Wearing hides of dead animals in prayer

والصَّلَاةُ والسَّلاَمُ عَلَى سَيّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ أَشْرَفِ اْلمُرْسَلِيْنَ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ الطَّيّبِيْنَ الطَّاهِرِيْن

What is the ruling on benefiting from the hides of dead animals? Is it permissible to use animal hides in clothing manufacture, and is prayer valid while wearing them?

Natural animal hides fall into two categories

1. The first category consists of hides from animals that are both lawful to eat and have been slaughtered according to Islamic rites. Such hides are considered pure and may be used in clothing and other items without objection after they have been cleaned. Prayers are valid while wearing these hides.
2. The second category refers to hides from animals that have not been slaughtered in accordance with Islamic law, even if they are from animals that are normally permissible to eat. These hides are considered impure and require purification before they can be used, and prayers are only valid with them once they have been purified.

Purification is achieved through a process known as tanning, after which the hide may be used without objection in clothing and other items, and prayers remain valid while wearing it. However, this does not apply to the hides of dogs and pigs, or any animal derived from them, whether through the mating of a dog with a pig or the mating of either with a pure animal. Such hides do not become pure through tanning.

The process of tanning involves removing the impurities from the hide, such as the dirt that causes it to decompose, including blood and similar substances. This is done using an abrasive substance, like pigeon dung or gall nuts, both commonly used in tanning. Even if the abrasive substance itself is impure, such as pigeon dung, it suffices for the tanning process. After tanning, the hide becomes intrinsically pure, though it may still carry residual impurities. Therefore, it must be washed with pure water following the tanning process.

After tanning, the hide may be used in the manufacture of clothing and other items, and prayers are valid while wearing it, except in specific cases—namely, the hides of dogs, pigs, or any animal derived from them, whether from the mating of a dog with a pig or the offspring of either with a pure animal.

Additional Clarification on the Pure and Impure Parts of Animals

The bones and hair of carrion—an unslaughtered carcass—are considered impure, as the entire carcass is deemed impure. A carrion (maytah) refers to an animal that has died without being slaughtered in accordance with Islamic law.

However, the foetus of an animal that has been lawfully slaughtered is an exception. For instance, if a pregnant sheep is slaughtered and its foetus is found dead inside, the foetus is considered pure, permissible to eat, and ritually slaughtered, as its lawful status is derived from the slaughter of its mother. Additionally, the corpses of humans, fish, and locusts are not regarded as carrion, as their deceased forms are inherently pure.

If a part of an animal separates while it is still alive, its status is the same as that of carrion. Therefore, this detached part is considered impure, except in the case of humans, fish, and locusts, where it remains pure. For example, if the leg of a sheep is severed, it is impure and not permissible to eat. Similarly, if the tail of a sheep, the leg of a cow, the leg of a wolf, or the ear of a donkey separates while the animal is still alive, it is considered impure. The same ruling applies to hair that separates from animals, such as cats, as the carcass of a cat is impure according to the Shafi^iyy school. Therefore, the fins of fish and the wings of locusts are considered pure.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

مَا انْفَصَلَ مِنْ حَىٍّ فَهُوَ كَمَيْتَتِهِ رواه الحاكم وغيره

"Whatever separates from a living being is like its carrion."

Narrated by Al-Hakim and others.

The saliva, sweat, and similar substances from an animal, including those resembling exudation, are considered pure, whether the animal is consumable or not, except when they come from a dog or a pig. As for the hair, wool, and feathers of a consumable animal, they are considered pure if they separate during its life or after its slaughter.

Allah said:

﴿وَمِنْ أَصْوَافِهَا وَأَوْبَارِهَا وَأَشْعَارِهَا أَثَاثًا وَمَتَاعًا إِلَى حِينٍ﴾

"And from their wool, fur, and hair, household items and beneficial things for a time."

(Suratu n-Nahl, 16:80)

This verse serves as a demonstration of Allah’s endowment, confirming the purity of these substances. As for the hair, wool, and feathers of an animal that is permissible to eat, if they detach after its death without being ritually slaughtered, they are considered impure.

And Allah is the Most Knowledgeable and the Most Wise. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.

Sources
These issues are compiled and summarized from:

• Rawdatu t-Talibin and ^Umdatu l-Muftin by Imam An-Nawawiyy  
• Fathu l-Wahhab bi Sharhi Manhaji t-Tullab by Shaykh Zakariyya Al-‘Ansariyy
• Sharh Ibnu Qasim al-Ghaziyy ^ala Matni ‘Abi Shuja^
• ‘Asna l-Matalib by Shaykh Zakariyya Al-‘Ansariyy
• Al-Misbahu l-munir by Imam Al-Fayyumiyy