How Muslims Feel About Having Dogs:
Dogs in Islam: Looking at things from an Islamic point of view, read about dogs in the Quran and real Hadith. Learn about the times when having a dog is okay in Islam, the areas where scholars argue, and how Muslim dog owners should act.
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Dogs in Islam
Many people in Islamic groups are very divided on the issue of whether Muslims can have dogs as pets. Some traditional readings say that having dogs is against the law, but a close study of the Quran and the Prophets’ sayings shows a more nuanced view. Islam gives people a way to think about dogs that is useful. They make rules about how to be pure, how to pray, and how to treat animals with care. To understand this aspect of contemporary life, Muslims must be able to reconcile these factors.
The Quranic Perspective on Dogs:
The Quran, the primary source of Islamic law, discusses dogs in several important ways that indicate Islamic teachings:
Dogs in Islam: Permission for Hunting Dogs
In Surah Al-Maidah (5:4), Allah clearly states that Muslims are permitted to hunt with trained hunting dogs: “O Muhammad, they ask you what has been declared lawful for them.”” For you, it is okay to eat all good foods and game that you catch with hunting animals that you have trained the way Allah taught you. Then eat what they catch for you and say the name of Allah on it. Additionally, this verse says that dogs can be useful and that the things they fetch are still safe to eat.
The Companion of the Cave
The Quran talks about the Companions of the Cave in Surah Al-Kahf (18:17–18). They were good young people who were watched over by a dog. “And you would think them awake, while they were asleep.” “We turned them both right and left while their dog stretched his front legs at the door.” The dog is shown in a good light as a guardian and friend to these religious people. This story shows that dogs can live with good people, which goes against the idea that dogs are always bad.
These passages from the Quran show that dogs are not naturally dirty or forbidden in Islam. Instead, the Quran recognizes their value in certain situations without forbidding them in general.
Hadith Literature: Regulations and Restrictions
More specific rules about dogs can be found in the Hadith literature:
Lowering of the spiritual reward
Several real Hadiths say that having dogs without a good reason can hurt your spiritual benefits. “Anyone who keeps a dog will lose one Qirat worth of good deeds every day, unless they keep it to watch over the fields or the herd,” said the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Narrated Ibn `Umar:
The Prophet (ﷺ) 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.”
Hygiene and Purification Requirements
According to another story, two Qirats are taken away every day. What this reduction means to different experts is not the same. Some say it shows how bad it is to have a dog when you don’t need one, while others see it as more of a spiritual effect than a clear ban. Angels and Private Places
Permissible Purposes for Keeping Dogs
Permissible Purposes for Keeping Dogs
Many people quote the Hadith that says, “The angels do not enter a house where there is a dog or an image.”
The angels do not enter.
Narrated Abu Talha:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or there are pictures.”
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 5949
Guarding and Protection:
This is thought to mean that angels might stay away from houses with dogs because the dogs might make the spiritual atmosphere bad. Scholars say that this mostly applies to places where people pray and dogs are allowed to roam freely.
Needs for cleanliness and hygiene
The Prophet told people how to clean things after dogs touch them: “If a dog licks your vessel, wash it seven times and rub it with earth the eighth time.”
The focus on deep cleaning dogs suggests worries about ritual cleanliness and hygiene rather than bad dogs being bad in and of themselves.
Reasons that are okay to keep dogs.
According to Islamic law, people can keep dogs for certain good reasons: Hunting Dogs
Based on what the Quran says and what the Prophets taught, dogs that are trained to hunt are still clearly allowed.
Watching over and protecting
People can keep dogs to protect their animals, crops, and land. Many experts say that this permission also covers home protection, which is especially important in rural places where people are worried about safety
Service and Working Dogs
Modern experts are becoming more and more open to the idea of service dogs, like guide dogs for the blind or rescue dogs. Smart people like Hamza Yusuf have spoken out against bad views about Muslims who need guide dogs, showing how helpful they are.
Scholars’ thoughts and opinions
Different Islamic thinkers have different ideas about having a dog:
Old problems that hold us back
Many traditional experts say it is wrong to have a dog as a pet because angels stay away from homes with dogs. It is made clear that permission is only allowed for certain things, like keeping an eye on, shooting, or herding animals. Some experts today say that the rules from the past were based on conditions that were important at the time, like rabies, that may not be as important now that there is medicine for animals and vaccines. They say that the Quran doesn’t say anything bad about dogs. In fact, some stories in the Quran are friendly to dogs.
