Fatwa ID: 03046

Answered by:  Maulana Naieem Mohammad​

Question:

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah

Why do dogs suddenly bark at nothing?

Answer:

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Assalamualaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuh

Everything that takes place will always occur according to the decree of Allah most high. There is nothing that happens without a reason, a lot of the time we wouldn’t know the justified cause of many things and Allah sometimes doesn’t make the wisdom in the systems of the universe visible or apparent to us, hence the importance of believing in the unseen.

Jaabir bin Abdullah (r.a.) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said,” When you hear the barking of the dog and the braying of the donkey at night, you should seek protection in Allah, for certain, these animals are seeing that which you are not seeing.”[1]Another Hadith clearly explains the unseen things that some animals can see and we cannot, and the proper response according to the advice from the prophet (s.a.w.). Abu Hurairah (r.a.) narrates that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said,”when you hear the braying of the donkey then seek protection in Allah from Shaytaan, because verily it has seen a devil and when you hear the crowing of the Rooster, you should ask Allah for his favours, for certain, it has seen an Angel”[2]

These Hadiths guide us to understand a small bit of what takes place in the unseen realm which surrounds us thus encouraging one to appreciate the gift of Iman and enriches a person with the wisdom to act appropriately in different circumstances.

May Allah grant you and us the wisdom to apply the advice of our leader Muhammad (s.a.w.)

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Naieem Mohammad

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed TosirMiah

Darul Ifta Birmingham