Bird's meat vs. Pig's meat
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Peace be upon you AMS,
What is so difficult about the following muhkamaat (literal) verse
Prohibited for you are animals that die of themselves, blood, the meat of pigs, and animals dedicated to other than GOD.
We cannot consume
(1)carrion
(2)blood
(3)pig
(4)an animal dedicated to other than GODIdolfree1,
Why are items 1,2, and 4 taken as LITERAL, while 3 is deemed SYMBOLIC? Quran says a verse either LITERAL or ALLEGORICAL, but not BOTH (37).Correct, and I take the WHOLE VERSE as allegorical, I have not gained the understanidng of the other items of that list, but if you reflect on that list, how do you eat ANY meat without consuming some blood? And how do you know what a food had been "dedicated to" before it gets to you?
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Peace Idolfree1,
Correct, and I take the WHOLE VERSE as allegorical
Oh okay. I was mistaken, sorry.how do you eat ANY meat without consuming some blood
You're right. Quran has many verses about food prohibitions (2173, 51, 6118, etc.). But, the definitive verse on food is 6145. It is "definitive" due to its wording, "I do not find in the revelations given to me any food that is prohibited for any eater except". Thus, ONLY running/liquid blood is prohibited.And how do you know what a food had been "dedicated to" before it gets to you?
I pose a parralel to this question. 609 prohibits befriending people who fight you because of faith. It also forbids friendship with those that support the fighters. To parralel your question, how do you know if a person you wish to befriend supports the fighters?My point is that you are not punished for what you do unwillingly or unknowingly.
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Peace,
Unfortunately I accidently ate pork's meat today. I thought I was ordering just fried rice because the menu did not say pork was included in it...I feel awful reading this now. ?
I won't be eating Chinese every in my life now...bad bad experience.
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As'Salaam GreenLeaves,
Sorry to hear about your experience. I learned that you have to be very careful when eating out of your house. Some Chinese people do not even consider pork meat. I ordered Ma Po bean curd once and specifically asked the person taking the order if there was meat in it, she said, "No". When she brought it to me and I saw the pork in it I said, "I thought you said this had no meat in it", and she looked at me and said, "that's not meat, that's pork". lol Also, many Spanish restaurants put pork in just about every thing they cook, because they use it as a basic seasoning.
I make it a practice to basically eat meatless dishes if I am eating outside of my house. It may be a bit paranoid, but I feel safer that way.
Ma'Salaam,
Olu'sanya -
Peace,
I make it a practice to basically eat meatless dishes if I am eating outside of my house. It may be a bit paranoid, but I feel safer that way.
That's good advice and God Willing I'll do just that (except at Subway). The guy I spoke with on the telephone was Chinese and I could barely understand what he was saying and I am sure he did not understand me either as he just kept telling me what number (from the menu).
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Also, many Spanish restaurants put pork in just about every thing they cook, because they use it as a basic seasoning.
Peace Osunlaya,
Pork is very common here, not exactly to season, but yes, it is added to many dishes. You can imagime what means here to be vegetarian or moving to vegetarianism... -
Salaam Green Leaves,
I feel so bad for the experience you went through. Ask Allah to erase the experience from your mind yet keep the lesson alive!
But really, it is not just the pork. Think of the lard! It is widely used in non-Muslim countries in America, Europe and the Far East, etc. used even with vegetarian dishes! So it is still not safe to eat outside home 'cause one never knows!
Taj
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Also, many Spanish restaurants put pork in just about every thing they cook, because they use it as a basic seasoning.
Peace Osunlaya,
Pork is very common here, not exactly to season, but yes, it is added to many dishes. You can imagime what means here to be vegetarian or moving to vegetarianism...As'Salaam Alaykum Elena,
I can imagine your difficulty!
I have embarrassed friends when we have gone out to eat because they were uncomfortable with my interrogation lol of the waiters and waitresses. As Taj pointed out it is hard to be sure when you eat "out of your home". I put restaurants through the third degree about how they prepare food and what they are using when they cook, but since I'm paying for it I think I have the right to know.
In my experience, if the restaurant is a good one, then once you express to them your dietary requirements they will accomodate you.
What part of Spain are you in?
Ma'Salaam,
Olu'sanya -
Peace everyone,
Thanks for your uplifting comments...I really felt awful after I called the restaurant only to find out I had just had pork for lunch! Yuck!
But really, it is not just the pork. Think of the lard! It is widely used in non-Muslim countries in America, Europe and the Far East, etc. used even with vegetarian dishes! So it is still not safe to eat outside home 'cause one never knows!
I agree Taj, Elena and Olysana (I hope I spelled it right)...you know, not only is eating outside risky in terms of pork and what not, its not healthy at all either. Before starting college, I used to eat food prepared by my mum and then when I lived at school, I had no choice but to eat outside because I can't cook ops
In just six months, I ended up gaining tweleve extra pounds...it took me three months of intense dieting and exercise to loose those extra pounds and get back in shape.
Yes, my new year's resolution will be to get healthy by not eating outside - except at Subway ) God Willing
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Peace,
have any of you seen this funny flash intended to denounce factory farming? Humor to report bad things.
'Moorpheous' contacts 'Leo'....
www.themeatrix.com -
Salaam Elena,
Humer with cause! A very good one!
But even farm-raised fish such as salmon has been shown to contain many pollutants, some of which are industrial chemicals that have been banned since the seventies yet still found in those fish and been linked to cancer!Taj
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Peace all,
Yes, the mayo is a problem, but you can ask them to not include any.
