Muslims not eating pork is something everyone knows. But the real reason behind this is something not everyone fully understands. To explain this, we need to go back in time to explore factors from religion, medicine to culture and customs. This story will be more interesting than you think, and the first thing that distinguishes Muslims not eating pork from Indians not eating beef is that they are completely different.

Muslims do not eat pork because pigs are considered unclean animals, while Indians do not eat beef because cows are sacred animals. Unclean and sacred are two completely opposite extremes. The first reason that religion is important is that Islam prohibits eating pork, which is a regulation from the Quran.

In the Quran, the holy book of Muslims, there is a clear prohibition against eating pork. Specifically, in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 173 states, "He has forbidden you to eat dead animals, blood, the flesh of pigs, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah." This is like an unchangeable law; once it is written in the scriptures, Muslims adhere to it without needing further explanation. But why is it pork and not the meat of other animals? This is what is truly interesting. In ancient times, pigs were considered unclean animals; they often lived in filthy environments, eating everything from garbage to even their own feces.

Eating pork in unsanitary conditions led to dangerous diseases, especially thousands of years ago when food preservation technology had not developed. Even today, pigs can still be a source of transmission of dangerous diseases such as tapeworms, E. coli bacteria, or flu viruses. You can imagine if people at that time ate pork without properly cooking it, their bodies could be infected immediately. Therefore, to ensure safety, the prohibition of eating pork can be seen as a public health protection measure.

Jews and Muslims share a common point in prohibiting pork, and both religions originated from the Middle East. This stems from the geographical conditions in these harsh desert lands where raising pigs is almost impossible. Pigs require a lot of water and food, and in the barren desert, instead of raising pigs, people chose to raise more adaptable animals like sheep, goats, or camels. Additionally, with such views, pigs do not contribute to labor production. While sheep provide wool, goats provide milk, and camels can be used for transportation, pigs offer little benefit aside from meat. This led people to be less interested in raising pigs, as it was both costly and did not provide much value. Gradually, pigs were excluded from the community's dietary habits.

Besides health and hygiene issues, in Islamic belief, pigs are considered unclean animals. First of all, what is written in the Quran is indisputable, as mentioned from the beginning. For example, the Quran states that you are forbidden to eat pork because it is unclean, simply put, without needing any complicated reasons. Pigs are classified as dirty, unclean creatures right from the sacred law, and people believe that eating their meat will cause pollution to themselves. This is not only the belief of Muslims but has also spread to other cultures. Ancient Egyptians and Jews also viewed pigs as unclean animals.

Since ancient times, contact with pigs has been considered impure, spiritually making a person unclean in the eyes of God. Once pigs were associated with dirtiness both physically and spiritually, no one wanted to eat their meat anymore. And if you think this is the 21st century, where hygiene and medicine have developed, and eating pork is normal, you are not wrong. Muslims still refrain from eating pork not only because of the regulations in the Quran but also because it is a part of the cultural identity of the religion. Today, pigs may be much safer, but Muslims remain steadfast in their long-held beliefs and traditions.

So besides pork, are there other things that Muslims prohibit eating?

Muslims have some detailed dietary regulations that follow principles called halal, meaning lawful, and haram, meaning forbidden. These prohibitions are not just because of dislike but stem from religious, health, and cultural reasons. To make it easier to understand, let's delve into each one. Besides the previously mentioned pork, animal blood is also prohibited here. Muslims are extremely averse to blood; this blood is not the kind of blood from battles or violence but rather the blood of animals. They believe that blood is the most unclean part of the body, filled with bacteria and diseases. Imagine eating a dish with blood, like steak, for example; Muslims would find this extremely disgusting, and one can only wonder what they would think of our blood pudding.

The scientific reason is quite reasonable; blood contains many waste products and bacteria, so consuming it can easily lead to illness. Therefore, during the slaughtering process according to halal, the blood must be completely drained from the animal. For example, in Muslim meals, you will never see blood pudding because it is a major taboo. Another prohibition is against eating dead animals. Imagine one day walking down the street and seeing a dead chicken lying in the middle of the road; do not think about picking it up for a meal. Muslims strictly prohibit eating the meat of animals that died naturally, died from illness, accidents, or old age. The simple reason is that eating animals that died for unclear reasons can easily cause illness, and no one wants to bring misfortune upon themselves.

There is another reason: slaughtering must be performed by a Muslim and must invoke the name of Allah before slaughtering. This ensures that the animal is slaughtered according to the proper ritual and that its blood is drained completely, indirectly ensuring that the meat is clean and safe. In Muslim countries, you will see that alcohol is very restricted because alcohol and alcoholic beverages are prohibited in Islam. The reason is quite understandable; drinking alcohol leads to a loss of control, causing inappropriate behavior. You cannot drink alcohol and pray at the same time, can you?

In the Quran, Allah has stated that alcohol is an impurity from the work of Satan. This makes it clear that consuming it is falling into the trap of the devil, and thus it is completely forbidden. For example, if you visit a Muslim country like Saudi Arabia, do not expect to find a bar or club openly operating; drinking alcohol is a serious violation of the law. Additionally, it is also prohibited to eat the meat of carnivorous animals such as dogs, cats, tigers, leopards, or birds of prey like eagles and hawks, which is clearly stated in Islamic law. The reason is simple: these animals live by hunting and eating raw meat, and they are also considered unclean. Just hearing about eating dog or cat meat is not acceptable to Muslims, and they would feel extremely repulsed.

For example, in a Muslim country, you will not see dog meat restaurants, bars, or cat meat like in some places. Dog meat is viewed as not only dirty but also inhumane. If an animal is sacrificed to gods other than Allah, its meat is also forbidden to eat. This rule relates to religious beliefs; only Allah is the supreme being, and no other deities are to be worshipped or sacrificed to. If someone slaughters and dedicates it to another god, Muslims will absolutely not touch that meat. Simply put, they do not eat food that has been sacrificed to gods other than Allah, and finally, substances that cause addiction such as drugs, opiates, cannabis, and other stimulants are also prohibited. Of course, the reason is clear: these substances lead to loss of control, addiction, and destruction of both body and mind.

Islam encourages a healthy lifestyle and a clear mind.

Therefore, the use of addictive substances is completely prohibited. In summary, Muslims not only refrain from eating pork but also prohibit eating blood, eating naturally dead animals, eating the meat of predatory animals, drinking alcohol, and using addictive substances. These prohibitions are not only based on religious beliefs but also have foundations for protecting health and maintaining morality and a healthy lifestyle. If you live in a Muslim community, just following these rules is already living healthily and beautifully, not to mention other stories. Thank you for your interest in following this story. Indeed, every religion has its own very interesting regulations; the question is whether we recognize them or not.