Muslims touching pork
17-6-2004 | IslamWeb
Question:
Is a Muslim allowed to touch pork/ Ham?
A Muslim inmate was told that he had to work in the Kitchen in the Jail and he refused because he will touch pork during the job. So he was punished because he refused the orders and was put in a restricted house unit in the Jail for 1 month. The jail send us a letter asking for the religious fatwa about the subject and if it is true that Muslims are not allowed to touch pork?
Answer:
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
Scholars of Islam (Ulamah) state that touching impurities directly is unlawful except for a necessity. No doubt that pork is impure. Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): Say (O Muhammad SAW): "I find not in that which has been inspired to me anything forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be Maytatah (a dead animal) or blood poured forth (by slaughtering or the like), or the flesh of swine (pork, etc.) 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, etc., or on which Allâh's Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering). But whosoever is forced by necessity without willful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits, (for him) certainly, your Lord is OftForgiving, Most Merciful."(6:145)
So, it is forbidden for this inmate to touch pork or cook it.
Allah knows best.