Fatwa ID: 04114

Answered by: Maulana  Muhammad Afzal Hussain

Question

Do Muslims dislike dogs? Why?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

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

Answer:

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah said: "While a man was walking on the road, he became very thirsty. He found a well so he went down into it and drank, then he came out. There he saw a dog that was panting and biting the ground out of thirst. The man said: 'This dog is feeling the same thirst that I felt.' So he went back down into the well and filled his shoe with water, then he held it in his mouth until he climbed back up, and he gave the water to the dog. Allah appreciated (his action) and forgave him." They said: "O Messenger of Allah, will we have the reward with regard to these animals? He said: 'In every living thing there is the reward." [Muslim: 5813-224, Bukhari: 2466]  

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: The Messenger of Allah said: "While a dog was circling a well, almost dying of thirst, one of the prostitutes of the Children of Israel saw it. She took off her shoe and used it to give water to it, and made it drink, and she was forgiven (by Allah) because of that. [Muslim: 5815]

Thus, we can draw the conclusion that Islam does not teach us to hate any creatures. But dog’s saliva is impure in Islam, needs washing of several times as Prophet said: “If a dog licks the vessel of one of you, let him wash it seven times and rub it with soil the eighth time.” [Muslim: 279 and 280]

As for keeping a dog as a pet, Islam permits with certain conditions. The following hadeeths are the proofs:

A.  Al-Bukhaari (2145) narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever keeps a dog, a qiraat from his good deeds will be deducted every day, except a dog for farming or herding livestock.”

B.  Muslim (2978) narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever keeps a dog that is not a dog for hunting, herding livestock or farming, two qiraats will be deducted from his reward each day.”

C.  Muslim (2943) narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever keeps a dog, except a dog for herding livestock or a dog for hunting, a qiraat will be deducted from his good deeds each day.” ‘Abd-Allaah said: Abu Hurayrah said: Or a dog for farming.

D.  Ibn Maajah (3640) narrated from ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib that the Prophet said: “The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or an image.”

Only Allah Knows Best

Written by Maulana Muhammad Afzal Hussain

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham