" The pig also because it is a splitter of the
           hoof but there is no cud. It is unclean for
           you. None of their flesh must you eat and carcass
           you must not touch. "
                                Deuteronomy 14:8 ( Bible)

BIBLICAL ASPECT OF THE PROHIBITION

Old Testament

     The Jews and the different christian sects and denominations
believe  in the Old Testament. Adherents   of   other   religions
alleged that the  prohibition  was already superseded by the New
Testament.This  cogent argumentation is inconclusive. No one  can
specifically  point  out  that Jesus  Christ  (PBUH)  lifted  the
prohibition. On the contrary, he upheld it  he declared:


          " Think not that I have come to abolish the law
           and  the prophets: I have come not to abolish
           them but to fulfill them."  (Matthew 5:17 RSV)

     Jesus Christ (PBUH) was obviously referring to the  existing
Law of his time , the Mosaic Law !- in which the Law  prohibiting
pig as article of food is mentioned. ( Leviticus 11:7-11)

        " As for any beast that is a splitter of the hoof
          but is not a former of the cleft and not a chewer
          of the cud, they are unclean for you. Everyone
          touching them will be unclean. "
                                    Leviticus 11:26


      In addition, the book of Prophet Isaiah said:

          " Who sit in tombs, and spend the night in secret
           places  who  eats  swine's  flesh  and broth of 
           abominable things is in their vessels;,  These
           are a smoke  in  my  nostrils,a fire that burns
           all the day. "  ( Isaiah 65:4,5b  RSV)


The New Testament
        Despite the Biblical injunction prohibiting pork as food,
still  people  of other religious persuations insist  on  finding
ways  and  reasons  to justify their  consumption  of  prohibited
animals  arguing  that  said  Biblical  prohibition  was  already
superseded  in  the New Testament when in  certainly, no  one  can
specifically point out that Jesus Christ (PBUH) indeed lifted the
prohibition. On the contrary, Jesus (PBUH) declared:

          " Think not that I have come to abolish the law
            and the prophets. I have come not to abolish but
            to fulfill them. " ( Matthew 5:17 )

      The  fact is, we will find in Mark 5:1-20 that Jesus  (PBUH)
even  permitted the foul spirits (evil spirits) possessing a  man
to  enter  into  the herb of swine. Since the  flesh  of  pig  is
unlawful  for  the  Jews, to  eat  and  since  it  is   considered
unclean, (Leviticus 11:7- consequently, the Jews are not to  keep
or  raise  them. This Biblical account states that  Jesus  (PBUH)
punished  the  owners  of  the  swine;destroyed  their   unlawful
livelihood and at the same time showed that pig is the habitat of
unclean spirits.
       The  only provision in the New Testament alluded to  their
argument   is  in  Act  10:10-16.  Without  reading   the   whole
context, one  would be inclined to interpret it to mean  that  God
abrogated  His  previous command found on  Deuteronomy  14:3-8. An
alleged  apparition  of Peter on Acts 10:11-16  is  alleged  to
supersede  Deuteronomy 14:3-8, however, nowhere in the Bible  is  it
mentioned  that  Peter actually slaughtered and ate  the  unclean
animals  he saw in his apparition. The correct interpretation  of
this apparition was shown to him in Acts 10:25-28. Acts  10:11-16
therefore, carries   an   allegorical    connotation,r eferring
explicitly  to the Gentile nations or non-Jewish  nations.  Peter
was  told  not to call the Gentiles common  and  unclean  because
God's  mercy, blessing and forgiveness also encompasses  the  Non
Jews and life eternal also awaits the penitent.
      In  the  Bible, Jesus(PBUH) likened to a dog and  pig  those
people whom after receiving divine teaching failed to profit from
them and abuses them for self-serving purposes:

         " Do not give holy to dogs- they will only turn and
           attack you. Do not throw your pearls in front  of
           pigs-they will only trample them underfoot. "
                             ( Matthew 7:6 NEB)


The New Heavens And The New Earth

      The  book  of   Isaiah   66:1-24, is an  oracle  of  the  new
heavens  and  the  new earth  prepared  for the believers. Within 
the context, God condemns  people's practices such as eating   the
flesh of  pigs, reptiles, and rats.

