One of the most absurd hypocrisies I’ve observed from my former faith, Islam, is how many Muslims freely indulge in alcohol, drugs, and fornication—yet they adamantly refuse to eat pork as if that’s the ultimate sin. This selective morality, where certain prohibitions are ignored while others are rigidly upheld, exposes the contradictions within Islamic teachings and cultural enforcement of religious laws.
The Islamic Ban on Pork: A Selective Obedience
Islam strictly forbids the consumption of pork, citing its impurity in the Quran:
“He has forbidden you only the Maytah (dead animals), and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for other than Allah.” (Quran 2:173)
Muslims adhere to this rule with near-universal consistency, treating the act of eating pork as an abomination. However, many of these same individuals have no issue violating other serious Islamic prohibitions, such as drinking alcohol and engaging in premarital sex, both of which are explicitly condemned in the Quran and Hadith. The Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said:
“Alcohol is the mother of all evils.” (Sunan Ibn Majah 3371)
Yet, despite this strong prohibition, alcohol consumption among Muslims is widespread. A study conducted by the Pew Research Center found that alcohol consumption among Muslims varies by region, with significant percentages in countries like Turkey, Lebanon, and even Saudi Arabia engaging in drinking despite Islamic law prohibiting it (Pew Research, 2013).
The Double Standard of Sin
Why is it that many Muslims who engage in drinking, drug use, and fornication still refuse to eat pork? The answer lies not in religious sincerity, but in cultural conditioning and selective adherence to Islamic rules.
Many Muslim societies place greater social stigma on certain outward acts, like eating pork, while quietly tolerating others, like illicit relationships and substance abuse. This phenomenon aligns with the concept of cultural hypocrisy, where societal pressures dictate which religious rules are followed and which are ignored.
A clear example of this contradiction is found in the Muslim communities of the West. Many young Muslims openly engage in Western social norms, dating and partying, yet still recoil at the thought of consuming bacon. Their faith is not guiding their morality; rather, they are following arbitrary taboos instilled through tradition rather than scripture.
The Misguided Focus on External Purity
Islamic teachings emphasize external purity in diet and appearance while often neglecting internal moral integrity. Many Muslims believe that abstaining from pork keeps them spiritually pure, yet this same purity is not required when it comes to their personal behaviors in relationships, business, or social conduct. Jesus Christ himself addressed this kind of hypocrisy when he said:
“It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” (Matthew 15:11)
True morality is not about what one eats but about how one lives. Yet Islam continues to emphasize superficial purity while allowing deeper corruption to thrive within its followers.
A Religion of Inconsistencies
Islamic law is filled with contradictions that expose its human-made nature rather than divine perfection. The prohibition of pork is given extreme weight, yet slavery was permitted (Quran 33:50), polygamy is encouraged (Quran 4:3), and the brutal treatment of women is normalized (Quran 4:34). If Islam were truly a religion of moral righteousness, it would not allow such glaring inconsistencies in its ethical framework.
Conclusion: The Absurdity of Selective Morality
The refusal to eat pork while indulging in alcohol, drugs, and fornication is a perfect example of the inconsistency in Islamic practice. Many Muslims cling to certain taboos while disregarding serious moral transgressions, proving that their adherence is not based on true faith but on cultural dogma.
Leaving Islam has allowed me to see these contradictions more clearly. A genuine moral life is not about rigid dietary restrictions but about personal integrity, responsibility, and a sincere commitment to ethical principles—things that Islam, in its selectiveness and hypocrisy, fails to truly uphold.
References
Pew Research Center. (2013). The World’s Muslims: Religion, Politics and Society. Retrieved from: https://www.pewresearch.org
The Quran, 2:173, 4:3, 4:34, 33:50.
Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 3371.
The Holy Bible, Matthew 15:11.
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