Middle Ground Approaches
A lot of experts support fair approaches that take into account the roles dogs can play while still following spiritual and hygiene rules. People should keep their dogs out of living areas as much as possible and clean up after them as directed. Advice for Muslim dog owners on how to live their lives
For Muslims who want to keep dogs for certain reasons:
1. Where You Live Matters
If you have a dog for protection, you might want to keep it outside of the main living areas, like in a yard or a guard house, to honor the home’s spiritual place.
2. Practices of Hygiene
If your dog licks your clothes or dishes, you should follow Islamic rules for cleaning. Items that are damaged should be washed seven times with water, with one wash including soap or soil. Being kind and being healthy
3. Kindness and Welfare
According to Islam, people should be kind to animals. The Prophet told a prostitute that Allah would forgive her for giving water to a dog that was thirsty.
Make sure dogs have enough to eat, drink, a place to stay, and trip to the vet.
Conclusion: Balancing Spirituality and Practicality
Dogs in Islam: Why do you want to have a dog? Islamic beliefs say it is wrong to own things for no reason, but they do allow for wants and needs that are practical. Finally: How to Find a Balance Between Spirituality and Real Life
From an Islamic point of view, dogs are respected because they are useful. The Quran doesn’t say that dogs are bad. In some places, it even says nice things about them. Hadith writing, on the other hand, has rules to keep things clean and spiritually aware.
The most important thing is to keep dogs for good reasons and follow Islamic rules about cleanliness at the same time. Muslims shouldn’t follow strict rules about whether or not to have a dog. Instead, they should think about their own needs, wants, and spiritual goals when making their decision. Muslims can accept both the teachings of Islam and the way these animals are in their natural state. Allah made these animals to help people by keeping these things in balance.
In the end, Islam supports thoughtful interaction with the world around us instead of harsh condemnations. The Quran tells us that all living things live in groups, just like us (6:38). Each group has a purpose and worth in Allah’s creation.
FAQ: Dogs in Islam – Understanding Islamic Perspectives
Q1-Are dogs “haram,” or forbidden, in Islam?
A-No, dogs are not inherently bad or forbidden. Islamic beliefs give people a complicated picture that shows how important they are while also giving them rules for spiritual practice and keeping pure.
Q2-Are dogs “haram,” or forbidden, in Islam?
A-No, dogs are not inherently bad or forbidden. Islamic beliefs give people a complicated picture that shows how important they are while also giving them rules for spiritual practice and keeping pure.
Q3: I’ve heard that angels don’t go into homes with dogs. Is this true?
A: Yes, according to real Hadith. Scholars say, though, that this mostly applies to the living areas inside of buildings where angels of mercy are present. There is less of a worry about this if the dog is kept for a legal reason (like guarding) and is not in the main living area (like in a yard or guardhouse).
Q4: Why do some Hadiths say that having a dog makes you less likely to do good things?
A-If you keep a dog without a good reason, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that your spiritual benefits will go down (measured in Qirats). Scholars see this as a strong warning against having pets for no reason. Importantly, this discount does not apply to dogs that are kept for useful and necessary reasons.
Q5: For what reasons is it permissible to keep a dog in Islam?
A: Islamic tradition permits keeping dogs for specific beneficial roles, including:
Hunting (based on the Quran)
Guarding (livestock, crops, property, and by extension, home security)
Service & Work (e.g., guide dogs for the blind, police dogs, search and rescue dogs).
Q6: What are the hygiene rules if a dog licks a plate or my clothes?
A: The Prophetic teaching is to wash the affected item seven times, with one of those washes including soil (which modern scholars say can be substituted with a thorough scrub using modern detergents that remove saliva and germs).
Q7: How should a Muslim treat a dog if they own one for a permissible reason?
A: Being kind to all animals is required by Islam. You need to give:
Enough food and water
The right shelter
Veterinary care that is needed
It was good that someone asked God to forgive them for giving water to a dog that was thirsty, and God did.
What’s the most important thing for Muslims to remember if they want to get a dog?
Q8-A: Intentionality is the most important thing.
A-Allowable: Having a dog for a clear, good reason (like defense, service, or hunting), as long as you follow good hygiene habits and pay attention to where the dog is located in relation to the main living or worship areas.
Keeping a dog just as a pet without any other purpose is not recommended because it is linked to a Hadith that says spiritual benefits will be lessened.
Muslims are told to make a choice that is fair and takes into account their unique situation, needs, and a true desire to follow both the spiritual and practical teachings of their faith.