Dogs in Islam: Haram or Halal?

It is traditional amongst Muslims all over the world to declare that dogs are dirty animals:





1) Wudu’ becomes invalid if one touches a dog


2) A dog contaminates one with impurity





There are Hadiths which state that Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) permitted dogs to be kept for hunting and security. Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) also ordered dogs to be killed. And there are many more Hadiths which talk about dogs and their status:





Narrated As Sa'ib bin Yazid: Abu Sufyan bin Abu Zuhair, a man from Azd Shanu'a and one of the companions of the Prophet said: I heard Allah's Apostle saying: If one keeps a dog which is meant for guarding neither a farm nor cattle, one Qirat of the reward of his good deeds is deducted daily. I said: Did you hear this from Allah's Apostle? He said: Yes, by the Lord of this Mosque.





Proof: Sahih Bukhari 39:516





Narrated Salim's father: Once Gabriel promised the Prophet that he would visit him, but Gabriel did not come and later on he said: We, angels, do not enter a house which contains a picture or a dog.





Proof: Sahih Bukhari 54:450





Narrated by Aisha: The Prophet said: Five kinds of animals are mischief doers and can be killed even in the Sanctuary: They are the rat, the scorpion, the kite, the crow and the rabid dog.





Proof: Sahih Bukhari 54:531





Narrated Abdullah bin Umar: Allah's Apostle ordered that the dogs should be killed.





Proof: Sahih Bukhari 54:540





You can simply search for more Hadiths on dogs here:


http://www.searchtruth.com/





Dogs are mentioned in Al Quran. Have a look at the following verses:





If it had been Our will, We should have elevated him with Our signs; but he inclined to the earth, and followed his own vain desires. His similitude is that of a dog: if you attack him, he lolls out his tongue, or if you leave him alone, he still lolls out his tongue. That is the similitude of those who reject Our signs; so relate the story; perchance they may reflect. (7:176)





Thou wouldst have deemed them awake, whilst they were asleep, and We turned them on their right and on their left sides: their dog stretching forth his two fore-legs on the threshold: if thou hadst come up on to them, thou wouldst have certainly turned back from them in flight, and wouldst certainly have been filled with terror of them. (18:18)





Some say: They are three, the fourth of them being their dog; and others say: Five, the sixth of them being their dog, making conjectures at what is unknown; and others yet say: Seven, and the eighth of them is their dog. Say: My Lord best knows their number, none knows them but a few; therefore contend not in the matter of them but with an outward contention, and do not question concerning them any of them. (18:22)





Allah (Swt) mentioned the story of the dwellers of the cave in Al Kahf (الكهف).





We relate to you their story with the truth; surely they were youths who believed in their Lord and We increased them in guidance. (18:13)





Allah (Swt) stated in the above verse, that the dwellers of the cave were believers. The dwellers kept dogs with them. Now, why would Allah (Swt) judge a believer by his safekeeping of dogs? Why did Allah (Swt) mention dogs in the verses in the first place? Surely, it is essential. So why do we call dogs Haram in Islam? Why do we mix traditions with Islam?





They ask thee what is lawful to them as food. Say: lawful unto you are (all) things good and pure: and what ye have taught your trained hunting animals (to catch) in the manner directed to you by Allah: eat what they catch for you, but pronounce the name of Allah over it: and fear Allah; for Allah is swift in taking account. (5:4)





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In the above verse, Allah (Swt) stated that it is acceptable to eat what trained animals catch. Many Muslims declare that the saliva of the dog is impure. How comes Allah (Swt) made it lawful to eat what our trained animals catch with their mouth?








I just wanted to share this with all of you. It is not acceptable to go around declaring that dogs are Haram. Allah (Swt) has a reason behind every motive. Allah (Swt) would have surely prohibited keeping animals in the house if it conflicted with religious issues. Peace be upon you.|||We are to be kind to all God's creatures as was ordained for the Prophet [salallahu 'alayhi wa salaam] [21:107] and that could include providing a caring home for them if necessary to alleviate their suffering because for instance, their living in the street with no real food or shelter or other creature comfort is not a nice thing. To take in an abandoned or stray pet has to be a good thing. But to inject balance I also think pet breeding for money is not good because that contributes to many unwanted and abandoned cats and dogs sadly :(





The plight of cats and dogs in the Far East [such as China] is a very terrible thing :(





One thing I would like to add is that one should make sure they are wormed regularly to reduce the risk to humans because there is the risk of picking up parasites if they are not wormed and they are indoor pets...plus they would be pretty unhealthy with a parasite load!!


http://www.cdc.gov/HEALTHYPETS/animals/d…





There is also an hadith about a prostitute who was granted forgiveness by Allah subhana wa ta'ala for giving a dog water. And another one about a woman entering hell for torturing a cat. These both allude to the importance of caring in the right humane way towards animals.


http://www.islamicvoice.com/february.200…





I am more of a cat person myself as I am sure you can tell from my avatar :)





I would just like to add what Imam Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali said regarding the hadith in which the Prophet [salallahu 'alayhi wa salaam] was quoted to have said that angels do not enter a house wherein there are dogs. Al-Ghazali said that the human mind is a house, the abode of angels, the place of their movements. And blameworthy evils like anger, lust, rancour, envy, pride and conceit are dogs. And....if dogs reside in a heart..... where is the place for the angels?! And God takes the secrets of knowledge to the heart through the angels....though that be only to the pure souls. The reference for this is Book I of the Ihya Ulum Id-Deen....Chapter I. Something interesting to think about insha'Allah :)





Wa alaikum as-salaam|||much like a fanatical muslim fighting for Allah, a dog will fight for his master.





