Maimuna said that some people passed the Prophet dragging a sheep of theirs as big as an ass. God’s messenger asked them why they did not make use of its skin, and when they told him that it had died a natural death he said, “Water and leaves of the mimosa flava* purify it."
*The Arabic word is qaraz. meaning the leaves of the mimosa flave (salam) These were used for tanning.
Salma b. al-Muhabbiq said that on the expedition to Tabuk God’s messenger came to a household, and seeing a bucket hanging, asked for water. They told him that the animal had died a natural death, but he replied, “Its tanning is its purification.”
وَعَن عبد الله بن عكيم قَالَ: أَتَانَا كِتَابُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَنْ لَا تَنْتَفِعُوا مِنَ الْمَيْتَةِ بِإِهَابٍ وَلَا عَصَبٍ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ
‘Abdallah b. ‘Ukaim said, “The letter of God’s messenger came to us telling us not to make use of the skin or sinew of an animal which had died a natural death.”
Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.