And Star Bucks...I won't even get started on that...did you know some of those Star Bucks mocha's and lates have enough calories and fat to qualify as a meal? And McDonald's is plain old awful. There's this new restaurant that just opened where I live and its called Pita Inn, they've got Mid-Eastern food and its really good, but I think they do a little too many beef/lamb dishes, but their chicken is really good.
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Peace be upon you Green Leaves,
Unfortunately I accidently ate pork's meat today. I thought I was ordering just fried rice because the menu did not say pork was included in it...I feel awful reading this now.
I won't be eating Chinese every in my life now...bad bad experience.
Sorry about your experience, it was probably worse once you found out what you had eaten. The MIND is very powerful behind BELIEFS. This is why scientist use an experiment called teh DOUBLE BLIND experiment. They give a pill to one of two people, neither of which knows who really has the true pill. The REASON is that the scientists KNOW how the MIND can effect the outcome. MIND over MATTER
So what I am saying is that whild PIGs MEAT is bad for us, it was probably worse when you found out what it was.
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Salam taj, all
just now came across your post on lard. As for as I know, lard can be either only fat, or sometimes comes with a little meat in it. What coran specifically forbids is pigs meat "lahmalkhanzir" not pigs fat. Pigs fat is quite widely used and most times we don't even know about it...but I repeat, what is prohibited, if we take it literally, is the meat - may be because a sickness caused through a worm "trichinella spiralis" is propagated if you eat pork meat that was not cooked enough. Even though this sickness can also be propagated by other animals eaten...porc is the most common vector.
Elke
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Peace,
So what I am saying is that whild PIGs MEAT is bad for us, it was probably worse when you found out what it was. Very Happy
I know, I did feel awful and what was even more awful was that I never had pig's meat in my life and I if something new touches my taste buds and I am expecting a chicken flavor...my mind tells me this isn't chicken, but I guess was very hungry and I just kept eating...I was thinking if it had pork in it, the menus would say so...if anything I thought that was chicken meat because the main thing I ordered was chicken.
Just because I did not investigate before, I promised I won't be eating any kind of meat for a month - that's my punishment and it ought to serve me right evil
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Salaam Elke,
Salam taj, all
just now came across your post on lard. As for as I know, lard can be either only fat, or sometimes comes with a little meat in it. What coran specifically forbids is pigs meat "lahmalkhanzir" not pigs fat. Pigs fat is quite widely used and most times we don't even know about it...but I repeat, what is prohibited, if we take it literally, is the meat - may be because a sickness caused through a worm "trichinella spiralis" is propagated if you eat pork meat that was not cooked enough. Even though this sickness can also be propagated by other animals eaten...porc is the most common vector.
Elke
Lard is a by-product. No one would raise pigs for their lard and then discard their meat!
Taj
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Peace all,
The God specify the restriction, when He forbade for the Jews the fat of the cattle and the sheep except what is attached to the back, or entrails, or mixed with bone (6146), that doesn't imply their meat are forbidden. In the same way, only the meat from the pig is forbidden.
The God knows best
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Peace Idolfree
I believe that every lesson is symbolic and not always literal, while others are both -literal and symbolic. As of now i believe that the verses which forbid the pig (not the whole, rather the meat and blood) are speaking litterally, because if we associate the pig with being a greed/earth food for thought ideal then it would not make sense for God to state 'Whoever finds himself forced out of need and without disobedience or animosity, then there is no sin upon him. God is Forgiving, Merciful.' (2173) When in need is when desires for self (greed) are conjured up the strongest, this would be the opposite of overcoming our desires (599) if we ingest an earthly/greedy mindset.
However, I could be overlooking something that you see because the knowledge of an animal being dedicated to other than God is conjecture, unless you are to do it your self and how exactly do you dedicate an animal to God-surely not with mere words when actions speak.
I think the symbolism may be getting clearer, I don't ever remember seeing this verse before.
(5621) And bird's meat from what they desire
The above verse is describing one of the gifts of the eternal garden.
It is interesting that we are toldnot to eat "pigs meat" and the opposite is that in the Garden we wil get "bird's meat".
Your mentioning of birds brought these verse's to my attention, interesting?
So do not linger with your eyes on what We have bestowed upon some couples from them, and do not grieve for them, and lower your wing for the believers.(158
A case of you are what you eat?
O Children of Adam, We have sent down for you garments to cover your wickedness, as well as feathers; and the garment of righteousness is the best. That is from God?s signs, perhaps they will remember. (726)
The pig is an animal that conjures up the EARTHLY/GREEDY mentality. They eat everything, they wallow in mud and feces, very earth based creatures(life of this world). In contrast, the bird is not "earth bound", but shows a good balance of "heaven and earth" (please excuse the use of the word heaven in this example). When things get difficult on the ground, when conditions are not right, the bird seeks refuge by going into the skies(skies represent the mind). Just like the symbolismof our journey to the God is climbing a mountain in the skies.
I agree, the pig (or how I've seen it depicted) appears to over indulge, while the bird seemingly takes the middle path, peace.
Regarding the sky as the mind, then would the sun be God/spirit (symobllically) and the earth be the projections of what the sky does with the light from God. Just a thought.
Now look at this verse that links birds and mountains.
(2260) And when Abraham said "My Lord, show me how you revive the deads." He said "Did you not have faith?" he said "Yes/certainly, and but (for) my heart to (be) assured/secure (E)." He (Abraham) said "So take four from the birds, train them, then put on every mountain from them a portion, then call them, they come (to) you fast , and know that The God is glorious/mighty/powerful/dignified, wise/judicious."
Interesting to note is that four is often associated with the earth. Such as four corners, four seasons and even four restricted months (936) I will need to reflect to assemble these peices however.
There is a common phrase used by people when they don't belive something will happen, they say "when pig's fly" wink
Interesting.
pz