Leather jackets always manage to steal the spotlight. Unfortunately, for Muslims, choosing a leather jacket isn’t as simple as following a style. Behind the classic and cool look, there are important questions: what material is the jacket made from? Is the process compliant with Islamic law? With increasingly stringent halal regulations, advanced leather identification technology, and expert guidance, Muslims can now look fashionable without sacrificing their religious principles.Â
Fashion trends are constantly changing, but leather jackets always hold a special place in the hearts of style lovers. Their classic, cool, and timeless look means they’ve never truly left the fashion scene, even in 2024–2025 when their popularity surged again. For some, including Muslim women who are conscious of Islamic law, questions arise: Can a Muslim wear a leather jacket? Especially if the leather comes from an impure animal, is it safe to wear during prayer?
Naomi Carissa Intaqta, a Halal Auditor LPPOM, stated that a Muslim may wear a leather jacket as long as it meets the halal and purity requirements of the materials used. According to Indonesian regulations, specifically Government Regulation No. 42 of 2024, all consumer goods, including clothing and accessories, that wish to be declared halal must have a halal certificate starting October 17, 2026. This regulation is derived from Law No. 33 of 2014 and Law No. 6 of 2023 concerning Halal Product Assurance. This means that not only food and beverages but also clothing, such as leather jackets, must meet halal standards to be officially labeled halal.
Generally, leather jackets are divided into two types: synthetic leather and genuine animal leather. Artificial leather is usually made from polymers such as polyurethane (PU) or PVC, then treated with dyes, plasticizers, stabilizers, and fillers to resemble genuine leather. “Although they appear safe because they don’t come from animals, it turns out that some additives, such as tallow (animal fat) or stearic acid, can come from non-halal animals. In fact, the production process may involve solvents or other substances of questionable quality,” Naomi explained.
On the other hand, genuine leather jackets are more sought after for their quality and durability. However, this is where the challenge lies. According to MUI Fatwa No. 47 of 2012, body parts from halal animals slaughtered according to Islamic law, such as skin, horns, and bones, may be used for food, medicine, and cosmetics. According to Fatwa No. 56 of 2014, if the leather comes from a halal animal but not slaughtered according to Islamic law, or from non-halal animals other than pigs and dogs, it can still be used for consumer goods as long as it has undergone the proper tanning process.
Tanning itself is the process of cleaning and preserving leather with chemicals or natural substances to make it pure and durable. This process includes soaking, liming to remove hair and the epidermis, washing, applying tanning agents such as tannin or chromium, drying, and dyeing.
“Tanning can make previously impure leather pure and suitable for use, unless it comes from dogs or pigs, which are absolutely haram. However, it’s important to note that the tanning process sometimes uses protease enzymes to remove hair. These enzymes can come from pigs or use pig-based growth media, so if they come into contact with the leather, the product cannot be certified halal,” Naomi explained.
Facts on the ground show that not all consumers know the type of leather used in the jackets they buy. Some international products often use pigskin, especially suede models. To distinguish between these, the halal industry typically conducts microscopic testing, which demonstrates the distinctive pattern of three triangular pores in pigskin. More sophisticated DNA testing is also available to identify species down to the genetic level, but this method is certainly not accessible to the average consumer.
In Indonesia, industry players and those wishing to ensure the authenticity and halal status of leather products can utilize the services of the LPPOM MUI Laboratory, which is accredited with ISO/IEC 17025:2017. This laboratory provides leather testing services designed to meet the industry’s needs in ensuring the authenticity, quality, and halal status of leather products.
All testing procedures are conducted using internationally recognized scientific methods, supporting a smooth halal leather certification process. Complete information about this service can be accessed through the official website at https://e-halallab.com/. Supported by advanced leather identification technology, the authenticity and halal status of leather can be accurately determined, assuring industry players and consumers of a sense of security.
Meanwhile, for consumer goods industry players who want to begin the halal certification process, the Halal Inspection Body (LPH) LPPOM (Indonesian Food and Drug Authority) offers the Halal On 30 program, which can be accessed through bit.ly/HalalOn30. This program provides a comprehensive understanding of the halal certification process in just 30 minutes.
Therefore, choosing halal-certified products is the safest course of action. This is crucial because a product’s halal status depends not only on its raw materials but also on its production process. A leather jacket made from halal materials can be impure if it is produced in a facility that also produces impure goods, without proper separation or cleaning. Therefore, a Muslim may wear a leather jacket as long as it meets the halal and purity requirements.
This principle applies not only to jackets but also to shoes, bags, wallets, and other leather products. With knowledge and caution, along with the support of appropriate leather identification technology, Muslims can still appear cool, modern, and confident without compromising Sharia (Islamic law).
Source: https://halalmui.org/jurnal-halal/174/
