Dress & Clothing's
General Rules
- Leather products are impure (najis) and salãt
in them is not permissible, if we know that they have been made from the hide
of an animal not slaughtered according to Islamic laws. Such products are
considered pure and salat in them is permissible, if there is a probability
that they were made from skin of an animal that is essentially halãl
and was slaughtered according to Islamic laws.
Salãt is not permissible in leather products made from skin
of predatory animals like lion, leopard, tiger, fox, and jackal. Similarly,
based on obligatory precaution, salat is not permissible in leather
products made from non-predatory animals whose meat is forbidden to us like
monkeys and elephants even though their hide could be considered tãhir
if they certainly were (or there is a probability that they were) killed according
to Islamic laws.
In all these cases of probability, wearing a belt and things like that
made from leather is allowed [in salãt], provided that they
are not big enough as to conceal the private parts. If there exists no probability
that it was slaughtered according to Islamic laws, and, on the contrary, we
are sure that it comes from skin of an animal that was not slaughtered according
to Islamic laws, then it is najis and salãt in it is
not permissible. [With no such probability,] even the use of belt and other
things (that cannot conceal the sexual organs in salãt) is not
permissible on the basis of obligatory precaution. It would be the same law
if the probability was very low that sensible people ignore it (for example,
2%).
The permissibility of the leather of these animals can be achieved by two
methods: The first method is that they be slaughtered just as a sheep is slaughtered
with all conditions observed. The second method is that they are hunted by
using a gun. In the latter case, the hunter must be a Muslim; he must invoke
Allãh’s name while pulling the trigger; he must shoot with the purpose
of hunting, and get to the place where the animal fell after it has died or
when there was not enough time to slaughter it.
- Leather products made in non-Muslim countries from hides
of snakes and crocodiles and displayed in non-Muslims markets are considered
pure (tãhir); and it is permissible to buy, sell, and use them
in things that require purity.
- Leather products made in Muslim countries and displayed in non-Muslim markets
are considered pure (tãhir) and it is permissible to use them
in salãt.
- Leather products made in non-Muslim countries whose nature and ritual puritycannot
be determined, uncertain whether they are from natural or are permissible
to use in salãt.
- Shoes made from leather of an animal not slaughtered according to
Islamic laws do not make the feet najis except through wetness that
transfers the impurity. So, if the foot sweats and the socks become soaked
with the sweat, yet the latter does not reach the impure leather, it will
not make the feet or the socks impure.
- It is permissible to say salãt with a leather cap or a leather
belt manufactured in non-Muslim countries and bought in non-Muslim markets
if there is a probability that these leather products were made from hide
of animals that are essentially halãl and were slaughtered according
to Islamic laws. This has been mentioned in the third rule of this section.
(See the question-answer section below.)
- Men are not allowed to wear gold regardless of whether it is a [normal]
ring, a wedding ring, a wristwatch, or other things in salãt
as well as outside it. It is permissible for them to wear gold-plated items,
provided that gold is only considered as a coating and nothing more.
- It is permissible for men to wear what is known as white gold.
- Women are allowed to wear gold at all times, even in salãt.
- Men are not allowed to wear pure and natural silk, neither in salãt
nor outside salãt, except in special circumstances that have
been explained in the books of Islamic jurisprudence.
- Women are allowed to wear silk at all times even in salãt.
- Men are allowed to wear ‘doubtful’ silk fabrics and clothes whose origin
doubtful, i.e. whether they are made from natural silk or synthetic one. In
this case, even salãt in them is permissible. (See the question-answer
section below.)
Similarly, it is permissible for them to wear natural silk that has been blended
with other material like cotton, wool, nylon, etc. to the extent that the
blended fabric is no longer considered pure silk. This law also applies, if
there is uncertainty about the extent of blending [of pure silk and other
material]. In such cases, it is also permissible to say salãt
in it.
- Based on obligatory precaution, men are not allowed to dress up in women’s
clothes.
- Based on obligatory precaution, Muslims are not allowed to dress up in
clothes that are specifically known as the dress of non-Muslims.