             " Those who sanctify and purify themselves
              to go into the gardens, following one in
              the midst, eating  swine's flesh and the
              abomination  and  mice, shall come to an
              end together says the LORD. "
                                 (Isaiah 67:17 RSV)

      Therefore, the  prohibition    on  the  eating  of   unclean
animals  was  not  abrogated  during t he New Testament times.God
will  still  punish the transgressors in the fire that will never
quench. This will occur during the new heavens and the new earth.

DISEASES CAUSED BY PORK

    The  following lists show germs or parasites that are  found
in   pork  and      some  diseases caused by them. Many of these 
diseases  are contagious while some are proven fatal.This proves
that the more  science  advances the more Islam is shown correct
as a religion of God.

PARASITIC DISEASES

   a)  TRICHINELLA  SPIRATIS  ( Trichina worms )
       It is the most dangerous parasite to man ( Rheumatism and
muscular  pain). The infected persons shown no symptoms, recover
very slowly some die, some  reduced to permanent invalids. No one
is immune from this disease and there is no cure.

   b)  TAENIA SOLIUM  ( Pork tape worm )
        The  worm  causes malnourishment of the person  leading
to  anemia, diarrhea, extreme  depression  melancholia    and
digestive disturbances.  Cysticercosis  means that larva enter 
the  blood  stream then settle down in one or more of the vital
organs of the  body,  for  example: brain, liver, lungs or spinal
cord.  They  grow  and   encapsulate, inducing  pressure to the
system around, resulting  in  dangerous  diseases    (diarrhea,
digestive disorder, anemia, chronic invalidation).

   c)  ROUND WORMS
           Examples: Ascaris, which   may  lead   to   digestive
                disturbances, appendicitis, obstructive jaundice.

   d)  HOOK WORMS
           Examples:Ancylostomiasis,  which   may    lead    to
                 anemia, oedema, heart   failure   or retarded
                 growth  ( mental  and  physical), tuberculosis,
                 diarrhea and typhoid.

   e)  SCHITOSOMA JAPONICUM
                 Bleeding, anemia  and  other  syndromes.  If ova
           are  settled in  the  brain  or spinal  cord, paralysis
           and death may occur.

   f)  PARAGOMINES WESTERMAINI
           Infestation  leading  to  bleeding   of   the    lungs
           ( endenve haemoptysis)

   g)  PACIOLEPSIS BUSKI
            Digestive   disturbances    leading   to   persistent
            diarrhea; generalized oedema.

   h)  CLONORCHIS SINENSIS
          chlonorchiasis-obstructive jaundice, liver enlargement.

   i)  METASTRONGYLUS APRI
          Causes bronchitis, abscess of the lungs.

   j)  GIGANTHORINCHUS GIGAS
          Cause   anemia and digestive disorders.

   k)  BALATITIDIUM COLI
            Causes acute dysentery and general weakness.

BACTERIAL DISEASES

      1. Tuberculosis
      2. Fusiformis necrofurus: causing foot-rot which  is  very
         difficult to heal.
      3. Salmonella Cholera suis: causing cholera
      4. Paratyphoid
      5. Bruceellosis: Acute, sub acute and chronic. It may  lead
         to permanent disabilities.
      6. Swine Erysipelas: causing Erypelas in man.
 
Viral Diseases
      1. Small pox: is was a source of infection to man.
      2. Japanese B-encepphalitis: It is the source of infection
      3. Influenza, foot mouth disease, gas tro-enteritis of  the
         new born babies.

Protozoal   Diseases  :  Toxo  plasma  goundii-  It is a very
dangerous diseases.A new born baby of an infected woman may die 
within  few  days  or weeks after delivery. But if he  survives 
he may develop blindness or deafness.In adult chronic exhaustive 
fever with enlarged liver and spleen may occur. Pneumonia,    or 
celebro- spinal meninggitis which may lead to death or  madness. 
The patient may become blind and deaf too.

Fats  In  Pigs:
Pork contains more fats than  other  meats.
Therefore, people  who  are  fond  of  pork are more obese  than
others.  Cholesterol  is higher  in their blood thus making them
more  prone  to  asthereosclerosis  cardiovascular accidents and 
sudden  death.

Other Diseases : 
Flesh of the pork  is hard to digest and may
lead  to chronic  digestive disturbances. Pimples, boils, cysts are
common  in   pork   eaters. These are some of the  parasites  and 
diseases  found   in  pork and/ or the skin of pigs and certainly 
there  are  many  more.  There is still no means of killing these
parasites, in  the  tissues, neither has anyone found a method of
expelling  them,  even   produced  any specific treatment for the
diseases.