Aslam

Praise be to Allah.It was proven that the

Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When

(animal) skin is tanned, it becomes pure.” And he said, “Tanning the skin of

a dead animal [i.e., one which has died of natural causes as opposed to

being slaughtered] purifies it.” The scholars differed concerning this –

does this hadeeth apply to all kinds of animal skins, or only the skins of

animals which become halaal when slaughtered according to sharee’ah?

Undoubtedly it is permissible to use in any way the tanned

skins of dead animals which become halaal when slaughtered according to

sharee’ah, such as camels and cows, according to the most correct scholarly

opinion. With regard to the skins of pigs, dogs and the like, which cannot

be made halaal by slaughtering them in the manner prescribed in sharee’ah,

there is a difference of opinion among the scholars as to whether they can

be made pure by tanning. In order to be on the safe side, it is better not

to use them, heeding the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of

Allaah be upon him), “Whoever avoids doubtful matters, that will be better

for his religious commitment and his honour.” And he (peace and

blessings of Allaah be upon him) also said, “Leave that which makes you

doubt for that which does not make you doubt.”