Can I Use Parts of a Pig?

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Question: Assalamu alaykum

Does the prohibition of swine in the Qur’an extend to general usage? For example a wallet that was made from a cow which was unlawfully slaughtered?

Answer:  Wa’leykum Salam,

Walaikum assalam,

I hope you’re doing well, insha’Allah.

Just as it is impermissible to consume the meat of pigs, due to their ritual impurity (najasa), it is also impermissible to use any part of the pig. [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar; Nawawi, al-Majmu` Sharh al-Muhadhdhab; other]

This is because Allah Most High ascribed the impermissibility of pigs to their entirety, not only to their meat: “He has only forbidden you ˹to eat˺ carrion, blood, swine, and what is slaughtered in the name of any other than Allah. But if someone is compelled by necessity—neither driven by desire nor exceeding immediate need—they will not be sinful. Surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [2:173]

This is also clearly established from numerous hadiths of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani is a scholar and researcher of Islamic law and Executive Director of SeekersHub Global After ten years overseas, Shaykh Faraz returned to Canada in the Summer of 2007. In May 2008 he founded SeekersHub Global to deal with the urgent need to spread Islamic knowledge—both online and on the ground—in a reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible manner. He has been repeatedly listed as one of the world’s 500 most influential Muslims (The Muslim500).