BISMILLAH IRRAHMAN IRRAHIM

THE MAJORITY OF MUSLIM JURISTS CONSIDER DOGS TO BE RITUALLY

UNCLEAN, THOUGH JURISTS FROM THE SUNNI MALIKI SCHOOL DISAGREE.
HOWEVER, OUTSIDE THEIR RITUAL UNCLEANNESS, ISLAMIC FATĀWĀ, OR
RULINGS, ENJOIN THAT DOGS BE TREATED KINDLY OR ELSE BE FREED.

MUSLIMS GENERALLY CAST DOGS IN A NEGATIVE LIGHT BECAUSE OF THEIR

RITUAL IMPURITY. THE STORY OF THE SEVEN SLEEPERS OF EPHESUS IN
THE QUR'AN (AND ALSO THE ROLE OF THE DOG IN EARLY CHRISTIANITY)
IS ONE OF THE STRIKING EXCEPTIONS. PROPHET MUHAMMAD SALLAHU
ALAHI WASALAM DIDN'T LIKE DOGS ACCORDING TO SUNNI TRADITION,
AND MOST PRACTICING MUSLIMS DO NOT HAVE DOGS AS PETS. IT IS SAID
THAT ANGELS DO NOT ENTER A HOUSE WHICH CONTAINS A DOG. THOUGH
DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED FOR PETS, THEY ARE ALLOWED TO BE KEPT IF
USED FOR WORK, SUCH AS GUARDING THE HOUSE OR FARM, OR WHEN
USED FOR HUNTING PURPOSES.

ACCORDING TO A GENERALLY UNACCEPTED SUNNI TRADITION

ATTRIBUTED TO PROPHET MUHAMMAD SALLAHU ALAHI WASALAM, BLACK
DOGS ARE EVIL OR EVEN DEVILS, IN ANIMAL FORM. THIS REPORT
REFLECTS THE PRE-ISLAMIC ARAB MYTHOLOGY AND THE VAST MAJORITY
OF ULEMA (MUSLIM JURISTS) VIEWED IT TO BE FALSELY ATTRIBUTED TO
PROPHET MUHAMMAD SALLAHU ALAHI WASALAM.

ANOTHER SUNNI TRADITION ATTRIBUTED TO PROPHET MUHAMMAD

SALLAHU ALAHI WASALAM COMMANDS MUSLIMS NOT TRADE OR DEAL IN
DOGS. ACCORDING TO EL FADL, THIS SHOWS THE CULTURAL BIASES
AGAINST DOGS AS A SOURCE OF MORAL DANGER. HOWEVER, THE HANAFI
SCHOLARS, THE LARGEST SCHOOL OF RITUAL LAW IN SUNNI ISLAM, ALLOW
ALL TRADING IN DOGS.

ACCORDING TO ONE STORY, PROPHET MUHAMMAD SALLAHU ALAHI

WASALAM IS SAID TO HAVE INFORMED A PROSTITUTE WHO HAD SEEN A
THIRSTY DOG HANGING ABOUT A WELL AND GIVEN IT WATER TO DRINK,
THAT ALLAH FORGAVE HER BECAUSE OF THAT GOOD DEED.

IN A TRADITION FOUND IN THE SUNNI HADITH BOOK, AL-MUWATTA,

PROPHET MUHAMMAD SALLAHU ALAHI WASALAM STATES THAT THE
COMPANY OF DOGS VOIDS A PORTION OF A MUSLIM’S GOOD DEEDS.

DOGS, OUTSIDE THE RITUAL LEGAL DISCOURSE, WERE OFTEN PORTRAYED

IN THE LITERATURE AS A SYMBOL OF HIGHLY ESTEEMED VIRTUES SUCH AS
SELF-SACRIFICE AND LOYALTY OR ON THE OTHER HAND AS AN OPPRESSIVE
INSTRUMENT IN THE HANDS OF DESPOTIC AND UNJUST RULERS.

THE HISTORIAN WILLIAM MONTGOMERY WATT STATES THAT PROPHET

MUHAMMAD SALLAHU ALAHI WASALAM KINDNESS TO ANIMALS WAS
REMARKABLE FOR THE SOCIAL CONTEXT OF HIS UPBRINGING. HE CITES AN
INSTANCE OF PROPHET MUHAMMED SALLAHU ALAHI WASALAM POSTING
SENTRIES TO ENSURE THAT A FEMALE DOG WITH NEWBORN PUPPIES WAS
NOT DISTURBED BY HIS ARMY TRAVELING TO MECCA IN THE YEAR 630.
HADEES PROOF:

HADITH - BUKHARI 3:515, NARRATED ABU HURAIRA R.A. 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 SALLAHU ALAHI WASALAM , "UNLESS IT IS USED FOR
GUARDING SHEEP OR FARMS, OR FOR HUNTING." NARRATED ABU HAZIM
FROM ABU HURAIRA: THE PROPHET SALLAHU ALAHI WASALAM SAID, "A
DOG FOR GUARDING CATTLE OR FOR HUNTING."

ANGELS DON'T ENTER :

HADITH - BUKHARI 3:515, NARRATED ABU HURAIRA R.A.:

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)."

HADITH - MUSLIM, NARRATED 'AISHA R.A.:

GABRIEL A.S. MADE A PROMISE WITH ALLAH'S MESSENGER SALLAHU ALAHI

WASALAM TO COME AT A DEFINITE HOUR; THAT HOUR CAME BUT HE DID
NOT VISIT HIM. AND THERE WAS IN HIS HAND (IN THE HAND OF ALLAH'S
APOSTLE) A STAFF. HE THREW IT FROM HIS HAND AND SAID: NEVER HAS
ALLAH OR HIS MESSENGERS SALLAHU ALAHI WASALAM (ANGELS) EVER
BROKEN THEIR PROMISE. THEN HE CAST A GLANCE (AND BY CHANCE)
FOUND A PUPPY UNDER HIS COT AND SAID: AISHA R.A., WHEN DID THIS
DOG ENTER HERE ? SHE SAID: BY ALLAH, I DON'T KNOW. HE THEN
COMMANDED AND IT WAS TURNED OUT. THEN GABRIEL A.S. CAME AND
ALLAH'S MESSENGER SALLAHU ALAHI WASALAM SAID TO HIM: YOU
PROMISED ME AND I WAITED FOR YOU, BUT YOU DID NOT COME,
WHEREUPON HE SAID: IT WAS THE DOG IN YOUR HOUSE WHICH
PREVENTED ME (TO COME), FOR WE (ANGELS) DO NOT ENTER A HOUSE IN
WHICH THERE IS A DOG OR A PICTURE.

A BARKING DOG AT NIGHT:

HADITH - ABU DAWOOD 5084, NARRATED JABI IBN ABDULLAH, R.A.:

THE PROPHET SALLAHU ALAHI WASALAM SAID: WHEN YOU HEAR THE
BARKING OF DOGS AND THE BRAYING OF ASSES AT NIGHT, SEEK REFUGE
IN ALLAH, FOR THEY SEE WHICH YOU DO NOT SEE.

KILLING A DOG:
HADITH - MUSLIM, NARRATED MAYMUNAH R.A.:

ONE MORNING ALLAH'S MESSENGER SALLAHU ALAHI WASALAM WAS

SILENT WITH GRIEF. MAYMUNAH R.A. SAID: ALLAH'S MESSENGER SALLAHU
ALAHI WASALAM, I FIND A CHANGE IN YOUR MOOD TODAY. ALLAH'S
MESSENGER SALLAHU ALAHI WASALAM SAID: GABRIEL A.S. HAD PROMISED
ME THAT HE WOULD MEET ME LAST NIGHT, BUT HE DID NOT MEET ME. BY
ALLAH, HE NEVER BROKE HIS PROMISES; AND ALLAH'S MESSENGER
SALLAHU ALAHI WASALAM SPENT THE DAY IN THIS SAD (MOOD). THEN IT
OCCURRED TO HIM THAT THERE HAD BEEN A PUPPY UNDER THEIR COT. HE
GAVE AN ORDER AND IT WAS TURNED OUT. HE THEN TOOK SOME WATER IN
HIS HAND AND SPRINKLED IT ON THE PLACE. WHEN IT WAS EVENING
GABRIEL A.S. MET HIM AND HE SAID TO HIM: YOU PROMISED ME THAT YOU
WOULD MEET ME THE PREVIOUS NIGHT. HE SAID: YES, BUT WE DO NOT
ENTER A HOUSE IN WHICH THERE IS A DOG OR A PICTURE. SO THE VERY
NEXT MORNING HE COMMANDED THE DOGS TO BE KILLED. HE ANNOUNCED
THAT THE DOG KEPT FOR THE ORCHARDS SHOULD ALSO BE KILLED, BUT HE
SPARED THE DOG USED FOR THE PROTECTION OF EXTENSIVE FIELDS (OR
BIG GARDENS).

HADITH - MISHKAT, TRANSMITTED BY ABU DAWUD AND DARIMI R.A.:

THE PROPHET SALLAHU ALAHI WASALAM SAID, "WERE DOGS NOT A

SPECIES OF CREATURE I SHOULD COMMAND THAT THEY ALL BE KILLED;
BUT KILL EVERY PURE BLACK ONE." [MUSLIM, NARRATED ABUDHARR: "THE
BLACK DOG IS A DEVIL."]

HADITH - BUKHARI 4:531, NARRATED 'AISHA R.A.:

THE PROPHET SALLAHU ALAHI WASALAM 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."

HADITH - BUKHARI 4:538, NARRATED ABU HURAIRA R.A.:

ALLAH'S APOSTLE SALLAHU ALAHI WASALAM SAID, "A PROSTITUTE WAS

FORGIVEN BY ALLAH, BECAUSE, PASSING BY A PANTING DOG NEAR A WELL
AND SEEING THAT THE DOG WAS ABOUT TO DIE OF THIRST, SHE TOOK OFF
HER SHOE, AND TYING IT WITH HER HEAD-COVER SHE DREW OUT SOME
WATER FOR IT. SO, ALLAH FORGAVE HER BECAUSE OF THAT."

HADITH - BUKHARI 7:384, NARRATED ADI BIN HATIM R.A.:

I ASKED THE PROPHET SALLAHU ALAHI WASALAM ABOUT THE GAME KILLED
BY A MI'RAD (I.E. A SHARP-EDGED PIECE OF WOOD OR A PIECE OF WOOD
PROVIDED WITH A SHARP PIECE OF IRON USED FOR HUNTING). HE
SALLAHU ALAHI WASALAM SAID, "IF THE GAME IS KILLED WITH ITS SHARP
EDGE, EAT OF IT, BUT IF IT IS KILLED WITH ITS SHAFT, WITH A HIT BY ITS
BROAD SIDE THEN THE GAME IS (UNLAWFUL TO EAT) FOR IT HAS BEEN
BEATEN TO DEATH." I ASKED HIM ABOUT THE GAME KILLED BY A TRAINED
HOUND. HE SALLAHU ALAHI WASALAM SAID, "IF THE HOUND CATCHES THE
GAME FOR YOU, EAT OF IT, FOR KILLING THE GAME BY THE HOUND, IS LIKE
ITS SLAUGHTERING. BUT IF YOU SEE WITH YOUR HOUND OR HOUNDS
ANOTHER DOG, AND YOU ARE AFRAID THAT IT MIGHT HAVE SHARED IN
HUNTING THE GAME WITH YOUR HOUND AND KILLED IT, THEN YOU
SHOULD NOT EAT OF IT, BECAUSE YOU HAVE MENTIONED ALLAH'S NAME
ON (SENDING) YOUR HOUND ONLY, BUT YOU HAVE NOT MENTIONED IT ON
SOME OTHER HOUND."

HADITH - MUWATTA 2.36:

YAHYA R.A. RELATED TO ME FROM MALIK FROM ABU'Z-ZINAD FROM AL-

ARAJ FROM ABU HURAYRA THAT THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH SALLAHU
ALAHI WASALAM SAID, "IF A DOG DRINKS FROM YOUR VESSEL, WASH IT
SEVEN TIMES."

HAZRAT ABU IMAM HAZARATH ALI R.A SAYS:

HAZRAT ABU IMAM HAZARATH ALI R.A. SAYS HE HEARD THE PROPHET
SALLAHU ALAHI WASALAM SAY: DO NOT AMPUTATE HANDS AND FEET OF
ANYBODY, BE IT A BITING DOG.

THAT WAS THE ONLY AUTHENTICATED HADEES THAT CAN BE CALLED TRUE.
THE PROPHET SALLAHU ALAHI WASALAM OF ALLAH ACTION CANNOT BE
CONTRARY TO ALLAH. ALLAH, IN SURAH KAHEF AAYET 18.18 PRAISES THE
DOG SITTING WITH HIS FORELEGS SPREAD IN FRONT OF HIM, THOUGH
ASLEEP, BUT STILL GUARDING THE DOOR OF THE CAVE. THERE IS NO
CONCEPT OF THE DOG’S UNCLEANNESS TO BE DERIVED FROM THERE;
INSTEAD THERE IS CONVEYANCE OF AFFECTION IN DESCRIBING THE
POSTURE OF THE DOG. ALLAH THEREFORE LIKES THE DOG. AND THEN THIS
AAYET FROM ALLAH REVEALS THE DOG IS IN THE COMPANY OF AS-HAAB
WHO ARE CLEAN AND IT HAS AN EQUAL SHARE IN THE MENTION OF THE
PRAISE OF THEIR ACTIONS. THE PRAISE OF THE DOG, SUGGESTS IT WAS
DUE TO GO TO THE ENVIRONS OF THE HEAVEN WITH THE AS-HAAB-E KAHEF
WHO WERE MADE ASLEEP FOR THREE HUNDRED YEARS ALONG WITH THE
DOG.

SELLING A DOG:

SAHIH BUKHARI VOLUME 3, BOOK 34, NUMBER 299, NARRATED 'AUN BIN
ABU JUHAIFA R.A.

MY FATHER BOUGHT A SLAVE WHO PRACTICED THE PROFESSION OF

CUPPING. (MY FATHER BROKE THE SLAVE'S INSTRUMENTS OF CUPPING). I
ASKED MY FATHER WHY HE HAD DONE SO. HE REPLIED, "THE PROPHET
SALLAHU ALAHI WASALAM FORBADE THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE PRICE OF A
DOG OR BLOOD, AND ALSO FORBADE THE PROFESSION OF TATTOOING,
GETTING TATTOOED AND RECEIVING OR GIVING RIBA, (USURY), AND
CURSED THE PICTURE-MAKERS."

ACTION ITEMS FOR THE UTTAQUN:

• DO NOT ALLOW A DOG IN YOUR HOUSE AS A PET OR ANY OTHER

NON-NECESSARY REASON.
• WHEN YOU HEAR A DOG BARK AT NIGHT, SAY "AUDHU BILLAH" ("I
SEEK REFUGE IN ALLAH").
• DO NOT OWN A DOG UNLESS USED FOR HUNTING, OR AS A GUARD
DOG TO PEOPLE OR ANIMALS SUCH AS CATTLE, OR ANY OTHER
NECESSARY REASON SUCH AS A HELP TO THE BLIND, ETC.
• IT IS NO SIN TO KILL A RABID DOG, EVEN IN THE MASJID
• IF USING A DOG FOR HUNTING, ALWAYS SAY "BISMILLAH" (IN THE
NAME OF ALLAH) BEFORE RELEASING IT TO CATCH PREY. IF
ANOTHER DOG MAY HAVE KILLED THE ANIMAL OTHER THAN THE ONE
YOU SAID "BISMILLAH" ON, THEN DO NOT EAT THE ANIMAL.
• KILL A DOG THAT IS PURE BLACK. TAKE THE PURE BLACK DOG TO
THE DOG POUND; THEY AUTOMATICALLY "PUT DOWN" (I.E. "PUT TO
SLEEP", KILL) A DOG AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF NO-ONE CLAIMING THE
DOG.
• DO NOT SELL A DOG FOR A PRICE.
• HAVE MERCY ON A DOG (THAT IS NOT PURE BLACK) WHO NEEDS
HELP TO SURVIVE.

AS WE FOLLOW OUR BELOVED PROPHET SALLAHU ALAHI WASLAM SUNNAH,

AS WE LOVE ALL ANIMALS, AS WE CAN KEEP DOG BUT ITS HARD TO
MAINTAIN, AS WE ARE HUMAN EVERY TIME WE WONT ABLE TO PROTECT
THE ANIMALS PROPERLY OR LOVES THEM IN PROPER WAY. WE DO MISTAKE
ARE HARMED THEM THEN TOMMORROW WE HAVE TO REPLY TO ALLAH, HE
WILL ASK US FOR THAT FEAR BETTER WE KEEP AWAY FROM THAT SINS.

WE DON’T WANT TO FACE ALLAH AS A SINFULL UMMATH.

REST ALLAH AND HIS BELOVED SALLAHU ALAHI WASALAM KNOWS THE BEST

KHAIRUL RABUL ALAMEEN

BADSHAH KHAN