CALUMNIATING THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SAW) THROUGH LIBELLING

THE CONTENT OF HIS TRADITIONS

A CASE STUDY OF DOGS IN ISLAM



Abdulkadir Usman Ismail
aukabara@hotmail.com
Ph.D Student
+60169657759



Academy of Islamic Studies
Department of Al Quran and al Hadith
University of Malaya

Abstract
The prophethood of Muhammad (SAW) is described by Allah as a mercy to the whole
mankind, thus, this mercy most include people animals and even inanimate beings.
However, Islam teaches to have mercy upon all kinds of animals, because Allah the
Most exalted has created them with a certain purpose and a specific duties to perform
in this world, still there are Hadiths attributed to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in
the most authentic collections of Hadith which show, the prophet Muhammad had
commanded killing dogs in mass and prohibited people from taking it as pets.
Conversely, some orientalists and modernist perceive that command as cruel, savage
and wrongdoing with respect to this innocent, affable animal, over and above dogs
have multiple benefits to humankind, as a result the credibility of the Prophethood of
Muhammad (SAW) is questioned. Perhaps this leads to the rejection of authentic
Hadith and asking a total review of the Hadith as a source of Islamic jurisprudence
as whole by some Muslims alike. The paper aims at studying the issue concerning
dogs in Islam from a different angles together with identifying the scientific evidences
which support the judgment taken by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) on the issue of
dogs in order to see whether or not it will be suitable and relevant to our modern
society.

Key words: Culminating, Prophet Muhammad (SAW), Libelling, Contents of the
Hadith
1. 1. THE TOTALITY OF ISLAMIC OF MESSAGE IS ACTUALIZATION
OF MERCY TO ALL CREATURES
Allah the most Exalted sent his last Messenger Muhammad (SAW) with his final
revelation Al Quran, in order to spread mercy specifically upon mankind and all
creatures at large. Allah parenthesize the responsibility of His Prophet (SAW) to
mercy to all Worlds. And We have sent you not but as a mercy for the `Alamin.
[Anbiya: 107] on several occasions the Prophet (SAW) used to affirm that reality.
Abu Huraira was once said, "O Messenger of Allah, pray against the idolators.'' He
said: I was not sent as a curse, rather I was sent as a mercy.
[1]
Thus, any act of
unkindness or cruelty to any creature is considered opposite in position to the
teaching of Islam and its spirit.
Several assertions by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) unequivocally supported that,
to mention but some:
a. Torturing Animals To Death Leads To Entering HellFire: Narrated By
'Abdullah bin 'Umar: Allah's Apostle (SAW) said, "A lady was punished
because of a cat which she had imprisoned till it died. She entered the (Hell)
Fire because of it, for she neither gave it food nor water as she had imprisoned
it, nor set it free to eat from the vermin of the earth.".
[2]

b. No Animal Should be Taken as the Target: Ibn 'Abbas reported Allah's
Messenger (SAW) having said this: Do not make anything having life as a
target.
[3]

c. Animals Should Be Treated With Mercy Even During Slaughter: The
Prophet (SAW) said: Allah has ordained kindness (and excellence) in
everything. If the killing (of animals) is to be done, do it in the best manner,
and when you slaughter, do it in the best manner by first sharpening the knife,
and putting the animal at ease.
[4]

d. It Is Haram To Overburden The Animals Or Ill-Fed It: Narrated By Sahl
Ibn al-Hanzaliyyah: The Apostle of Allah (SAW) came upon an emaciated
camel and said: Fear Allah regarding these dumb animals. Ride them when
they are in good condition and feed them when they are in good condition.
[5]

e. Dogs Are Not Excluded From Good Treatment: Narrated By Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle (SAW) said, "While a man was walking on a road. He became
very thirsty. Then he came across a well, got down into it, drank (of its water)
and then came out. Meanwhile he saw a dog panting and licking mud because
of excessive thirst. The man said to himself "This dog is suffering from the
same state of thirst as I did." So he went down the well (again) and filled his
shoe (with water) and held it in his mouth and watered the dog. Allah thanked
him for that deed and forgave him." The people asked, "O Allah's Apostle

