The Ruling on Wearing Leather Coats

Q: Recently, we have been involved in a heated discussion regarding the issue of wearing leather coats. Some of the brothers believe that these coats are usually made from pigskin. If that is the case, what is your opinion on wearing them? Is it religiously permissible for us to do so? It is worth noting that some religious books, such as *Al-Halal wa al-Haram* by al-Qaradawi and *Al-Din 'ala al-Madhahib al-Arba'ah*, have touched upon this issue, but their references were incidental to the problem and did not clarify it with distinctness.

A: It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: And he said: The scholars differed on this, whether this hadith encompasses all skins or is specific to the skins of carrion that become lawful through ritual slaughter. There is no doubt that what is tanned from the skins of carrion that become lawful through ritual slaughter, such as camels, cattle, and sheep, is pure and permissible to use for everything, according to the most correct opinion of the scholars.
As for the skin of the pig, the dog, and the like of what does not become lawful through ritual slaughter, there is a difference of opinion among the scholars regarding its purity through tanning; and the most cautious course is to refrain from using it, in accordance with the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): And his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):