Why can't Muslims eat pig/Ham?

Why can't Muslims eat pig/Ham?

In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.

Dear Brother,

I pray this message reaches you in good health and sound iman.

To answer your question, let's return to the issue of being Muslim and what it entails for the person who wholeheartedly enters into Islam.

To be a Muslim means that one sublimates one's desires, wants, and preferences so that they are in accord with the Sacred Law of Islam. Our Sacred Law is derived from several primary sources, the first, and foremost, of which is the Qur'an. The next source of guidance is the Sunna, or living tradition of Prophet Muhammad, the Beautiful Exemplar, Allah bless him and give him peace. After that, an important source of Sacred Law is the consensus of the Muslim scholars, who have devoted their lives to the study and interpretation of the Qur'an and Sunna. For Sunni Muslims, this scholarly production has been codified in the four schools of law: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali.

The Qur'an, which is a comprehensive framework of guidance for humanity, makes it very clear that consuming anything derived from the pig is impermissible.

Allah Most High says,

"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-Baqara, 2:173).
We also know from the Sunna of the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, that it is unlawful to consume swine. This is in keeping with the tradition of previous prophets, such as Moses and Jesus, peace be upon them both.

In a report narrated by, Ibn 'Abbas:

When the Prophet came to Medina, he found (the Jews) fasting on the day of 'Ashura' (i.e. 10th of Muharram). They used to say: "This is a great day on which Allah saved Moses and drowned the folk of Pharaoh. Moses observed the fast on this day, as a sign of gratitude to Allah." The Prophet said, "I am closer to Moses than they." So, he observed the fast (on that day) and ordered the Muslims to fast on it" (Bukhari).

This hadith is an indication that Prophet Muhammad, Allah bless him and give him peace, was the heir of a long tradition of Prophetic practices. Chief among the etiquette, or adab, of the prophets, was to consume only the lawful and pure. Swine was considered unlawful and impure by all the prophets. We also know that Prophet Muhammad was the Seal of the Prophets, and his tradition supercedes all other traditions. Therefore, in keeping with the practice of our Beloved Messenger, we eschew swine and anything derived from that animal.

It is also worth noting that the scholarly community among the Muslims has always been in agreement that pig or swine is prohibited to use or consume. This prohibition has never posed a problem for Muslim communities, no matter where they have lived.

In addition to the immense spiritual benefits that derive from observing Sacred Law, there are also health benefits that arise from leaving swine, pig, and pork products.

Ultimately, though, our reason for leaving pig, swine, and pork products is simple.

Allah Ta'ala tells us,

"Pay heed, then, unto God, and pay heed unto the Apostle; and if you turn away, [know that] Our Apostle's only duty is a clear delivery of this message" (At-Taghabun, 64:12).

As Muslims, we don't apologize for having our own way of life and our own values. Ours is a pure way of life that  brings out the best potential of human beings. Whether it is the way we worship, the way we approach social relations, or our patterns of consumption...all should help to bring us in accord with the guidance offered to us in the Qur'an and the Sunna.

And Allah knows best.