1
- Muslim, Ibn al Hajjaj Ibn al Muslim, (nd) Al Jami al Sahih (Sahih Muslim) Beirut- Dar al
Jeel (Hadith No. 6778) vol 8 p 24
2
-Ibid, (Hadith No. 6841) vol.8 p 35
3
- Ibid, (Hadith: No. 17835) vol. 6 p73
4
- Ibid (Hadith no. 5167) vol. 6 p 72
5
- Abu Dawood, Sulayman ibn al Ashas, Sunan abi Dawood, (nd) Beirut, Dar al Kitab al
Arabi (Hadith No. 2548) vol. 2 p328
(SAW)! Is there a reward for us in serving the animals?" He said, "(Yes)
There is a reward for serving any animate (living being)".
[1]

To sum it up, cruelty to animals or harm by every means, imprisoning it without
feeding, over-burden it or ill feeding it is unacceptable Islamically under any
circumstances. Any aforementioned actions are punishable in Islam either here in this
world or in the hereafter. Conversely, any good deeds, care and mercy upon animals
is rewarded here and hereafter alike.

2.1 HADITHS ON DOGS IN ISLAM ACCORDING TO MUSLIM
SCHOLARS VIEW
Having said that, there are several hadiths narrated by several companions of the
Prophet (SAW) on dogs, some narrations urge Muslims to run away from taking dogs
as pets, other Hadiths commanded Muslims in the time of the Prophet (SAW) to kill
dogs, which is an action clearly negate per se- the establishment of mercy for all
animals without exception in Islam.
In the beginning some Hadith concerning this topic of discussion should be brought
forward, followed by the analysis and interpretation of the Muslims scholars about it.

1. Narrated Abu Mas'ud Al-Ansari: "Allah's Apostle regarded illegal the price of
a dog, the earnings of a prostitute, and the charges taken by a soothsayer".
[2]

2. Ibn Umar reported Allah's Messenger (SAW) as saying: He who keeps a dog
other than that meant for watching the herd or for hunting loses every day out
of his deeds equal to two qirat.
[3]

The meaning of Qirat is given in another Hadith which have been narrated by
Abu Hurayrah he said: . It was said: What are the qirats? He said : They are
equivalent to two huge mountains.
[4]

3. Abu Dharr reported: The Messenger of 'Allah (SAW) said: When any one of
you stands for prayer and there is a thing before him equal to the back of the
saddle that covers him and in case there is not before him (a thing) equal to the
back of the saddle, his prayer would be cut off by (passing of an) ass, woman,
and black Dog. I said: O Abu Dharr, what feature is there in a black dog
which distinguish it from the red dog and the yellow dog? He said: O, son of
my brother, I asked the Messenger of Allah as you are asking me, and he said:
The black dog is a devil.
[5]

4. Narrated Abu Talha: "I heard Allah's Apostle (SAW) 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)".
[6]

5. Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar: Allah's Apostle ordered that the dogs should be
killed.
[7]

6. Abd Allah B. Mughaffal reported the apostle of Allah (SAW) as saying:
Were dogs not a species of creature I should command that they all be killed;
but kill every pure black one.
[1]


1
- Bukhari, Muhammad ibn Ismail, Sahih al Bukhari (1987) Egypt- Dar al Shab (Hadith No.
2363) vol. 3 p 147
2
- Bukhari, Ibid, (Hadith No. 2237) vol3 p110
3
- Ibid, (Hadith No. 2323) vol. 3 p136
4
- ibid, (Hadith No. 1325) vol. 2 p 110
5
- Muslim, (Hadith No. 1165) vol. 2 p. 59
6
- Bukharii, Ibid, (Hadith No.4002) vol. 5 p105
7
- Muslim, Ibid (Hadith No. 4099) vol. 5 p35
7. Ibn Mughaffal reported: Allah's messenger (SAW) ordered the killing of dogs
and then said, "What is the trouble with them (the people of Medina? How
dogs are nuisances to them (the citizens of Medina)? He then permitted
keeping of dogs for hunting and (the protection of) herds. ...[and for] for the
protection of cultivated land.
[2]

8. Abu Zubair heard Jabir Abdullah saying: Allah's messenger (SAW) ordered us
to kill dogs and we carried out this order so much so that we also killed the
dog roaming with a woman from the desert. Then Allah's apostle forbade their
killing. He said: "It is your duty to kill the jet-black (dog) having two spots (on
the eyes) for it is a devil.
[3]

A number of commands could be identified in these Hadiths:
1. Prohibition of commerce in dogs
2. Deduction of reward by keeping dogs at homes
3. Only dogs for guarding and hunting are allowed to be kept and possessed
4. Dogs in the houses hinder the angels from entering it
5. Passing of dogs in front of people while praying without barrier annul their
prayers
6. The law was passed for killing all dogs in the pre Islamic era
7. An amendment was made which exclude watching and hunting dogs from
being executed.
Alqadhy Iyad in his commentary on Sahih Muslim said: Majority of the scholars
advocate the killing of dogs, except what is excluded, such as hunting dogs and what
it was mentioned with it. This is the Madhab of Malik and his companions. But they
differ among themselves; whether the judgment on dogs and what it mentioned
together is abrogated from the general rule, or killing dogs is generally upon all, or it
is peculiar as it has been mentioned in some narrations?
[4]

Other scholars advocate the permissibility of taking all kind of dogs, and the
narrations which commanded killing it were abrogated, except for black dogs.

Abrogation, according to Al Kamali; may be defined as the suspension or replacement
of one Shari'ah ruling by another, provided that, the latter is for a subsequent origin,
and that the two rulings are enacted separately from one another.
[5]
However,
establishing abrogation in this Hadith might be impracticable, due to the absence of
the basic element of abrogation which is knowing the history of antecedent from the
subsequent, without it no abrogation can be established.
As such, the different commands of the Prophet (SAW) relating to dogs in the early
Islamic era is not in the same manner. We can clearly understand that the killing of
dogs was just in a certain period of time, taking into consideration what Abdullahi Ibn
Umar said: I used to sleep in the mosque in the lifetime of the Apostle of Allah
(SAW) when I was young and a bachelor. The dogs would urinate and frequently visit
the mosque, and no one would sprinkle water over it.
[6]
at that time no one dare
touch it or troubled he way of its living.

1
- Abu Dawood, ibid (Hadith No. 2847) vol.3 p67
2
- Muslim, ibid (Hadith No. 679) vol. 1 p162
3
- Muslim, ibid (Hadith No. 4103) vol. 5 p 36
4
- Iyad, Ibn Musa al Yahsubi, Ikmal al Muulim bi fawaid Muslim, (1998), Egypt- Dar al
Wafa, ed, Yahya Ismail, vol. 9 p 452
5
- Kamali, Mohmmad Hashim, The principle of Islamic Jurisprudence (2006), UK: Islamic
texts society, p 139
6
- Abu Dawood, ibid, (Hadith No. 382) vol. 1 p 146
Subsequently, the killing of dogs was issued for a period of time, then banned. This
can be understandable in regards to some Hadith mentioned earlier whereby the
Prophet (SAW) disapproved their continual killing of dogs he exclaimed What is the
trouble with them? which denotes that they had exceeded the limits in their dealing
with dogs. Whatever the case may be, the command of the Prophet (SAW) was not
extermination of entire dogs in whole times.

3.1 DISSENTING VIEWS ON THE ISSUE O DOGS IN ISLAM
Contrary to the view of the populace Muslim scholars, some researchers depicted the
Hadith on dogs in the traditions as irrational, as a result all the Hadith related in the
most authentic Hadith collections on dogs were fabricated. Their argument was based
on the assumptions that those traditions are contrary to what the Quran said, as it can
be observed in the story of seven sleepersi.e. Ashabul Kahf, as it unmistakeably
stated that their dogs was right there in their midst.
In essence, it shows that, claiming that angel do not enter a place with dogs is false,
since it contradicts the Quran. In a similar argument, Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl also
perceived the whole narration that prohibits taking dogs as animal-pets as inauthentic,
he further said:
"Dogs represent my rebellion against ignorance about the basis of actual historical
law". Abou El Fadl says. "They are a symbol of the irrationality of our tradition, the
privileging of law over humaneness." How, he asks, pointing to Honey, who
constantly follows him and nestles at his side, does God "create animals with these
natural tendencies and then condemn them as thoroughly reprehensible?".
[1]

All these two views would not be understood in isolation from their ideological
perspective and the influence of the environment they are living in. Naturally a person
having himself in a similar situation might try to find any way out from the wild
attack on Islamic teachings in contrast to the Western understanding.
In fact, the Hadiths are reliably authentic, no way can be proved otherwise. It is more
appropriate to revisit the issue from several angles than to disavow the content of
narrations.
However, the most aggressive truculent attack on the issue of dogs in Islam is from
Maranatha Silas. Silas refuted the notion that those Hadith are not authentic, rather he
considered them authentic and a gateway to slander the Prophet (SAW) He said:
Muhammad made strange and harsh statements about dogs and these edicts
affect dogs in a tragic way. His teachings may have come from cultural bias,
Pagan concepts, or his own imagination, but wherever they came from they
led to the cruel treatment of dogs.
[2]

Not only that, he considered the issue of dogs in Islam as a way forward to question
the credibility of the message of Muhammad (SAW) and hence the totality of Islam.
He said: Muhammad claimed to be a prophet of God and as such his word was to be

1
- Ayoub M. Banderker (nd) Dogs in Islam, Banderker, (Dr.) 15-05-2002,
http://www.islamicconcern.com/dogs.asp
2
- Silas Marantha, Muhammad and the Dogs, 25- 01-2007, http://www.answering-
islam.org/Silas/dogs.htm
obeyed. With the teeth of Islam biting worldwide it is vital that Muhammads
teachings be scrutinized to determine if he were a nut or a prophet.
[1]

When he was trying to identify multiple benefits of dogs he said:
I ask the Muslim readers to view the articles linked below and determine
whether or not Muhammads statements were rational. Dont just read the
snippets I provide, spend some time and read the entire articles (linked in the
Reference section). If you are honest, like Fadl and Kelly, youll admit that
Muhammads statements were superstitious, stupid, and just plain wrong..
[2]

4.1 Analytical Review of The Opposite Views on Dogs In Islam
The position of the populace Muslim scholar is vividly clear that these Hadiths on
dogs are consistent and authentic. The command given by the prophet (SAW) in
regard to dogs were in favor of public interest, nonetheless, the benefits might be
invisible due to the shortcomings in research or defect of the narrators in given the
full account and the wisdom behind killing dogs.
However, those Hadiths could never be unauthentic as claimed by some views,
neither the dogs can be interpreted as hyenas or any other animals, despite that no
mention was made for the reason of killing dogs in the time of the Prophet (SAW) but
many proofs are emerging nowadays affirming the rightness of the decision and the
position of Islam on dogs. For example:
a. Awareness of Dog Diseases Such As Rabies
A remarkable awareness was developed by Muslim scholar concerning the diseases
attributed to the dogs, such disease include rabies and hydatidosis. According to
Sophia Menache, Hydatidosis has a relation to pastoral cultures such of those of
Western Asia. Hydatidosis is a parasitic worm infection which dogs acquire from
eating sheep and other carcasses, but which can be transmitted to humans merely by
handling or touching dogs. Infected persons may develop huge and often fatal
cysts.
[3]
She went further to explain the probable reason for aloof attitude towards
dogs in the prior to the Islamic period and during the Islamic period as she said:
A plausible explanation for the widespread religious antagonism toward
canines lies in the spread of rabies in ancient and medieval societies,
especially in the Middle East. Focusing on l9th century England and France,
Ritvo and Kete claim that fear of rabies was really "about" the apprehension of
losing one's humanity and becoming beastlike (Ritvo, 1987; Kete, 1994).
Whether or not these fears were connected with rabies in earlier periods,

1
- op-cit
2
- op-cit
3
- Sopia Menache, (1997) Dogs: Gods Worth Enemies? Journal of Society and Animals,
volume 5, number 1, p36
medieval records, especially the Moslem ones, express great concern about
the disease, its effects, and ways of transmission.
[1]

The spread of disease alone was enough if it was the only reason to forbid taking dogs
as pests in the pre Islamic era. Another factor to be consider is:
b. Dog- keeping lead to Breast cancer.
In a recent scientifically proven research, dogs harbor and transmit Mouse Mammary
Tumor Virus (MMTV) or mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)- like virus that can
induce human breast cancer. In a finding of a research undertaken, the relationship
between dogs and human breast cancer was established by B. Laumbacher, B.
Fellerhoff, B. Herzberger, R. Wank which concluded that:
Transmission of MMTV or a MMTV-like virus or bacterial risk factors by
pet dogs offers a possible explanation for the increased incidence of breast
cancer in Western countries and its correlation with a higher living standard. It
does not exclude pet animals or mice as additional sources of MMTV or
MMTV-like viruses or bacterial risk factors. Development of a tumor vaccine
against dog breast cancer would be of commercial interest and would also
serve as a model for a human breast cancer vaccine. Simultaneous antibiotic
treatment of pet owners and pets with chlamydiaceae and bartonella infections
may also be important in order to assist immune responses against viral
carcinogenic factors.
[2]

Therefore, it is illogical to put aside all these harms for the sake of having a pet. In
Islam warding off harms and or evils takes precedence over bringing benefits.

c. Material Extravagances and wasting of human rights
The last possible cause of forbidden taking dog-pets is the immoderate intimacy
between the pets and the owner. For example, in the Western society many people
denied their relatives and families their rights and prefer to give it to animals as well s
their inheritance which is being given to dogs, while leaving their heirs with little or
no inheritance at all. Let us read between the line of similar cases:
1. Heir of the dog: Leona wills $12m to a pooch but nothing to 2 grandkids
[3]

2. Little Dog, Large Estate, Chihuahua at Center of Fight Over Posner Heiress's
Will. Conchita and two other dogs inherited the right to live in her seven-
bedroom, $8.3 million Miami Beach mansion, their comfort ensured by a $3
million trust fund
[4]


1
- Menache, ibid, p37
2
- B. Laumbacher, B. Fellerhoff, B. Herzberger, R. Wank, (2006), Do dogs harbour risk
factors for human breast cancer? Medical Hyphotheses, 67, 2126 p 25
3
- Dareh Gregorian, Braden Keil, (2007) Heir of the dog: leona wills $12m to a pooch but nothing
to 2 grandkids, New York Post,
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/regional/item_wgfEYokxm8aZhPXAklfidK
4
- Mark Maremont, Leslie Scism, (2010), Little Dog, Large Estate, Chihuahua at Center
of Fight Over Posner Heiress's Will, The Wall Street Journal,
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703513604575311020555877854.html
These two examples are a few of the human sufferings in the Western cultures,
people are being neglected at the expense of dogs, this according to Islamic
teaching is extravagance, because Allah the Most Exalted created everything in
this earth and subjected it to mankind. Allah says:
See you not that Allah has subjected to you all that is on the earth, and the
ships that sail through the sea by His command He withholds the heaven from
falling on the earth except by His leave. Verily, Allah is for mankind, full of
kindness, Most Merciful

[Hajj: 65]


5.1. Conclusion
Apparently, Islamic position concerning dog-keeping is clear, more appropriate and
more beneficial to human. Dogs should not be disturb unless if there is a spread of
diseases such as rabies and what have you. It should be noted that helping dogs lead
to Heavenly reward, and no harm to the dogs will go unaccountable.
Islam is not different to any other revealed religion in its treatment for dogs. Sheala
said: there is a clear opposition to dogs on the part of institutionalized religions.
Monotheistic doctrines, in particular, evince hostility toward canines, placing a strong
emphasis on their negative aspects.
[1]
Hence Islam is not the first religion to
command killing dogs.
The Prophetic traditions concerning dogs are still relevant and intact and questioning
his credibility base on the issue of dogs is as questioning the credibility of all other
institutionalized religions, Judaism, Christianity, albeit the position of Islam on dogs
is more compromising.

1
- Silas, ibid,