Can Muslims Own Dogs As Pets?

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deb1

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Okay, I wondered upon this accidentally.

islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503547226

This man says that Muslims can not own dogs unless they are working dogs. And then the dog’s saliva can not touch the human, so I guess no licking. I was just curious if this is a mainstream Muslim believe or not.

Please let’s don’t make this a Muslim bashing thread. I am simply curious how common among Muslims this man’s views on dogs are.🙂

In conclusion: Don’t contemplate taking a dog home as a pet. If, however, you do need to keep a dog for any of the reasons given above, then you may do so. But take every precaution not to have contact with its saliva, and also arrange for a separate living space.”

Can Muslims own pets at all? Or do all animals have to be working animals?
 
I don’t know any of the teachings, but my friend, Ismaail, lived with us for about 6 months and he is very devout.

He said they didn’t have dogs in the house, but while he was here he played fetch and such with our three dogs. They aren’t in the house all the time, but he didn’t seem to mind them at all. I know that his family keeps dogs, only not in the house.

in Christ
Steph
 
deb1 said:
Can Muslims own pets at all? Or do all animals have to be working animals?
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It depends (as does almost everything in Islam) which scholar you choose to listen to, and how s/he interprets the scriptures and traditions of the prophet (saw).

forpeoplewhothink.org/Answers/Dogs_in_Islam.html

From a purely legal point of view, a dog is therefore not haram. However, the matter to which you refer is not a simple case of haram and halal. The prevailing Muslim opinion is against having dogs in the house, and one cannot deny that no matter how clean you try to keep the place, there is always the scent that denotes the presence of a dog. Many may not wish to pray in your house, etc. – in which case, you need to ask yourself to which matter do you give precedence. There is a rule that states: “Custom is given legal authority,” and this custom is found throughout the Muslim world, i.e. against having dogs in the house.
 
Can cats be in a Muslim house? I find that homes that have cats have much more of an unpleasant odor than dogs. And I have yet to be in a home with a cat where I have not seen the cat jump on the table or countertop in the kitchen. But then I am allegeric to the saliva of cats.
 
Big Mo said dogs are devil possessed. So, if you are devout Muslims, you’ll be nowhere near dogs. Recently, there have been many incidents in the US where Muslim taxi drivers refused to allow customers or the blinded with dogs into their cabs. They believe dogs are unclean.
 
I have been told that Muslims can keep dogs if they are used for some practical purpose - hunting, herding - but keeping dogs as pets is frowned upon.
 
I suppose some cultures have a particular view toward animals than others. I know (some) South Koreans liked them both under the table as a pet and on the table as a dish, and Filipinos tolerate them with less enthusiasm than Americans but more than the wary-eyed pet of the Korean.

Europeans and South Americans are maybe closer pet-wise than Africans and Asians who maybe are closer. It’s an interesting question.

It makes me wonder then about the impact of culture over religion or vice versa. MugenOne suggests a devout Muslim would not associate with a dog as a family pet like the European or North American. Rocky makes me now also wonder about cats and tundramom reminds me to not to cast to fine a net in any conclusion.

Is there a difference between a Korean who sometimes ate dog for food while in Korea and then moving to the UK where if not illegal it would be socially prohibitive to practice; and a Western convert to Islam who once played with dogs to now shun them for religion?

Is Middle Eastern culture particulary Arabia, culturally one way or another toward pets beofre Islam than they are now?
 
Well, I am Muslim nothing mentions about Dog in Our Holy Book. But one animal which is mentioned in Our Holy Book is about Pig.
Which is prohibited we can’t stand with it. So I go by my Holy Book. Dog is one of the faithfull animal. But I will not have it in my house for sure. But I liked CATS because our beloved prophet like it I guess I heard it from someone.
 
LaMar said:
It depends (as does almost everything in Islam) which scholar you choose to listen to, and how s/he interprets the scriptures and traditions of the prophet (saw).

forpeoplewhothink.org/Answers/Dogs_in_Islam.html

From a purely legal point of view, a dog is therefore not haram. However, the matter to which you refer is not a simple case of haram and halal. The prevailing Muslim opinion is against having dogs in the house, and one cannot deny that no matter how clean you try to keep the place, there is always the scent that denotes the presence of a dog. Many may not wish to pray in your house, etc. – in which case, you need to ask yourself to which matter do you give precedence. There is a rule that states: “Custom is given legal authority,” and this custom is found throughout the Muslim world, i.e. against having dogs in the house.
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**The above is a perfectly good reply on this topic. Dogs may not be kept as a pet. Not all people are familiar with dogs and so the visitors are disturbed in a house where there is a dog. Not all know how to handle a dog.

The christians have their old love for the dog as mentioned in the story of the seven sleepers ( also mentioned in chapter 18 of Quran). That was a hard time for the early christians who were highly persecuted and they had to live in the caves. The Dog used to be on the entry post.

Whenever there was an attack on the christians in their caves, the dog used to bark and alert the inmates. So the inmates fled into the wide remote areas of the caves.

Dog is a very faithful animal. Dog belongs to a person. The Cat belongs to the house. Dogs are loved by the German and the French. Cats are loved by the British. And the dog cannot beat the Cat.

I know I have wandered off the actual topic. There is no need for the Muslims to keep any dog in the house. It is a repulsive act, and not a welcome deed.**
 
I loooooooooooooooooooooooooove dogs!!! They are sooooooo sweet and make great pets, I think.

But generally Muslims aren’t supposed to keep them as pets, but only keep them for a reason, like for hunting, or for security, or like a blind person to lead them around.

There are a lot of bad ideas floating around because of that, though, about dogs.

Some people take the really extreme opinion that anything touched by a dog is impure but really they don’t have proof for that. Some others say it makes you impure to touch a dog and you need to make wudhu. And some say if you get doggie saliva on you, just wash it of. And I love to play with dogs. But like most people, I wash my hands afterwards. So I don’t think it’s such a big deal, really. If I play with a dog (and my parents have a dog who is my best buddy when I stay at their house) then I just wash my hands, and make wudhu before I pray. And I don’t let him in the room when I’m praying. And I don’t pray where he’s peed and stuff cuz that’s kinda gross.

The only real bad thing that Muslims are cautioned about with dogs is if they lick eating utensils. If they do that, the person is supposed to wash it 7 times, and once with dirt. And that is because of disease, primarily, like rabies for example, to make sure that the thing is clean because people will be eating off of it.

There is a hadith which says angels won’t enter the home of someone who has a dog, and other things which make it generally undesirable from a religious perspective to keep a dog inside the house.

But other than dogs, Muslims are allowed to own pets like cats, and a lot of Muslims own cats.
 
From Bukhari Vol. 4, #540
Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar: Allah’s Apostle ordered that the dogs should be killed.

From Muslim #3813
Abu Zubair heard Jabir Abdullah saying: Allah’s messenger ordered us to kill dogs and we carried out this order so much so that we also killed the dog roaming with a women 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.

These Hadith tell the story of Muhammad’s order to kill dogs. Muhammad said he would like to have all dogs killed. He wanted them killed, NOT because packs of dogs were tormenting the citizens of Medina, but rather, because a puppy stopped the mighty angel Gabriel. Muhammad’s solution was to kill the dogs. He first said he wanted all dogs killed but then made exceptions for dogs that are used for farming, hunting, or watching (outside). Further, he ordered that all black dogs be killed and called them “a Satan”.

From Bukhari Vol. 3, #515
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.””

Having a dog as a pet is prohibited in Islam. In fact, if a Muslim keeps a dog as a pet God will take away some heavenly reward for his good deeds! Notice that the amount taken away changed from one to two qirats.

The reason Mohammed allowed keeping working dogs because of the Bedu’s objection to the killing. Dogs were their livelihood.

​
 
MugenOne said:
From Bukhari Vol. 4, #540
Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar: Allah’s Apostle ordered that the dogs should be killed.

From Muslim #3813
Abu Zubair heard Jabir Abdullah saying: Allah’s messenger ordered us to kill dogs and we carried out this order so much so that we also killed the dog roaming with a women 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.

These Hadith tell the story of Muhammad’s order to kill dogs. Muhammad said he would like to have all dogs killed. He wanted them killed, NOT because packs of dogs were tormenting the citizens of Medina, but rather, because a puppy stopped the mighty angel Gabriel. Muhammad’s solution was to kill the dogs. He first said he wanted all dogs killed but then made exceptions for dogs that are used for farming, hunting, or watching (outside). Further, he ordered that all black dogs be killed and called them “a Satan”.

From Bukhari Vol. 3, #515
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.””

Having a dog as a pet is prohibited in Islam. In fact, if a Muslim keeps a dog as a pet God will take away some heavenly reward for his good deeds! Notice that the amount taken away changed from one to two qirats.

The reason Mohammed allowed keeping working dogs because of the Bedu’s objection to the killing. Dogs were their livelihood.

​
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** Please do not run after the Hadith too much. See the Quran first. Is there anything?. If not then forget all, above.**
 
planten said:
**The above is a perfectly good reply on this topic. Dogs may not be kept as a pet. Not all people are familiar with dogs and so the visitors are disturbed in a house where there is a dog. Not all know how to handle a dog.

The christians have their old love for the dog as mentioned in the story of the seven sleepers ( also mentioned in chapter 18 of Quran). That was a hard time for the early christians who were highly persecuted and they had to live in the caves. The Dog used to be on the entry post.

Whenever there was an attack on the christians in their caves, the dog used to bark and alert the inmates. So the inmates fled into the wide remote areas of the caves.

Dog is a very faithful animal. Dog belongs to a person. The Cat belongs to the house. Dogs are loved by the German and the French. Cats are loved by the British. And the dog cannot beat the Cat.

