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Fatwa CenterIs tanned pig skin pure?
Question
in some fatwas in islamweb, pig skin is allowed after tanning, in some other fatwas in islamweb, it's not allowed. Which one is correct? Also islamweb fatwa says pig hair brush is allowed, is this correct? I don't intend to use/buy any pig products, but need to know if I need to wash if coming in contact with them. For dogs, the prophet was specific in saying to clean the bowl where a dog drinks seven times, why do scholars make the generalization that everything from dog must be cleaned seven times? Thank you.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
As for the ruling on pigskin after tanning, the scholars held different opinions regarding its purity. Some of them have rejected its purity, and that is the majority view, while others accepted its purity. This disagreement is a matter of Ijtihaad [a juristic opinion on matters which are not specified in the Quran and Sunnah]; as there is no specific decisive text regarding the tanned pigskin’s purity or lack thereof. Therefore, you will find some Fataawa here in Islamweb favoring one opinion and other Fataawa favoring the other, as there are different Muftis giving their opinions. However, we have noted in all of those Fataawa that it is safest to go with the opinion of the majority of scholars. For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 85005, 84103, 87976 and 128662.
As for which of the two opinions is most correct, then the majority view, that pigskin does not become pure through tanning, is closer to the truth for a number of reasons mentioned by the people of knowledge. These include:
First: Tanning the skin of a dead animal is of the same status as slaughtering the same animal while alive according to the Sharee'ah (Islamic Law). It is related that ‘Aa’ishah 
said: The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was asked about the skins of dead animals, so he said: “Tanning them is the same like slaughteing them (i.e. according to Sharee'ah).” [An-Nasaa’i: Al-Albaani graded it Saheeh (sound)] Since it is known that slaughtering the live pig does not make it permissible, then tanning its skin also does not make it permissible.
Second: The attribute of life is stronger (as evidence) than being tanned. If pig is completely impure during life, then how could its skin become pure through tanning?
Third: Impurity can only be removed through treatment if it is accidental, like a garment becoming impure. As for something that is essentially impure, like feces or manure, then no. The same goes for pig: its impurity is not removed through tanning, since it is essentially impure as we mentioned.
As for the brush made from the hair of pig being allowed, then the answer is that there have been some jurists who said that the pig’s hair is pure, since it does not contain life, and thus it is permissible to use it; however, the majority is against this view. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 85005.
On the other hand, you are not required to wash your body if you touched the tanned skin of pig, even according to those who consider it impure, if it is dry and has no moisture; as in this case its impurity could not be transported to whatever touches it. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 81546.
Regarding the dog’s saliva, then the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, indicated the reason for washing the vessel when he said: “The purification of your vessel…” That is, “the purification” indicates that the dog’s saliva is impure. As such, there is no real difference if the dog’s saliva came upon a vessel or a garment or otherwise, so all of that should be washed seven times.
Allaah Knows best.
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