lot of damage.
3. Hook worms: They enter the skin
of man by piercing it or through injury. Pigs eat human excreta containing eggs
of these parasites which are developing in their bodies, giving birth to young worms.
When they come out they infect humans. This contagion is very serious in
various tropical countries.
4. Faciolopsis
Buski: These parasites remain latent for a long period of time in
the small intestine of the pig. Upon leaving the swine/pigs/pork, parasites
infect snails which in turn contaminate humans and this is common in China.
5. Paragonimus:
it is a parasite that lives in the lungs of pigs. This is a common
parasite that causes pneumonia in pigs.
Due to time
constraints, I stop here. May Allah (swt) give me the Tawfiq to continue on the
same subject next week. Insha-Allah.
Ameen.
-Extracts from the Friday Sermon of April 10, 2015 delivered by the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius.