What is ruling of Dog as Pet in Islam

[Khansaber]

Purely educational as Muslims living in west and new generation born and raising here,There is interaction with Dogs as with humans and this Q does surface once in a while Why Muslims hate Dogs ?

will try to cover both sides and extra educational and informative discussion can be done by members of site .

In opposition :

Malik's Muwatta, Book 54, Number 54.5.13:"Malik related from Nafi from Abdullah Ibn Umar that the Messenger of God ordered all dogs (other than sheepdogs or hunting dogs) to be killed".

Ibn Hanbal's collection: The Messenger of God said:"You shall kill all black dogs, because they are devils."

From Muslim #3803

Abu Masud reported that Allah's messenger forbade the charging of price of the dog and earning of a prostitute and sweets offered to a kahin.


From Bukhari Vol. 4, #448

Narrated Abu Talha: "I heard Allah's Apostle saying; "Angels (of Mercy) do not enter a house wherein there is a dog or a picture of a living creature (a human being or an animal).""
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Now in Favor :

However, by studying the Quran we find no such truth. No where in the Quran are dogs prohibited, nor is there any mention of any contaminating effect of these lovely animals who are man's best friend.


1- God tells us in the Quran about the story of the dwellers of the Cave (Surah 18). In verse 13 God tells us that they were good believers and that God guided them. In verse 18 God tells us that they had their dog with them.
Now if dogs are prohibited and dirty, would God speak of those dwellers of the Cave (who had a dog) as good believers?
2- In 5:4 God tells us that it is okay to eat what the trained dogs catch (dogs are used in hunting). Now if the dog is an animal which causes contamination by mere touch, would God tell us it is perfectly okay to eat what the dog catches with his mouth (let alone just touch the dog)?


3- The Quran contains a very important rule for all believers, and the rule is:
Nothing is haram (unlawful) unless it is prohibited by God Himself, and since God describes the Quran as complete, perfect and fully detailed, thus all the prohibitions decreed by God are found in the Quran. The following Quranic verses confirm this truth:



“Say, "Who prohibited the nice things God has created for His creatures, and the good provisions?" Say, "Such provisions are to be enjoyed in this life by those who believe. Moreover, the good provisions will be exclusively theirs on the Day of Resurrection." We thus explain the revelations for people who know.” 7:32

“You shall not utter lies with your own tongues stating: "This is halal (lawful), and this is haram (unlawful)," to fabricate lies and attribute them to God. Surely, those who fabricate lies and attribute them to God will never succeed.” 16:116

The question is: Did the Prophet really issue these prohibitions? In addition, did the Prophet have the authority to issue these prohibitions?
The answer is given in the Quran:
"O you prophet, why do you prohibit what God has made lawful in order to please your wives? God is Forgiver Merciful" 66:1


Obviously God did not include the words in 66:1 in the Quran to belittle the Prophet in our eyes, but these words are placed in the Quran in order to confirm to all believers across all time that the Messenger of God does not have the authority to prohibit anything which is not prohibited by God. God is the only Law Maker (6:114) and the only duty of the messenger is to deliver God's message (5:92).

Narrated Abu Huraira: "The Prophet said, 'A man saw a dog eating mud from (the severity of) thirst. So, that man took a shoe (and filled it) with water and kept on pouring the water for the dog till it quenched its thirst. So Allah approved of his deed and made him to enter Paradise.' (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Ablutions (Wudu'), Volume 1, Book 4, Number 174)"

May Allah guide us on righteous path .Amen





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[Ramzan Ali Qureshi]

What about dog from Ashab e kahf?

 

[NasNY]

Since i or most muslims dont own dogs, there is less things to worry about. Some hadith below.

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever keeps a Dog, one Qirat of the reward of his good deeds is deducted daily, unless the Dog is used for guarding a farm or cattle." Abu Huraira (in another narration) said from the Prophet, "unless it is used for guarding sheep or farms, or for hunting." Narrated Abu Hazim from Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "A Dog for guarding cattle or for hunting." (Book #39, Hadith #515)

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle 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 Apostle! Is there a reward for us in serving (the) animals?" He replied, "Yes, there is a reward for serving any animate." (Book #40, Hadith #551)

Narrated 'Adi bin Hatim: I asked the Prophet (about the hunting Dogs) and he replied, "If you let loose (with Allah's name) your tamed Dog after a game and it hunts it, you may eat it, but if the Dog eats of (that game) then do not eat it because the Dog has hunted it for itself." I further said, "Sometimes I send my Dog for hunting and find another Dog with it. He said, "Do not eat the game for you have mentioned Allah's name only on sending your Dog and not the other Dog." (Book #4, Hadith #175)

Narrated Hafsa: Allah's Apostle said, "It is not sinful (of a Muhrim) to kill five kinds of animals, namely: the crow, the kite, the mouse, the scorpion and the rabid Dog." (Book #29, Hadith #54)

Narrated Abu Talha: I heard Allah's Apostle saying; "Angels (of Mercy) do not enter a house wherein there is a Dog or a picture of a living creature (a human being or an animal)." (Book #54, Hadith #448)

Malik's Muwatta, Book 54, Number 54.5.13:

"Malik related from Nafi from Abdullah Ibn Umar that the Messenger of God ordered all dogs (other than sheepdogs or hunting dogs) to be killed".

 

[A.G.Uddin]

 

[A.G.Uddin]

ARE DOGS REALLY IMPURE? A HUNTING DOG'S CATCH

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Copyright 2009 Joseph A Islam: Article last modified 28[SUP]th[/SUP] January 2012

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Muslims widely assert that dogs are impure to touch and are prohibited in Islam from being kept inside a home.

There is no prohibition of any sort with respect to a dog in the entire Quran.

These beliefs are solely supported by Islamic secondary sources. All animals as part of God's beautiful creation belong to Him and will return to Him after their death.

006.038
"There is not an animal in the earth, nor a bird that flies with its wings, but (are) communities like you. Nothing have we neglected from the Book, and they (all) shall be gathered to their Lord"

Many Muslims are aware of the Quranic narrative of the cave sleepers of Chapter 18 (Surah Kahf) who had with them a dog that also slept with them for hundreds of years (God alone knowing exactly how long 18:26). Not only did God keep the sleepers safe, He also kept the dog safe allowing it to stretch its paws over that prolonged period (18:18). These sleepers were righteous folk and were truly guided aright (18:13).

There is no sense of any sort of prohibition against dogs in this narrative of the Quran.

This is also not the only mention of a dog in the Quran. Apart from the parable encountered in verse 7:176, the scripture also informs the reader that a hunting dog's catch is lawful (Arabic: uhilla) to consume as food. No doubt, dogs would have been trained to hunt and catch their prey with their mouths. This poses considerable difficulty with the Muslim assertion that dogs are impure to the touch, yet the food they catch remains lawful for consumption.

A typical popular translation notes the narrative captured as follows which tacitly addresses the Muslim dilemma:

005:004
"They ask you what is lawful (Arabic: uhilla) to them (as food). Say: lawful to you are (all) things good and pure: and what you have taught your trained hunting animals (to catch) (Arabic: Mukalibeen) in the manner directed to you by God: eat what they catch for you, but pronounce the name of God over it: and fear God; for God is swift in taking account”

Popular translations such as the one above make use of the terms 'hunting animals; beasts, birds of prey, hunting creatures, falcons, predatory animals' as a translation of the Arabic term 'Mukalibeen'.

Arabic speakers will no doubt be familiar with the term 'kalb' in general Arabic parlance which refers to a dog. This is no different from how the classical Arabs also understood the term.



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WHAT DOES THE QURANIC ARABIC ACTUALLY SAY IN 5:4?

Illustration - Joseph Islam


The term MUKALIB derived from the root word (K-L-B) literally translates as ONE WHO TRAINS DOGS TO HUNT

Source: Edward Lanes Lexicon [1]


The above is its proper rendering. A lot of commentators do try to broaden the Kalb (dog) in this context to include other animals of prey such as falcon birds etc. However, this is debated, as the proper significance of this term refers to dogs alone.

Source: Edward Lanes Lexicon [2]



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WAS THE DOG INSIDE THE CAVE OR OUTSIDE THE CAVE?

As Islamic ideology in the main asserts that as dogs are impure and should not to be kept within the confines of the home where angels do enter nor do they bless the home, much is then made of the Arabic term 'wasid' as encountered by the Quran.

018:018 (part)
"...while their dog stretched his two forelegs on the threshold (Arabic: wasid)..."

Many Muslims assert relying on a theological understanding of the impurity of a dog, that this term is a reference to an entrance outside the cave.

Quite apart from a dog lying outside the cave for possibly hundreds of years openly exposed to the elements and with the risk of being detected while the sleepers were hiding safely inside the cave; it appears that there is little support for such a restricted interpretation from the Quran or classical lexicon authorities.

The Quran makes use of the verbal form 'awsada' of the root 'W-S-D' in two other verses of the Quran to signify a vault or covering over something.

090.020
"Over them will be Fire vaulted over them / closed in on them (Arabic: mu'sadatun)"

104.008
"Indeed, it shall be made into a vault over them / closed in on them (Arabic: mu'sadatun)"


The popular understanding of the term 'wasid' is simply a 'threshold'. However, there is nothing in the term to indicate that this is a restricted reference to a location outside an entrance. In fact, notable classical lexicons even allow for the understanding that in the context of the surah kahf, 'wasid' was a reference to a cavern or a location inside the cave or indeed, an enclosure.

Source: Edward Lanes Lexicon [3]

Source: 'Abdul Mannan 'Omar Dictionary of The Holy Qur'an [4]


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DOG RELATED NARRATIVES IN HADITH - QUESTIONABLE PROVENANCE

The Ahadith corpus provides narratives on this issue which are often found to be in theological tension with one another.

In one particular report, one notes the Prophet asserting that angels do not enter a house which has either a dog or a picture within it. [5] Another finds the Prophet ordering that dogs should be killed. [6] In another, one finds the loss of a reward for one's good deed each day if a dog is kept in the home (barring exceptions). [7]

In contrast, a prostitute is found forgiven by God for providing water to a thirsty dog about to die by removing her shoe and tying it with her head-cover to draw water out of a well. [8] In yet another, one notes that dogs used to urinate and pass through mosques at the time of the Prophet and water was never sprinkled over the dog's urine. [9]

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While discussing fabrications of traditions in connection with the Prophet, a 19th century scholar notes:

“The possibilities which Muslims admit themselves in this field are evident from a tradition in which the authorities seem to give away the secret quite unconsciously; 'The Prophet,' it says in a tradition in al-Bukhari, (Note 5) gave the order to kill all dogs except hunting and sheep dogs.' Umar's son was told that Abu Hurairah also hands down the words: 'but with the exception of farm dogs as well'.

Umar's son says to this: 'Abu Hurairah owns cornfields,' i.e. he has a vested interest in handing down the order with the addition that farm dogs should be spared as well. This remark of Ibn Umar is characteristic of the doubt about the good faith of the transmitters that existed even in the earliest period of the formation of tradition. (Note 6) [10]

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Islamic ideology in the main asserts that dogs remain impure and should not to be touched or kept within the confines of the home. In some narratives from Islamic Secondary sources, there is even suggestion that the Prophet ordered the killing of dogs.

The Quran makes no such statement and given some of the narratives in the Quran where a dog is encountered, the popular belief of Muslims seems to be severely challenged, if not outright negated.

The Quran clearly informs its readers that the righteous men of the cave (In Surah Kahf 18) possessed a dog that slept with them in the cave.

Some legitimate questions arise:

• Would the angels not have entered the cave where the dog lay?
• Why did God protect the dog allowing him to stretch his paws (18:18)?
• Why was a statement not made in these verses with regards the claimed impurity of the dog or in fact, at any place in the Quran?
• Why does the Quran in verse 5:4 clearly inform its readers that the food hunted by dogs is lawful (Arabic: Halaal) for consumption if it is (as claimed by many Muslims) unlawful to touch such a creature?
• Why do translations attempt to hide the true meaning of the word 'mukalibeen' from verse 5:4 and translate it to other than its proper meaning or significance? or is this a clear example of theological interference with the Quranic text and deliberate obfuscation?

Please also note that the Quranic text does not inform the reader that the dog was a guard dog other than where he lay. Furthermore, it is clear from the verse that the righteous cave sleepers were not out hunting, but rather they were fleeing. This quells the oft encountered assertion in Muslim thought that it was a hunting dog.


