Fatwa ID: 05581

Answered by: Alimah Sofia Mirza

Question:

If a person were to go into animal medicine, would there be any Fatawa regarding that? Apart from avoiding the Lu’aab of a dog etc, are there any other specific restrictions? It’s not makruh, right? To work as a vet or animal doctor/therapist or whatever?

Also, for a person who works for the Police Force? Would it count as protecting the country and would they get the reward for it? Or was that for protecting the Muslim lands only?

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

Answer:

It has been mentioned in a Hadith:

“Narrated by Abu Huraira:

Allah’s Messenger said, “While a man was walking, he felt thirsty and went down a well and drank water from it. On coming out of it, he saw a dog panting and eating mud because of excessive thirst. The man said, ‘This (dog) is suffering from the same problem as that of mine. So, he (went down the well), filled his shoe with water, caught hold of it with his teeth and climbed up and watered the dog. Allah thanked him for his (good) deed and forgave him.” The people asked, “O Allah’s Messenger! Is there a reward for us in serving (the) animals?” He replied, “Yes, there is a reward for serving any animate.”[1]

Considering this hadith treating animals will be permissible, however, one should avoid touching the dogs directly and perhaps use gloves.

As for working in the police force if it does not contradict the values and teachings of Shariah it will be permissible and one can do it with the intention of serving the Muslims and creating peace, it has been mentioned in the Hadith “It was narrated from ‘Ali that The Prophet  said:

“There is no obedience to any human being if it involves disobedience to Allah.”[2]

Only Allah knows best

Written by Alimah Sofia Mirza

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

[1] Sahih Bukhari, Qadeemi Kutub Khaanah, Vol 2, Hadith 2563.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ سُمَىٍّ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏”‏ بَيْنَا رَجُلٌ يَمْشِي فَاشْتَدَّ عَلَيْهِ الْعَطَشُ، فَنَزَلَ بِئْرًا فَشَرِبَ مِنْهَا، ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَإِذَا هُوَ بِكَلْبٍ يَلْهَثُ، يَأْكُلُ الثَّرَى مِنَ الْعَطَشِ، فَقَالَ لَقَدْ بَلَغَ هَذَا مِثْلُ الَّذِي بَلَغَ بِي فَمَلأَ خُفَّهُ ثُمَّ أَمْسَكَهُ بِفِيهِ، ثُمَّ رَقِيَ، فَسَقَى الْكَلْبَ فَشَكَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ، فَغَفَرَ لَهُ ‏”‏‏.‏ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، وَإِنَّ لَنَا فِي الْبَهَائِمِ أَجْرًا قَالَ ‏”‏ فِي كُلِّ كَبِدٍ رَطْبَةٍ أَجْرٌ ‏”‏‏.‏ تَابَعَهُ حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ وَالرَّبِيعُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ‏.‏

[2] Musnad Ahmad, Hadith 1065,

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ زُبَيْدٍ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لَا طَاعَةَ لِبَشَرٍ فِي مَعْصِيَةِ اللَّهِ‏.‏