Why pigs and alcohol are forbidden in Islam, many ask about the reasoning behind some major dietary rules, with cultural context. In this article, we will provide you with the answer, supported by evidence from the Qur’an and Hadith.
The reasoning behind why pigs and alcohol are forbidden in Islam
Pigs and Alcohol impair judgment, lead to harmful behaviour, and are impure, as clearly stated in the Qur’an and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH. Among the most well-known prohibitions are the consumption of pork and alcohol. Muslims across the world avoid these substances not only out of religious obligation but also due to the wisdom found in Islamic teachings.
Why is pork haram in Islam?
The ban on pork stands as one of the most explicit dietary rules in Islam. The Qur’an addresses the reason for its prohibition clearly across several verses.
1- The Qur’an states:
(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:173):
“He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah.”
This directive is also in Surah Al-An’am 6:145, Surah An-Nahl 16:115, and additional passages. Pork is unclean (rijs) and detrimental to both body and spirit. Thus, when Muslims ask “Why is pork haram?”, the answer lies in its impurity, confirmed both by divine revelation and modern science, which links pork to various diseases like trichinosis and parasitic infections.
2- The Hadith also reinforces this. The Prophet Muhammad PBUH said:
“Allah has cursed the one who eats the flesh of swine.”
(Ibn Majah)
Why is alcohol haram in Islam? Why pigs and alcohol are forbidden in Islam
There is clear evidence in the Quran and Hadith as follows:
1- The Quran
(Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:90):
“O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, sacrificing on stone alters, and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.”
2- The Prophet Mohammad PBUH warned:
“Whatever intoxicates in large quantities, a small quantity of it is also forbidden.”
(Abu Dawood)
Modern medicine also supports this, linking alcohol to liver disease, addiction, and impaired decision-making, aligning with the Islamic principle of preserving life and health.
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In conclusion, the prohibitions of pork and alcohol are not merely religious rituals, but are based on principles of purity, health, and spiritual consciousness. By avoiding these substances, Muslims uphold a lifestyle that aligns with both faith and well-being.
FAQs
Because they have harmful physical and spiritual effects, as prohibited in the Qur’an and Hadith, to protect health and morality.
The Qur’an forbids eating pork in many verses, like Surah Al-Baqarah (2:173): “He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine.”