There is a big difference between the animal's soul and man's soul. The animal's soul is the moving force of the body; once it departs by death, it becomes a lifeless body, which is a type of life. Plants and trees also possess a type of life but it is not called a soul; rather, it is called a life that flows into its parts through water without which it withers and falls.
Allah Almighty said:
{...We created from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?} [276] Surat al-Anbiyā’: 30.
However, it is not like man's soul that was attributed to Allah as a symbol of honor. None knows about its essence except Allah, and it is only for man. Man's soul is a divine matter and he is not required to comprehend its true essence. It is a combination of the moving force of the body along with the intellectual force (the mind), perception, knowledge, and faith and this is what makes it distinct from the animals' soul.
It is out of Allah's mercy and kindness to His creatures that He allowed us to eat what is pure and forbade us from eating what is impure.
Allah Almighty said:
{Those who follow the Messenger – the unlettered Prophet – whose description they find in their Torah and the Gospel. He enjoins them to do what is good and forbids them from what is evil; he makes lawful for them what is pure and makes unlawful for them what is impure; he relieves them of their burden and the shackles that were on them. So those who believe in him, they honor and support him, and follow the light which is sent down with him – it is they who will be successful.”} [277] Surat al-A‘rāf: 157.
Some of those who converted to Islam mentioned that the swine was the cause behind their conversion to Islam.
Knowing that this animal is extremely filthy and causes many diseases, they hated to consume its meat. They thought that Muslims do not eat pork only because it is forbidden in their Book that they sanctify and worship, until they realized later that it is forbidden for Muslims to consume it because it is a filthy animal and its flesh is harmful; only then they understood the greatness of this religion.
Allah Almighty said:
{He has only forbidden to you carrion, blood, the flesh of swine, and what has been sacrificed to other than Allah. But if someone is compelled by necessity – neither driven by desire nor exceeding immediate need – then there is no sin upon him; for Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.} [278] Surat al-Baqarah: 173.
The consumption of swine flesh was also forbidden in the Old Testament.
"And the pig, although it has cloven hoof, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you." [279] Book of Leviticus 11: 7-8.
"And the pig, which indeed has cloven hoof, but does not chew the cud, is unclean for you. Their flesh you shall not eat, and their dead bodies you shall not touch." [280] Book of Deuteronomy 14: 8.
It is well-known that Moses' legislation is the same as that of Jesus according to what was mentioned in the New Testament quoting Jesus.
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven." [281] Gospel of Matthew 5: 17-19.
Thereupon, the consumption of pork is deemed forbidden in Christianity just as it was forbidden in Judaism.