Q 3: What is the wisdom behind prohibiting the flesh of swine?

A: Allah's knowledge encompasses all things and His mercy, wisdom and justice embrace all things. Allah (Glorified be He) knows best what benefits His servants. He shows them mercy. He conducts all His affairs with wisdom. He commands His servants to do what brings felicity to them in this life and the life to come. He makes lawful all good things which benefit them and makes unlawful to them all harmful things. Allah has declared the flesh of swine as prohibited and stated that its flesh is impure. Allah (Exalted be He) states: Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "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) meat (of an animal) which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allâh (or has been slaughtered for idols, or on which Allâh’s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering). Allah (Exalted be He) also states: ...and prohibits them as unlawful Al-Khabâ’ith (i.e. all evil and unlawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons and foods) Factual evidence has proved that pigs feed on dirt and impure things which they eat avariciously. Medical experts state that worms are formed in the abdomen of eaters of the flesh of swine. It also weakens the human sense of honor and destroys chastity. Other harmful effects include indigestion and the inability to secrete (Part No. 22; Page No. 275) digestive juices. If their findings are proven true, then the flesh of swine is as an evil and impure matter. But if their findings are proven false, one of sound mind must still trust in Allah's statement in the Qur'an which judges swine as impure. One must also believe in the prohibition of eating its flesh and submit entirely to Allah's judgment. It is Allah (Glorified be He) Who created it and He alone knows best its inherent harm. Should not He Who has created know? And He is the Most Kind and Courteous (to His slaves), All-Aware (of everything). May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.