Why do Muslims and Jews both avoid pork?

What the Torah says

The Hebrew Bible lists which animals may be eaten. Land animals must both have split hooves and chew the cud. The pig has split hooves but doesn't chew the cud, so Leviticus 11:7-8 and Deuteronomy 14:8 call it unclean and forbid eating its meat. This is part of kashrut, the Jewish dietary laws that decide what is kosher.

What the Quran says

The Quran repeats the ban clearly, alongside a few other forbidden foods:

Another verse describes pork as "impure" (Quran 6:145). Muslims see the shared rule as a sign that both revelations come from the same source. Islam presents itself as continuing the message of Abraham and Moses, so it's natural that some laws match. See Can I become Muslim if I'm Jewish?

Halal and kosher: similar, not identical

• Shared: no pork, no blood, and animals slaughtered by a trained person with a sharp knife so the blood drains out.
• Stricter in kosher law: camel and rabbit aren't kosher, most seafood like shrimp and lobster isn't kosher, and meat and dairy must be kept apart.
• Stricter in Islam: alcohol, including wine, is forbidden, while kosher wine is part of Jewish rituals. Islam also requires God's name to be mentioned at slaughter in a specific way.
• Seafood: most Muslim scholars allow all seafood, while the Hanafi school generally limits it to fish.

Because the Quran says "the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you" (Quran 5:5), many scholars allow Muslims to eat kosher meat, while others prefer halal-certified meat. If you have Jewish family, this often comes up at holidays. See Can I celebrate Hanukkah with my Jewish family as a Muslim?

Why most Christians eat pork

Most Christians believe the Old Testament food laws no longer apply to them, often pointing to passages such as Mark 7:19 and Acts 10. Some Christian groups still avoid pork, though, including Seventh-day Adventists and many Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Christians.

For converts, the pork rule is often one of the first practical changes, at home and at work. See Can I keep working at a restaurant that serves pork as a Muslim?