REFERENCES

[1] LANE. E.W, Edward Lanes Lexicon, Williams and Norgate 1863; Librairie du Liban Beirut-Lebanon 1968, Volume 7, Page 2627
Highlights marked in red on the lexicon excerpt are my own insertions. They have no bearing on the original text other than they emphasise relevance to the topic at hand. These are merely illustrations and have solely been utilised for educational and explanatory purposes.
[2] Ibid., Page 2625
[3] Ibid., Volume 8, Page 2945
[4] OMAR, A M, Dictionary of the Holy Quran, Arabic Words - English Meanings, Noor Foundation - International Inc, First Edition May 24, 2003, Reprint used February 26 2010, Page 610
The highlight marked in red on the lexicon excerpt is my own insertion. It has no bearing on the original text other than it emphasises relevance to the topic at hand. It is merely an illustration and has solely been utilised for educational and explanatory purposes.
[5] SAHIH BUKHARI, Volume 4, Book 54, Number 539, University of Southern California Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement [online], Translation available at http://www.cmje.org/religious-texts/hadith/bukhari/054-sbt.php [Accessed 23rd January 2012]
[6] SAHIH BUKHARI, Volume 4, Book 54, Number 540, University of Southern California Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement [online], Translation available at http://www.cmje.org/religious-texts/hadith/bukhari/054-sbt.php [Accessed 23rd January 2012]
[7] SAHIH BUKHARI, Volume 4, Book 54, Number 541, University of Southern California Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement [online], Translation available at http://www.cmje.org/religious-texts/hadith/bukhari/054-sbt.php [Accessed 23rd January 2012]
[8] SAHIH BUKHARI, Volume 4, Book 54, Number 538, University of Southern California Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement [online], Translation available at http://www.cmje.org/religious-texts/hadith/bukhari/054-sbt.php [Accessed 23rd January 2012]
[9] SAHIH BUKHARI, Volume 1, Book 4, Number 174, University of Southern California Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement [online], Translation available at http://www.cmje.org/religious-texts/hadith/bukhari/004-sbt.php [Accessed 23rd January 2012]
[10] GOLDZIHER. I, (Muhammedanische Studien) Muslim Studies Volume II Edited by S.M.Stern: Translated by C. R. Barber and S.M.Stern (George Allen & Unwin Ltd) Page 56 - Cited as quotation 2: Yahya b.Mu'in in Tab.Huff., VI, no 41. Cited Notes: (5) Sayd, no.6 cf Harth no.: al-Tirmidhi, I p281,17, (6) This passage must be considered in relation to evidence which makes it CLEAR that in earlier times, Abu Hurairah was NOT considered an authority.
Highlights marked in bold black are my own insertions. They have no bearing on the original text other than they emphasise relevance to the topic at hand. These are merely illustrations and have solely been utilised for educational and explanatory purposes.

Joseph Islam
2010 Quransmessage.com All Rights Reserved
http://quransmessage.com/articles/a hunting dog's catch FM3.htm

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[Raaz]

مولانا اسحاق کی بات کافی کلیر ہے ، آسانی سے سمجھی جا سکتی ہے کہ شوق کے لئے کتا نہی رکھ سکتے

اصحاب کہف توالله کے واسطے دینا چھوڑ کر جنگل میں ایک غار میں منتقل ہو گئے تھے ، انہوں نے شوقیہ کتا تو نہی رکھا تھا اس غار میں

دراصل کتے کی تھوک اس کی وجہ ہے اس میں جراثیم ہوتے ہیں جو انسان کو پاگل کر سکتے ہیں

کپڑوں کو بھی اگر کتا چاٹ لے تو ناپاک ہو جاتے

 

[Charge Sheet]

Bhai g mulk k halaat he aise hain. Kuch saal pehlay ***** rakhwali k liye rakhtay thay, ab sirf raat ko alert kernay k liye rakhtay hain, pistol ka zamana jo hai. Baqi shikar wale ****** ab zaida insanoon ka he shikar kertay hain.

 

[Charge Sheet]

Narrated Hafsa: Allah's Apostle said, "It is not sinful (of a Muhrim) to kill five kinds of animals, namely: the crow, the kite, the mouse, the scorpion and the rabid Dog." (Book #29, Hadith #54)

Please highlight RABID dog instead of dog alone.

 

[Mojo-jojo]

مولانا اسحاق کی بات کافی کلیر ہے ، آسانی سے سمجھی جا سکتی ہے کہ شوق کے لئے کتا نہی رکھ سکتے

اصحاب کہف توالله کے واسطے دینا چھوڑ کر جنگل میں ایک غار میں منتقل ہو گئے تھے ، انہوں نے شوقیہ کتا تو نہی رکھا تھا اس غار میں

دراصل کتے کی تھوک اس کی وجہ ہے اس میں جراثیم ہوتے ہیں جو انسان کو پاگل کر سکتے ہیں

کپڑوں کو بھی اگر کتا چاٹ لے تو ناپاک ہو جاتے

انسان کے منہ میں بھی بڑے خطرناک جراثیم ہوتے ہیں اور بعض لوگوں کا کاٹا تو پانی بھی نہیں مانگ پاتا

 

[Mughal1]

baadshah, mullah aur sarmaayadar se bad kar koi shai zaleel nahin hai, agar is ke hote farishte kahin bhi aa jaa sakte hen to aur kon si shai inti zaleel ho sakti hai?

man gharat baaten bahot door se nazar aa jaati hen aur logoon ko chahiye mullahs peechha chhurayen.