Sometimes the master will shout for to dog to stop barking, but the dog will continue to bark, thinking he is protecting his master but ignorant of the nuisance he causes.|||Dogs are not haram but some Hindus who post here (posing as Muslims) are harami dogs.|||Dogs are haram because they are very dirty,|||If you think dogs are dirty, wash your hands after playing with them. Simple solution.|||haram because dogs are dirty but if you need one for protection or hunting then its halal|||haram haram lets kill all the dogs and wolfs and foxes and coyotes|||The hadeeth and the Qur'aan aayah work together; there is no contradiction; the hadeeth states that a dog is okay for protection purposes; this is what the People of the Cave used the dog for as well.





Yes a dog is najib and wudhu becomes invalid. You are misinterpreting {5:4} which is not talking about a dog's mouth; scientifically, a dog's saliva is harmful and not pure.





Dogs are unhealthy:


http://www.cdc.gov/HEALTHYPETS/animals/d…|||yea well mashallah to u sharing this with us :)





but i would just like to say that ppl who declare somethin haram who don't know the wisdom behind it, well ya they doing wrong :P cos u can't declare something haram unless u have evidence backed for it.





salam





edit : look sis Reem, dogs are halal in certain circumstances and dogs are haram in the other circumstances!|||"In the above verse, Allah (Swt) stated that it is acceptable to eat what trained animals catch. Many Muslims declare that the saliva of the dog is impure. How comes Allah (Swt) made it lawful to eat what our trained animals catch with their mouth?"





I ask that question to myself so many times. No one ever answers.





Thanks for the post.|||In addition to the absence of any injunction against dogs, the logic is totally missing, yet the Muslims are not only expected to roll over (sorry had to say it) but threatened to conform to the dogma that has become of this beautiful religion, perfected by God and preserved by God in the source document called the Quran.|||It is interesting to know that dogs are mentioned in the Quran 5 times, not just once, 7:176, 18:18, 18:22 (three times). NO WHERE does God call the dogs dirty animals or give any indication that they should be avoided or treated the way many Muslims think they should. Actually the story of the people of the cave, in Sura 18, gives the indication. that we should appreciate.


hadith books are more dabgerous than adultery,because one knows adultery is ,and one may repent,but following hadith how can one repent,as majority take it as religious source one may never know all his/her life,what sin he/she has been doing.





this is elaborated in the following verse





[24:40] Another allegory is that of being in total darkness in the midst of a violent ocean, with waves upon waves, in addition to thick fog. Darkness upon darkness - if he looked at his own hand, he could barely see it. Whomever GOD deprives of light, will have no light.





the sin which they do, is so dark,in utter darkness one can not see his hands !


ponder !





The people of the cave, 3, 5 or 7 were mentioned in the Quran and every time God insists on letting us know that their dog was there with them. Their story can be as complete without the mention of the dog, but God did, Why ?





even what they catch for you is NOT haram





(5:4) "They consult you concerning what is lawful for them; say, Lawful for you are all good things, including what trained dogs and falcons catch for you. You train them according God's teachings. You may eat what they catch for you, and mention God's name thereupon. You shall observe God. God is most efficient in reckoning."





the above is what Muhammed of Glorious Quran told those who consulted Him .





the Muhammed portrayed by hadith books is not what it is like in Glorious Quran, hadith books try to prove that Muhammed disobeyed ,deviated from Glorious Quran,where as we are Certain That Muhammed Never Ever disobeyed Glorious Quran !|||good morning dear sister...


thank you for your post. thank you also brother Muhammad K for your post... i learned that dogs are indeed mentioned in the Qur'an (in the form of parable) but i find no reference to them being Haram!





here is another question on this subject...


http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;…





"Those who are kind and considerate to Allah's creatures, Allah bestows His kindness and affection on them." Abu Dawud


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIxIk2Wta…





Alhamdulillah! Allahu Akbar. have a great day Reem... and may Allah subhana wa ta'ala bless your heart for this wonderful post about dogs.





Jazak-Allahu Khair!


Suhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi! Alhamdulillah!





p.s. i have heard it said many times that a dog's mouth is cleaner that a human's mouth... but i suppose that depends on the dog... and it depends on the human. Allahu A'lam. xx





edit: i received this from another forum this morning... thought that i would share it as it is appropriate:





A man passed by one of the righteous and that shaykh gathered his garments away from him. The man said to him, ‘ Why are you pulling your clothes away from me? My clothes are not defiled!’





The shaykh answered,’ I thought that you would think that my clothes were defiled so I pulled them away from you-in order not to defile your clothes, not so that you would not defile mine.’|||mohammad didn't like dogs and even ordered all dogs in mecca killed. so he had to make up something to justify this.