Why having a pet pig is not haram: Must read article
C J. Ahmed-07.03.2023
Having a pet pig is like having a pet cat and it is not haram to have a pet pig in Islam. A pet pig is similar to all the other animals and what is forbidden is to only eat its flesh. Allah (Swt) says in the Quran,
“Say (O Muhammad (Sal): “I find not in that which has been revealed to me anything forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be Maytah (a dead animal) or blood poured forth (by slaughtering or the like), or the flesh of swine (pork); for that surely, is impure” (6: 145)
"He hath only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that on which any other name hath been invoked besides that of Allah. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,- then is he guiltless. For Allah is Oft-forgiving Most Merciful." (Al-Quran 2:178)
He has only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and any (food) over which the name of other than Allah has been invoked. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits, then Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
(Al Quran-16:115)
Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah
(Al Quran-5:3)
The above verses in the Quran only mention the prohibition of eating the flesh of pigs which is known as pork and there is no evidence from the Quran or authentic Sunnah of the prophet (sal) prohibiting having pigs as pets. Some try to argue that the flesh of a pig is filthy and touching them is forbidden. This kind of analogy has no basis in Islam. There is a huge difference between eating an animal which is forbidden and keeping it has a pet. Take the domestic cat for an instance, eating a cat is haram because of its predatory nature but keeping it as a pet is not at all haram.
“The prophet (Sal) forbidding the eating of all beast of prey with fangs"
(Sahih Muslim)
Abu Hurayrah (Rali) narrated,
“The prophet (Sal) as saying, "The eating of all fanged beasts of prey is unlawful"
(Sahih Muslim)
Animals such as cats or lions are forbidden to be eaten but touching has never been forbidden in Islam and Muslims will not make a fuss in touching or petting lions, tigers or cats but due to extreme brainwashing and regimentation since childhood has made Most Muslims think that touching pigs is haram. Based on the proofs from the Quran and the authentic hadiths, it is clear that touching pigs is not haram I n Islam because Islam is silent on this issue and silence is from the mercy of Allah.
The prophet (sal) said:
"The Prophet (sal) said, “Verily Allah has obligated the obligations – so do not neglect them. And He has limited the limits – so do not transgress them. And His silence about things is from His mercy, not forgetfulness, so do not investigate them.”
(Hasan sahih-Ad-Darqutni No. 4/199 and Al-Baihaqi No. 10/122 a nd also graded Sahih by Sheikh Albani)
There is also evidence to prove that the grandsons of the prophet (sal), Hasan and Hussain (rali) used to keep pet dogs as mentioned in an authentic hadith in Tirmidhi and if pigs or dogs were filthy as generally believed by Muslims, the prophet (sal) would have forbidden from touching them. The mistake n belief among Muslims that pigs are unclean is taken from the bible which says,
“Of their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch; they are unclean to you.”(
And don't eat pork, since pigs h;8)ave divided hoofs, but they do not chew their cud. Don't even touch a dead pig! (Deuteronomy-10:8)
“And the swine, because it divides the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud; it is unclean to you.”(Leviticus 11:7)
And further in the Bible it is even forbidden to touching a dead pig stating,
“And by [contact with] these you shall become unclean; whoever touches the carcass of them shall be unclean until the evening,” (Leviticus-11:24)
There is no doubt that having a pig as a pet is not haram in Islam
Having a pet pig is like having a pet cat and it is not haram to have a pet pig in Islam. A pet pig is similar to all the other animals and what is forbidden is to only eat its flesh. Allah (Swt) says in the Quran,
“Say (O Muhammad (Sal): “I find not in that which has been revealed to me anything forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be Maytah (a dead animal) or blood poured forth (by slaughtering or the like), or the flesh of swine (pork); for that surely, is impure” (6: 145)
"He hath only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that on which any other name hath been invoked besides that of Allah. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,- then is he guiltless. For Allah is Oft-forgiving Most Merciful." (Al-Quran 2:178)
He has only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and any (food) over which the name of other than Allah has been invoked. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits, then Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
(Al Quran-16:115)
Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah
(Al Quran-5:3)
The above verses in the Quran only mention the prohibition of eating the flesh of pigs which is known as pork and there is no evidence from the Quran or authentic Sunnah of the prophet (sal) prohibiting having pigs as pets. Some try to argue that the flesh of a pig is filthy and touching them is forbidden. This kind of analogy has no basis in Islam. There is a huge difference between eating an animal which is forbidden and keeping it has a pet. Take the domestic cat for an instance, eating a cat is haram because of its predatory nature but keeping it as a pet is not at all haram.
“The prophet (Sal) forbidding the eating of all beast of prey with fangs"
(Sahih Muslim)
Abu Hurayrah (Rali) narrated,
“The prophet (Sal) as saying, "The eating of all fanged beasts of prey is unlawful"
(Sahih Muslim)
Animals such as cats or lions are forbidden to be eaten but touching has never been forbidden in Islam and Muslims will not make a fuss in touching or petting lions, tigers or cats but due to extreme brainwashing and regimentation since childhood has made Most Muslims think that touching pigs is haram. Based on the proofs from the Quran and the authentic hadiths, it is clear that touching pigs is not haram I n Islam because Islam is silent on this issue and silence is from the mercy of Allah.
The prophet (sal) said:
"The Prophet (sal) said, “Verily Allah has obligated the obligations – so do not neglect them. And He has limited the limits – so do not transgress them. And His silence about things is from His mercy, not forgetfulness, so do not investigate them.”
(Hasan sahih-Ad-Darqutni No. 4/199 and Al-Baihaqi No. 10/122 a nd also graded Sahih by Sheikh Albani)
There is also evidence to prove that the grandsons of the prophet (sal), Hasan and Hussain (rali) used to keep pet dogs as mentioned in an authentic hadith in Tirmidhi and if pigs or dogs were filthy as generally believed by Muslims, the prophet (sal) would have forbidden from touching them. The mistake n belief among Muslims that pigs are unclean is taken from the bible which says,
“Of their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch; they are unclean to you.”(
And don't eat pork, since pigs h;8)ave divided hoofs, but they do not chew their cud. Don't even touch a dead pig! (Deuteronomy-10:8)
“And the swine, because it divides the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud; it is unclean to you.”(Leviticus 11:7)
And further in the Bible it is even forbidden to touching a dead pig stating,
“And by [contact with] these you shall become unclean; whoever touches the carcass of them shall be unclean until the evening,” (Leviticus-11:24)
There is no doubt that having a pig as a pet is not haram in Islam