Short answer
Yes. In the Hanafi school the hide of every animal becomes pure once tanned, except the pig and the human, so leather shoes, belts, jackets and bags are allowed even from animals not slaughtered Islamically. Pigskin is not allowed. The Shafi'i school also excludes dogskin, and the Maliki and Hanbali schools are stricter with the hides of animals that died unslaughtered.
Tanning purifies every hide except pigskin and human skin, and the hide of a properly slaughtered animal is pure even untanned. So ordinary leather is pure to wear and pray in. Pigskin is impure and not permitted.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Tanning purifies every hide except those of dogs and pigs.
- Maliki
- The relied-upon view is that tanning does not fully purify the hide of an unslaughtered animal, though it may be used for dry things and water; pigskin is excluded.
- Hanbali
- The relied-upon view is that tanning does not purify the hide of an animal that died without slaughter.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ saw a dead sheep that had been given in charity and asked why its owners had not used its hide. They said it had died without slaughter, and he said that only eating it was forbidden. He also said that when a hide is tanned it becomes pure. The Hanafi scholars took this as a general rule for all hides, with two exceptions: the pig, which is impure in its essence, and the human, out of honour.
Ordinary leather. Cow, goat, sheep and buffalo leathers are tanned, so they are pure whether or not the animal was slaughtered by a Muslim. You may wear leather shoes, jackets, belts and watch straps, carry leather bags and wallets, and pray in clean leather socks and shoes; see praying with shoes on.
Pigskin. Pigskin cannot be purified. It turns up in some suede, gloves, shoe linings and wallets, sometimes labelled "pigskin" or "pig suede". Avoid it and check labels on cheaper leather goods.
Predator skins and fur. The Prophet forbade the skins of predators such as leopards, which scholars connect with pride and luxury. Real fur from such animals is better avoided for that reason. For exotic leathers, ask a mufti if you are unsure.
For other animal products, see boar bristle brushes and soap with animal fat.
The evidence
Quran, Surah An-Nahl 16:80
وَٱللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنۢ بُيُوتِكُمْ سَكَنًۭا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِّن جُلُودِ ٱلْأَنْعَٰمِ بُيُوتًۭا تَسْتَخِفُّونَهَا يَوْمَ ظَعْنِكُمْ وَيَوْمَ إِقَامَتِكُمْ ۙ وَمِنْ أَصْوَافِهَا وَأَوْبَارِهَا وَأَشْعَارِهَآ أَثَٰثًۭا وَمَتَٰعًا إِلَىٰ حِينٍۢ ﴿٨٠﴾
And Allah has made for you from your homes a place of rest and made for you from the hides of the animals tents which you find light on your day of travel and your day of encampment; and from their wool, fur and hair is furnishing and enjoyment for a time.
Allah lists hides among the blessings people may use.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1492
Sahih... هلا انتفعتم بجلدها قالوا إنها ميتة قال إنما حرم أكلها ...
"Why did you not use its hide? They said it had died unslaughtered. He said: only eating it is forbidden."
The hide of a dead animal may be used.
Sahih Muslim 366
Sahih... إذا دبغ الإهاب فقد طهر ...
"When a hide is tanned, it becomes pure."
Tanning purifies hides.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4132
Grading to be checked... نهى عن جلود السباع ...
"He forbade the skins of predators."
Predator skins are avoided.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Taharah, chapter on water that may and may not be used for wudu. Every hide that is tanned becomes pure except the skin of the pig and the human.
- Minhaj al-Talibin, Kitab al-Taharah, chapter on impurities. The Shafi'i rule that tanning purifies all hides except dog and pig.
- al-Mughni (Ibn Qudama), Kitab al-Taharah, chapter on vessels. The Hanbali discussion of tanning the hides of dead animals.
- Mukhtasar Khalil with al-Sharh al-Kabir, Kitab al-Taharah, section on pure and impure things. The Maliki position on tanned hides.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.