Importing pork and all other food products that contain this meat in their manufacture or composition
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Fatwa No. ( 3231 )
Praise be to Allah alone, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger, his family, and his Companions. And after that: The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta has reviewed the question submitted to His Eminence the General President from His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs, and Endowments of the State of the United Arab Emirates , Shaykh Saqr al-Mari, registered under number (K 1193) on 26/8/1400 AH, the text of which is:
In a session of the General Secretariat of Municipalities in the United Arab Emirates held on 22/4/1980 CE, the topic of importing pork and all other food products that contain this meat in their manufacture or composition or its derivatives was raised. The ministry’s initial opinion put forward for discussion in that session was to prohibit this importation entirely, even if the intended beneficiaries were non-Muslims residing within the state. During the discussion, it was seen that no definitive ruling should be issued by the municipalities until consultation is conducted on a broader scale with Islamic figures and entities inside and outside the country, and a religious fatwa is obtained on this matter. The subject was referred to our ministry to make this contact in order to reach the correct religious opinion. These are the questions: A - Is it permissible to import pork into Islamic countries in general ? B - Is it permissible to place pork, its derivatives, and food products that contain it in their composition or manufacture in public establishments, either mixed in or in designated areas? C - Does prohibiting the importation of pork and all its derivatives constitute a restriction on the freedoms of non-Muslims residing in these lands ? D - Is the Arabian Peninsula in this matter like other Islamic countries, or does it have a specific ruling?
And it answered as follows: Allah has encompassed all things with knowledge, and His mercy, wisdom, and justice extend to all things. He, Glorified and Exalted is He, is aware of the interests of His servants, merciful to them, and wise in His creation, management, and legislation. He commanded them with what brings them happiness in this world and the Hereafter, made lawful for them what benefits them from the good things, and prohibited for them what harms them from the bad things. Allah has prohibited eating pork and informed that it is impure. The Exalted said:[Al-An'am 6:145] The verse. Therefore, it is among the bad things. And the Exalted said: [Al-A'raf 7:157] It has been established through observation that its food is filth and impurities, and that these are the most delicious food to it; it pursues them and frequents their places. Those with expertise have mentioned that eating it generates worms in the stomach, and that it has an effect in weakening jealousy and destroying chastity, and that it has other harms, such as difficulty in digestion and preventing some organs from secreting their juices to help digest food. If what they mentioned is true, then it is of
the harm and impurity for which it was prohibited. If it is not true, then the sensible person should trust Allah’s report and His ruling that it is impure, believe in the prohibition of eating it, and submit to Allah’s ruling regarding it, for He, Glorified and Exalted is He, is the One who created it and is more knowledgeable about what He placed in it:[Al-Mulk 67:14] Accordingly, we see the following: First, it is forbidden to import it into Islamic countries in general, and it is forbidden to permit that. Second, it and its derivatives, and everything that enters into its composition from foods, are to be discarded, just as intoxicants are poured out and prohibited items are destroyed. Third, this does not restrict the freedoms of non-Muslims residing in an Islamic country, for among what Allah has made lawful for Muslims in terms of drinks and foods, there is what quenches the thirst of others and fills their bellies. Fourth, the Arabian Peninsula and other Islamic countries are the same in this regard. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Praise be to Allah alone, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger, his family, and his Companions. And after that: The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta has reviewed the question submitted to His Eminence the General President from His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs, and Endowments of the State of the United Arab Emirates , Shaykh Saqr al-Mari, registered under number (K 1193) on 26/8/1400 AH, the text of which is:
In a session of the General Secretariat of Municipalities in the United Arab Emirates held on 22/4/1980 CE, the topic of importing pork and all other food products that contain this meat in their manufacture or composition or its derivatives was raised. The ministry’s initial opinion put forward for discussion in that session was to prohibit this importation entirely, even if the intended beneficiaries were non-Muslims residing within the state. During the discussion, it was seen that no definitive ruling should be issued by the municipalities until consultation is conducted on a broader scale with Islamic figures and entities inside and outside the country, and a religious fatwa is obtained on this matter. The subject was referred to our ministry to make this contact in order to reach the correct religious opinion. These are the questions: A - Is it permissible to import pork into Islamic countries in general ? B - Is it permissible to place pork, its derivatives, and food products that contain it in their composition or manufacture in public establishments, either mixed in or in designated areas? C - Does prohibiting the importation of pork and all its derivatives constitute a restriction on the freedoms of non-Muslims residing in these lands ? D - Is the Arabian Peninsula in this matter like other Islamic countries, or does it have a specific ruling?
And it answered as follows: Allah has encompassed all things with knowledge, and His mercy, wisdom, and justice extend to all things. He, Glorified and Exalted is He, is aware of the interests of His servants, merciful to them, and wise in His creation, management, and legislation. He commanded them with what brings them happiness in this world and the Hereafter, made lawful for them what benefits them from the good things, and prohibited for them what harms them from the bad things. Allah has prohibited eating pork and informed that it is impure. The Exalted said:
Say, "I do not find within that which was revealed to me [anything] forbidden to one who would eat it unless it be a dead animal or blood spilled out or the flesh of swine - for indeed, it is impure - or it be [that slaughtered in] disobedience, dedicated to other than Allah
قُلْ لاَ أَجِدُ فِي مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ مُحَرَّمًا عَلَى طَاعِمٍ يَطْعَمُهُ إِلا أَنْ يَكُونَ مَيْتَةً أَوْ دَمًا مَسْفُوحًا أَوْ لَحْمَ خِنْـزِيرٍ فَإِنَّهُ رِجْسٌ أَوْ فِسْقًا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ بِهِprohibits for them the evil
وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَائِثَthe harm and impurity for which it was prohibited. If it is not true, then the sensible person should trust Allah’s report and His ruling that it is impure, believe in the prohibition of eating it, and submit to Allah’s ruling regarding it, for He, Glorified and Exalted is He, is the One who created it and is more knowledgeable about what He placed in it:
Does He who created not know, while He is the Subtle, the Acquainted?
أَلا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.