Quran se bila waja kisi shai ki bizzaat hurmat saabit hi nahin ki jaasakti. agar kisi ko yeh dawa hai to aaye saamne. hilat hurmat har aik shai ke baare main illat aur sabab ke saath bayaan ki gayee hai. har husn peda karne waala fail achha hai aur har kharaabi peda karne waala fail bura hai. bizzat na kuchh halaal hai na haraam.

badshahat, mullaiyat aur sarmayadari quran ke mutaabiq ghalat hen is liye keh yeh insaniyat ki falaao behbood ki dushman hen.

 

[Usman Muhammad]

ah o musalmano, west jo kara uski nakkal kerni ha, is thread ma wo pakistani bhai jo US yh west ma hota hain wahan ka culture yahan promote na karain, dogs are not part of our society, yes they live and they have right to live but Islamic values are more important for society. Pakistanio ka guzara ho jata ha is ka baghair, achi achi batain promote karain jo us society ma hain

 

[Usman Muhammad]

ap log tu salon Pakistan ma gusna pasand nahi kerta, or ap log tu yh b kehta hain ka slaughtering is to tease animal, tu insan ko bomb marna usko amputate kerna zulam nahi ha, or ap log jab PAKISTAN jaya karain tu yh dog wala culture US ma he rakh ker aya karain, we love our pakistani fellows but insan apna ap ma he acha lagta ha

 

[Irobot]

All those saying there is nothing written in quran about dogs and denounce hadith.
There are many things which quran does not mention in details.
e.g.
Can they explain me what is length of journey that makes it permissible for one to pray qasar namaz?
Only from quran plz.

 

[Pak1stani]

کتا رکھنا ، کسی کا پالتو بننے سے زیادہ بہتر ہے

 

[ali-raj]

How Ironic? People of west consider dog as best friend of men. They look after them, but leave their own kin to rot in street. they can do anything for a Dog, but won't do a simple harmless deed for his own family.

There is a hadith , which specifically mentions this attitude of dog. A Dog barks on its own kin when in presence of its owner and transfer these same attributes to humans who keep them.

Now, The thread starter should look around him and judge the above words with real life scenarios.

 

[jrrehman]

مولانا اسحاق کی بات کافی کلیر ہے ، آسانی سے سمجھی جا سکتی ہے کہ شوق کے لئے کتا نہی رکھ سکتے

اصحاب کہف توالله کے واسطے دینا چھوڑ کر جنگل میں ایک غار میں منتقل ہو گئے تھے ، انہوں نے شوقیہ کتا تو نہی رکھا تھا اس غار میں

دراصل کتے کی تھوک اس کی وجہ ہے اس میں جراثیم ہوتے ہیں جو انسان کو پاگل کر سکتے ہیں

کپڑوں کو بھی اگر کتا چاٹ لے تو ناپاک ہو جاتے

Im sorry i would disagree with the generalised statement. if germs in saliva are the problem then vaccinated dogs do not contain rabies germs or any other harmful desease per say more than humans do. Surely you must have seen people in foreign countries sharing their ice creams with their pets. Now i agree that it is sick and disgusting but it proves a point that they do not have harmful germs!

 

[Raaz]

Im sorry i would disagree with the generalised statement. if germs in saliva are the problem then vaccinated dogs do not contain rabies germs or any other harmful desease per say more than humans do. Surely you must have seen people in foreign countries sharing their ice creams with their pets. Now i agree that it is sick and disgusting but it proves a point that they do not have harmful germs!

The Rabies vaccine for animals was discovered in 1979 only ....as u said......not that far .....

For human , it was first time discovered in 1885 .....

So what about the thousands of years before vaccine....

and knows that these virus got mutated at what time to new deadly virus....

and what is guarantee that the injection of vaccine is not active and damaged in transportation because of temp.... like if refrigerator is not workin in countries like Pakistan , then all human vaccines go bad actually.

Any ways , the rules of Allah does not depend upon vaccines.....or any other dependent machines....

Thats why Allah has made his own sun and moon , for telling time and date .... not dependent upon any calendar...


And the last thing is , it is just assumption that dog is prohibited because of rabies in saliva .... because if its fur touches our cloth then it is ok but if it lick us , then it is not.

I do not want agrument any more , I just presented my info....may be it is useful for someone....u might disagree.

 

[faisal235]

main app sub say agree krta ho agger security ka issue hai to hum dogs rakh sktay hain wo b tub jub koi security guard nai mill raha ho. per yaha log negative bato ko ziada serious laity hain .

Android App for Muslims