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Uncovering the secrets of halal leather through microscopy
2025-10-14
leatherLeather products have become an integral part of modern lifestyles. From shoes and bags to belts, clothing, and even car seats, leather is synonymous with elegance and high value. However, behind its alluring appearance, fundamental questions are becoming increasingly important: Is the leather genuine? Is it halal?
Answering these questions requires more than just inspecting the leather. Leather identification technology, particularly through halal leather microscopy testing, is an effective solution that can provide quick and accurate answers. This test not only verifies authenticity but also plays a vital role in the halal leather certification process.
Leather's long journey to becoming a product
Leather is obtained as a by-product of animal slaughter. After the meat and carcasses enter the food industry, the hides are directed to the tanning industry, where they undergo four main stages: pre-tanning, tanning, post-tanning and finishing.
The pre-tanning stage cleans the hides and prepares them for the tanning process. This process involves soaking to remove dirt, unhairing, and lime treatment to open the leather fibers. The hides are then cleaned of residual tissue, separated by thickness, lime residues neutralized, and degreased using ethoxylated alcohols.
The tanning stage is crucial to protect the hides and prevent them from spoiling. The pH is then adjusted, followed by tanning using chromium sulfate or vegetable oil. The hides are dehumidified, flattened, and adjusted to the desired thickness. The result is a wet-blue finish that is tanned but still moist.
The post-tanning stage aims to strengthen the structure, improve physical properties, increase color and soften the hide. The process includes pH balancing, washing, re-tanning, dyeing, application of softeners such as triphenyl phosphate, and drying. This stage produces a hard hide, also known as dry hide.
The finishing stage is the final refinement. The leather's moisture is restored, the surface is curved and textured, and then coated and patterned using heat and pressure. This creates finished leather, ready for use in a variety of products.
based on Halal Standards for MUI Fatwa
according to According to MUI Fatwa No. 56 of 2014, animal skins can be used as long as they are not from dogs or pigs. The skin of halal animal carcasses is indeed impure. However, it can be made pure after a proper tanning process, which involves removing dirt, mucus, and fishy odors, followed by thorough rinsing.
MUI fatwa No. 15 of 2021 emphasizes that tanning under Islamic law must meet the following requirements: it must be made from animals other than pigs and dogs, use methods to remove slime and odors, be cleaned of surface dirt, and be thoroughly rinsed to ensure purity. Tanned leather can be used for consumer goods, but not for food.
Importance of Microscope Testing for Halal Leather
Halal leather microscopy is a key step in the halal leather certification process to ensure the leather's provenance. This technique can identify the leather's origin by observing its fiber structure in detail. However, the results of the microscopy test are not the only determinant of halal status.
The halal status of leather products is also affected by other ingredients used in the production process. For example, ethoxylated alcohols, which are derived from fatty acids, are used during the pre-tanning stage. The source of this ingredient must be verified to be non-halal. Therefore, leather authentication technology needs to be combined with a comprehensive halal audit.