However, dogs are allowed for certain purposes like hunting, guarding properties, or helping disabled people. As long as the dogs live outside the home and are used for these reasons, it is okay.
Quran and Hadith Guidance in Which Condition Dogs are Accepted
The Quran does make a clear exception when it comes to allowing dogs for specific purposes like hunting. This means that while dogs are generally not allowed in the house, there are times when they can be used, like when hunting animals.
This is evident in the following verse which has become a textual basis for permitting the use of dogs as hunting animals:
Arabic: يَسۡـئَـلُوۡنَكَ مَاذَاۤ اُحِلَّ لَهُمۡؕ قُلۡ اُحِلَّ لَـكُمُ الطَّيِّبٰتُ ۙ وَمَا عَلَّمۡتُمۡ مِّنَ الۡجَـوَارِحِ مُكَلِّبِيۡنَ تُعَلِّمُوۡنَهُنَّ مِمَّا عَلَّمَكُمُ اللّٰهُ فَكُلُوۡا مِمَّاۤ اَمۡسَكۡنَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَاذۡكُرُوا اسۡمَ اللّٰهِ عَلَيۡهِ وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ؛ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ سَرِيۡعُ الۡحِسَابِ
Meaning: “They ask you, [O Muhammad], what has been made lawful for them. Say, ‘Lawful for you are [all] good foods and [game caught by] what you have trained of hunting animals which you train as Allah has taught you. So eat of what they catch for you, and mention the name of Allah upon it, and fear Allah.’ Indeed, Allah is swift in account.”
Full Reference: Quran, Surah Al-Ma’idah, Chapter 5, Verse 4
Verse in Image Formate Below:
This verse clearly allows Muslims to teach and use dogs for hunting purposes. Islamic scholars have concluded from this that dogs can be kept for legitimate needs like hunting and guarding.
Hadith on Angels about Dogs:
One of the most widely discussed and debated hadith regarding dogs in Islam is the famous saying of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) which states that angels do not enter houses where dogs are present.
Let’s examine the full text of this hadith below:
لاَ تَدْخُلُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ بَيْتًا فِيهِ كَلْبٌ وَلاَ صُورَةٌ
Meaning: “Angels do not enter a house that has either a dog or a picture in it.”
Full Reference: Sahih Muslim, Book of Libations, Hadith 2106 and Sahih Bukhari, Book of Beginning of Creation, Hadith 3322.
Here is the verse in the image:
This hadith highlights the importance of cleanliness and purity in Islamic teachings when it comes to keeping dogs as pets inside living spaces.
Hadith on Purification of Utensil if Dog Lick it:
In Islamic tradition, dogs are seen as impure animals. However, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) gave instructions on how to clean things that dogs have touched. This shows that having dogs isn’t completely forbidden, but you have to keep things clean if you do.
As evident from the following hadith:
إِذَا وَلَغَ الْكَلْبُ فِي إِنَاءِ أَحَدِكُمْ فَلْيُرِقْهُ ثُمَّ لْيَغْسِلْهُ سَبْعَ مِرَارٍ
Meaning: “If a dog licks the utensil belonging to any one of you, throw away whatever was in it and wash it seven times.”
Full Reference: Sahih Muslim, Book of Purification, Hadith 279
If you want the image format of this Hadith here it is:
This guidance from Prophet Muhammad highlights that while dogs are considered impure in Islamic tradition, there are prescribed ways of purifying and cleansing after contact with them. It demonstrates that having dogs is permissible if proper cleanliness measures are followed according to the Sunnah.
Related articles you may interested in reading:
Steps for Cleaning Utensils if a Dog Licks Them According to Islamic Law
If a dog licks your plate, bowl, cup, or any utensil you use for eating or drinking, here is what you should do according to the guidance of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
- You must throw away any food or drink that was in the utensil. Don’t consume it.
- Wash the utensil thoroughly with plain water to remove any remaining saliva from the dog’s lick.
- After the initial wash, you need to wash the utensil again but this time with earth/soil mixed with water. The soil acts as a purifying agent.
- Now wash the utensil a total of seven times, using plain water for the remaining six washes.
- After these seven washes, the utensil will be considered clean and purified to be used again.
This complete cleaning process of seven washes with soil is prescribed to remove any impurities and make the utensil ritually pure again after being licked by a dog.
Islamic Scholar’s Opinion of Having Dog as Pet in House
Islamic scholars are largely in agreement that keeping dogs inside the home as pets is not permissible according to Islamic teachings. While there may be some exceptions allowed, the common view discourages Muslims from having dog pets within living spaces.
Let’s explore the viewpoints of Five different Islamic scholars on this topic:
Dr. Salah mentions stories from Abu Huraira that suggest having a pet dog can reduce our good deeds, except when it’s needed. He also discusses how dogs are viewed as impure in Islam and how Prophet Muhammad taught us to stay clean. He warns against sharing our food with dogs because their saliva could make us sick.
Check out his video below to clear your mind:
Al Hakeem says that keeping a dog as a pet diminishes good deeds each day. He said that keeping dogs outside the house may be acceptable in dangerous environments for security purposes, provided it is truly necessary.
Added his short Video Below:
You can watch his video below:
There’s a story about a woman who went to Paradise to give water to a dog, showing that Muslims are kind to dogs but don’t get too emotionally attached. Overall, Muslims are fine with dogs but have specific rules about how to interact with them.
Watch out his video below:
Check out his video:
All of these Islamic scholars say it’s not a good idea to keep dogs inside the house as pets. They believe this because of concerns about cleanliness and religious rules. Some teachings from the Prophet Muhammad also caution against it. Muslims generally agree that dogs are impure animals, so having them indoors could cause contamination and may stop angels from coming inside.
More FAQs Related to this Topic
Is having a Dog Haram in Islam?
Yes, keeping a dog as a pet inside the home is generally considered haram (forbidden) in Islam due to their impurity.
Why are Dogs Haram But Not Cats According to Islamic Law?
Dogs are considered impure in Islam, while cats are not. Moreover, there are no specific prohibitions against keeping cats as pets in Islamic teachings.
Why are Dogs Haram to keep in the House?
Dogs are considered impure in Islam, and their saliva, fur, and other aspects can make places unclean. Keeping them in the house is haram, but they can be kept for specific purposes like guarding properties or helping with hunting.
Is Owning a Dog haram?
Owning a dog is not haram, but it should be for guarding purposes of the house or protecting sheep or cattle.
Wrapping Up the Topic
Islam allows dogs for certain tasks like guarding and hunting, but not as indoor pets due to concerns about cleanliness and impurity. It’s important to listen to the advice of Islamic scholars who remind us to keep our homes clean and pure.
May Allah shower His blessings upon us all, guiding us to uphold the principles of faith with wisdom and understanding.
