Fiqh 01-04: Utensils in Islamic Jurisprudence: Purity, Usage, and Rulings | Insights from Shaykh Assim Al-Hakeem | Zad Academy Audio | Blogpost by Zayd Haji

In Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh), the chapter of utensils (Al-Aniyah) comes right after the discussion of water. The reason is clear: water—the foundation of purification in Islam—is usually stored or carried in containers. Therefore, scholars examine whether the container itself affects the purity of water or not.

Halal Animals:

• If the animal (e.g., cow, camel, sheep) was slaughtered Islamically, its hide is pure whether tanned or not.
• If the animal died naturally, its skin becomes impure until it is tanned. Once tanned, it becomes pure and permissible to use.

Haram Animals:

• Skins from pigs, dogs, or predatory animals remain impure (najis) and cannot be used, regardless of tanning.

Abdullah b. Abbas said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: When the skin is tanned it becomes purified.

Sahih Muslim 366a

https://sunnah.com/muslim:366a

Narrated Shu'bah bin Al-Hakam: "I heard Ibn Abi Laila narrating that Hudhaifah asked for water, so someone brought him a vessel made from silver. He threw it, and said: 'I have indeed forbade him, but he refused to stop! Indeed the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prohibited drinking from silver and gold vessels, and from wearing silk and Dibaj, and he (ﷺ) said: "If is for them in this world, and for you in the Hereafter."

He said: There are narrations on this topic from Umm Salamah, Al-Bara', and 'Aishah.

[Abu 'Eisa said: ] This Hadith is Hasan Sahih.

Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1878

https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:1878

“The Prophet ﷺ had a cup which broke, and he repaired it with a silver wire.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 1878, sunnah.com)

While the act of using gold/silver utensils is sinful, if one performed wudu using water from such a container, the wudu remains valid, since the water itself is pure.

Utensils of Non-Muslims

Abu Tha’labah al-khushani said that he asked the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ): We live in the neighbourhood of the People of the Book and they cook in their pots(the flesh of) swine and drink wine in their vessels. The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) said: If you find any other pots, then eat in them and drink. But if you do not find any others, then wash them with water and eat and drink (In them).

Sunan Abi Dawud 3839

https://sunnah.com/abudawud:3839

Abu Tha'laba al-Khushani reported: I came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said: Allah's Messenger, we are in the land of the People of the Book, (so) we eat in their utensils, and (live) in a hunting region. where I hunt with, the help of my bow, and hunt with my trained dog, or with my dog which is not trained. So inform me what is lawful (Halal) for us out of that. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Regarding what you have mentioned of the fact that you live in the land belonging to the People of the Book and so you eat in their utensils, but if you can get utensils other than theirs, then don't eat in them; but if you do not find any, then wash them and eat in them. And regarding what you have mentioned about (your living) in a hunting region, what you hunt, (strike) with the help of your bow, recite the name of Allah (while shooting an arrow) and then eat; and what you catch with the help of your trained dog, recite the name of Allah (while letting oil) the dog and then eat it, and what you get with the help of your untrained dog, (if you find it alive) and slaughter it (according to the law of the Shari'ah), eat it.

Sahih Muslim 1930a

https://sunnah.com/muslim:1930a

Important Notes

1. Skins of halal animals → pure if slaughtered properly, otherwise pure only after tanning.
2. Skins of haram animals → always impure, cannot be purified.
3. Gold and silver utensils → strictly prohibited for eating/drinking. Silver may be used for repairs.
4. Utensils of non-Muslims → permissible if pure; wash if doubtful.
5. Modern utensils/appliances → apply the same fiqh rules on purity.