Does the narration prohibiting the use of tanned hides abrogate earlier permissions?
Chapter on Utensils
Al-Mughni
Book of Purification
Primary text
The ruling is that the hide of a carcass is impure, based on the authenticated narration from Abdullah ibn Ukaym, where the Prophet wrote to the tribe of Juhaynah stating that he had previously permitted them the use of carcass hides, but they must not use any hide or tendon from a carcass after receiving that writing. This writing, issued near the end of the Prophet's life, abrogates the earlier permission because the later ruling takes precedence. Furthermore, a narration from Jabir states: 'Do not derive any benefit from a carcass,' and the hide is a part of the carcass, thus forbidden like the flesh, based on the verse: {Forbidden to you is dead meat} (Quran 5:3). Impurity is attached by death, thus it remains impure like before tanning.
Supporting text
The objection that impurity only arises from attached blood and moisture is refuted because if that were the case, the outer skin would not be impure, nor would the meat slaughtered by a Magian or idolater, nor would meat where the name of Allah was omitted, as the cause of impurity would be absent. Furthermore, the hide would not be impure if the blood was drained. This reasoning is inconsistent with Ash-Shafi'i, who rules the hair, wool, and bone as impure, and Abu Hanifa, who purifies the dog's hide while it is impure in life.