Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
After having read your answers to the questions regarding the permissability of wearing/using items made of pig skin, I purchased a pair of shoes that were made of ‘man-made’ materials (e.g.; man-made upper), assuming these were the same as synthetic materials. However, after my purchase, I was informed that ‘man-made’ materials are a combination of actual leather and other products (synthetic?), and it won’t be possible to know what animal this leather came from, unless the maker is contacted. I have contacted the maker, and am waiting on a reply. But we also have other items at home made of ‘man-made’ materials, and perhaps items I purchased in the past were similarly made of such materials.
Does this mean that whenever I purchase an item that is made of ‘man-made’ material, I must contact the maker to determine whether the leather contained within the material is from pig sources?
Answer:
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,
Unless you are sure otherwise, you can assume that the leather is from a permissible (i.e. non-pig) source.
Please see the following related SunniPath Answers (http://qa.sunnipath.com):
Important: Are you wearing pig skin?
Jazakum Allah khayr.
And Allah alone gives success.