I know I have wandered off the actual topic. There is no need for the Muslims to keep any dog in the house. It is a repulsive act, and not a welcome deed.**
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Brother Planet,

Please provide me verse in which you read about dog. I know the Surah/Chapter 18. Thanks
 
I’m really amazed how we Muslims like to hide the truth, none of my fellow Muslims have shown actual quotes from the authentic Hadiths which clearly show the violence in Islam even for pets:

** - Dogs nullify prayer.
** Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 9, Number 493:
*Narrated 'Aisha:
The things which annual prayer were mentioned before me (and those were): a dog, a donkey and a woman. I said, “You have compared us (women) to donkeys and dogs. By Allah! I saw the Prophet praying while I used to lie in (my) bed between him and the Qibla. Whenever I was in need of something, I disliked to sit and trouble the Prophet. So, I would slip away by the side of his feet.” *

** - Gabriel does not enter a house which has a dog.**
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 54, Number 450:
  • Narrated Salim’s father:
    Once Gabriel promised the Prophet (that he would visit him, but Gabriel did not come) and later on he said, “We, angels, do not enter a house which contains a picture or a dog.” *
** - Angels do not enter a house which has a dog.**
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 54, Number 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).” *
** - Two Qirat (aka Carat) daily deduction for keeping the dog.**
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 67, Number 389:
  • Narrated Ibn 'Umar:
    The Prophet said, “Whoever keeps a (pet) dog which is neither a watch dog nor a hunting dog, will get a daily deduction of two Qirat from his good deeds.” *
- Washing the utensil 7 times.
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 4, Number 173:
  • Narrated Abu Huraira:
    Allah’s Apostle said, “If a dog drinks from the utensil of anyone of you it is essential to wash it seven times.” *
- Orders by Muhammed to kill dogs.
Sahih Bukhari,Sahih Muslim Book 010, Number 3809:
  • Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) giving command for killing dogs.*
Sahih Muslim, Book 010, Number 3810:
  • Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported: Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) ordered to kill dogs, and he sent (men) to the corners of Medina that they should be killed.*
Sahih Muslim, Book 010, Number 3811:
  • Abdullah (b. Umar) (Allah be pleased with them) reported: Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) ordered the killing of dogs and we would send (men) in Medina and its corners and we did not spare any dog that we did not kill, so much so that we killed the dog that accompanied the wet she-camel belonging to the people of the desert.*
Sahih Muslim, Book 010, Number 3812:
  • Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be, upon him) ordered the killing of dogs except the dog tamed for hunting, or watching of the herd of sheep or other domestic animals. It was said to Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) that Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) talks of (exception) about the dog for watching the field, whereupon he said: Since Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) possessed land.
Many believes that dogs can sense the presence of ghosts (i.e., demons), now link that to the above, particularly whom pretending to be Gabriel (i.e, Satan) and his Angels when they say that they won’t enter a house which has dogs.:eek:
 
tomshaikh said:
Well, I am Muslim nothing mentions about Dog in Our Holy Book. But one animal which is mentioned in Our Holy Book is about Pig.
Which is prohibited we can’t stand with it. So I go by my Holy Book. Dog is one of the faithfull animal. But I will not have it in my house for sure. But I liked CATS because our beloved prophet like it I guess I heard it from someone.
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Ok, if you cant eat pigs, keep them as pets, why would God create them if they are so bad?
 
Why in West. People calls each you dog, he is like pig. Why they do not think that human is Asharful-Makhlukat. Any Muslim translate in English. Please
 
dolphinlove said:
Ok, if you cant eat pigs, keep them as pets, why would God create them if they are so bad?
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I donot have answer for you. But in my last holy book its mentioned that One and Only Above--------All Knowlingly, All Wise, in most of the places. Something which One and Only Above knows only. Take a moment of creation of Adam. Angels said why you are making this creature which will make crisis in world. So One and Only said you donot know what I know. It is One and Only Above Masliyat (Urdu Word). Please any muslim convert in english who knew urdu. I donot have English to Urdu dictionary.
 
tomshaikh said:
human is Asharful-Makhlukat. Any Muslim translate in English. Please
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“human is holiest-creatures”.

The Bible even have us higher that that, we are created like the image of God The Most High:

(Genesis 1:27):
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
 
tomshaikh said:
I donot have answer for you. But in my last holy book its mentioned that One and Only Above--------All Knowlingly, All Wise, in most of the places. Something which One and Only Above knows only. Take a moment of creation of Adam. Angels said why you are making this creature which will make crisis in world. So One and Only said you donot know what I know. It is One and Only Above Masliyat (Urdu Word). Please any muslim convert in english who knew urdu. I donot have English to Urdu dictionary.
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God loves all he created, does he not? So he would love the pigs he created. I believe God is all loving and all knowing also, but why on earth create something that is insignificant?
 
dolphinlove said:
God loves all he created, does he not? So he would love the pigs he created. I believe God is all loving and all knowing also, but why on earth create something that is insignificant?
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Well if there is nothing left in this world. And Muslim is in danger of dieing hungery. Than its allowed. Hopefully that won’t going to happened because its forbidden in islam. Sorry One and Only Above if i said the big word. I pray that will not happened to any muslim. Ameen Sum Ameen
 
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