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?
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.