Impurity From Touching Pig Skin

QUESTION:

If a person wears shoes made of pig skin which is impure, will everything he touches after touching the shoes become impure? What would be the state of the food which he eats after touching the shoes and not washing his hands before eating?

ANSWER:

A pig is intrinsically impure by default. Tanning or processing its skin into leather does not purify it, thus it is impermissible to wear such shoes. However, touching food or any other item after touching the shoes will not render the item of food or furniture impure. Even though the hand remains pure after touching it, it will be preferable to wash the hands thereafter, especially if one is going to eat.

وَأَمَّا الْخِنْزِيرُ: فَقَدْ رُوِيَ عَنْ أَبِي حَنِيفَةَ أَنَّهُ نَجِسُ الْعَيْنِ، لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى وَصَفَهُ بِكَوْنِهِ رِجْسًا فَيَحْرُمُ اسْتِعْمَالُ شَعْرِهِ وَسَائِرِ أَجْزَائِهِ … وَرُوِيَ عَنْ أَبِي يُوسُفَ فِي غَيْرِ رِوَايَةِ الْأُصُولِ أَنَّهُ كَرِهَ ذَلِكَ أَيْضًا نَصًّا وَلَا يَجُوزُ بَيْعُهَا فِي الرِّوَايَاتِ كُلِّهَا، وَلَو وَقَعَ شَعْرُهُ فِي الْمَاءِ الْقَلِيلِ، رُوِيَ عَنْ أَبِي يُوسُفَ أَنَّهُ يُنَجِّسُ الْمَاءَ

(بدائع الصنائع، ج١،ص٦٣)

 ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Abrar Ahmad Motala

Date: 01 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1447 / 25 August 2025

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:

Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb