Can We Keep Dogs As Pets?

Q: I am a 15 year old Muslim American and my mother is buying a dog.

I heard that if I touch the dog, I cannot pray. Is this true? What should I
do?

A: All creatures are the creation of Allah Taãla and do

deserve the recognition
of being a creation of the Almighty. As much as
Muslims detest even the
sight of pigs - it is the creation of Allah Taãla - and
because Allah has
placed life into it, we cannot inflict pain nor torture the
pig.

Similarly Allah Taãla created the dog from among His

creation. This does not
mean that we should love the dog. It is perhaps the
indoctrination of the
Western culture that 'The dog is Man's best Friend'.
The theory that 'dogs
are very dependent on Human affection' is a myth -
again culture and custom
has helped to develop this unnatural behaviour.

Allah Taãla the Creator of this Universe - having

created the dog would
surely have known that the dog requires Human
affection and love to exist in
this world. Rasulullah (Sallallaaahu Álayhi Wasallam)
would have advised us,
Muslims, to keep dogs as pets. On the contrary, we are
instructed not to
keep dogs as pets and 'love' them as exemplified by the
non-Muslims.
Remember our life is structured and bound by the
Shariah i.e. The Noble
Qurãn and the beautiful example of Rasulullah
(Sallallaaahu Álayhi
Wasallam). Consider these Ahaadith:

Hadhrat Abu Talha (Radhiyallaahu Ánhu) reports that

Rasulullah (Sallallaaahu
Álayhi Wasallam) said, "Angels do not enter a house
wherein there is a dog
or an animate picture. (Sahih Bukhari Hadith no. 2986)

Hadhrat Ibn Abbas (Radhiyallaahu Ánhuma) reports

from Hadhrat Maimoona
(Radhiyallaahu Ánha) that once Rasulullah
(Sallallaaahu Álayhi Wasallam)
became sad; and said that Jibra'eel (Álayhis Salaam)
promised to meet him at
night but did not turn up. "By Allah what has kept him
back," said the
Prophet (Sallallaaahu Álayhi Wasallam). Then he
realised a puppy was under
his bed. He ordered that the puppy be removed and the
area be sprinkled with
water. In the afternoon when Jibra'eel (Álayhi Salaam)
came, Rasulullah
(Sallallaaahu Álayhi Wasallam) enquired as to the
delay. Jibra'eel (Álayhi
Salaam) said that we, the group of Angels do not enter a
house wherein there
is a dog or pictures. (Sahih Muslim Hadith no.3928)

In the light of these Ahaadith and other narrations it is

not permissible to
keep dogs as pets. The household is deprived of the
Mercy of Allah Taãla.

However, Jurists have stated that it is permissible to

keep a dog for
security purposes, farming and hunting.

The saliva of a dog is Najis (impure). If it touches the

clothes or body,
that portion also becomes impure and must be washed.

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Mufti Ebrahim Desai