Dogs in Islam: Are Dogs Allowed in Islam?

There are lots of misconceptions about Islamic Rulling on keeping Dogs in Islam. Today I aim to address these misconceptions as clearly and simply as possible for you. As you aware that, I previously discussed various perspectives on cats in Islam, attempting to present a clear view on different aspects regarding cats. Continuing in that vein, today I’ve decided to delve into Islamic views on dogs. Because much like with cats, there are many misconceptions about dogs also.

I want to remind you once again that I am not an Islamic scholar. Therefore, this post is not a Q&A session but rather an attempt to write a blog on this subject. At the end of my blog, you will find a link to another source where Islamic scholars provide more detailed answers to these questions. You can refer to that link for further verification and to satisfy your curiosity. I don’t think today’s post will be very lengthy. I hope you read it attentively if you have an interest in this topic. So, without further ado, let us begin in the name of Allah.

As always I seek refuge in Allah Almighty from all kinds of harm and pray that He makes my work easy. I also pray that He considers this effort a means of salvation for us in this world and the hereafter. Whatever is good in my writing is entirely a blessing from Allah Almighty, and any faults are due to Satan (Devil) and my own lack of knowledge. JazakAllah. (Thank you).

Islam and Dogs: A Brief Guidelines

Islam, like with all other creatures, commands us to treat dogs kindly. I have briefly mentioned the importance of treating animals well in my last post, where I discussed Islam on the importance of animals. If you want, you can refer to that part for further understanding. Here, I won’t reiterate how much Islam values animals and how we should treat them. Instead, I’ll focus on whether we are allowed to keep dogs and under what conditions. But always remember it is an evident that dogs deserve good treatment from us at all times unless they pose a threat to us.

Now, addressing the main question of whether Islam permits keeping dogs or not:
Islam generally does not approve of keeping dogs. However, there are specific conditions under which keeping dogs is allowed. I will mention these conditions and also refer to Hadiths that explain why keeping dogs is generally discouraged in Islam later on my post.

General Prohibition in Islam on Keeping Dogs

It is not appropriate for a Muslim to keep a dog, as Islam generally prohibits this practice. I am aware there are exceptions, which I will mention later. Before that, I want to share a Hadith that describes the consequences of keeping a dog without valid reasons.

• Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) 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.[¹]

Another similar Hadith is narrated by another narrator,

• Salim reported on the authority of his father that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said:
  He who kept a dog other than one meant for hunting or for watching the herd, lost two qirat of his reward every day.[²]

From the Hadith mentioned above, it is clear that if someone keeps a dog without valid reasons like hunting or herding, their good deeds will be reduced by the amount of two Qirats each day. Now, we need to understand what a Qirat is and the significance of one Qirat in terms of good deeds.

To explain this better, I will share another Hadith that, while not directly related to dogs, explains the concept of Qirat.

• Narrated Abu Huraira:
  that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Whoever attends the funeral procession till he offers the funeral prayer for it, will get a reward equal to one Qirat, and whoever accompanies it till burial, will get a reward equal to two Qirats.” It was asked, “What are two Qirats?” He replied, “Like two huge mountains.”[³]

You must have understood by now the significance of one Qirat worth of good deeds. Surely, you wouldn’t want to lose the equivalent of two Qirats of good deeds every day. Therefore, avoid keeping a dog without a valid reason.

In which case keeping dog  is allowed in Islam?

You might have already understood the specific cases in which Islam permits keeping dogs, as I previously mentioned some Hadiths that address the punishment for keeping dogs alongside two permissible reasons for doing so. Here, I will present another Hadith for further clarity.

• Ibn Mughaffal reported:
  Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) ordered the killing of dogs and then said: what is the trouble with them (the people of Medina)? How dogs are nuisance to them (the citizens of Medina)? He then permitted keehing of dogs for hunting and (the protection of) herds.[⁴]

Beyond the two reasons previously mentioned, we find another reason in another Hadith, which is the supervision of agricultural fields. This Hadith is narrated by Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him). I will now share the Hadith with you.

• Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
  He who kept a dog except one meant for watching the herd, or for hunting or for watching the fields. he lost two qirat of reward every day. Zuhri said: The words of Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) were conveyed to Ibn Umar who said: May Allah have mercy upon Abu Huraira; he owned a field.[⁵]

From the first two Hadiths mentioned above, along with this one, we understand that Islam permits keeping dogs in three situations:

• For hunting purposes
•  For guarding livestock
• For supervising agricultural fields

Apart from these reasons, generally keeping dogs in Islam is not allowed.

Some people may ask if keeping dogs for guarding homes is permissible. On this matter, there are differing opinions among Islamic scholars, so I will not present my own view. If you are interested in learning more about this topic, you can read this post, Keeping Dogs in Islam: Allowed?

Prohibition of Selling and Buying Dogs in Islam

Just as keeping dogs is generally prohibited in Islam, so is buying and selling them. The question of trading in dogs is invalid while keeping them is not generally allowed. There is a Hadith concerning this matter:

• Abu Zubair said:
  I asked Jabir about the price of a dog and a cat; he said: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) disapproved of that.[⁶]

This Hadith clearly proves the prohibition of buying and selling dogs in Islam.

Are Dogs Really Impure Animals?

Generally, dogs are not considered impure animals in Islam. However, this does not mean that it is appropriate for a Muslim to kiss a dog. It is not good practice of a Muslim. But if a dog drinks from a vessel, that vessel becomes impure because the saliva of a dog is considered impure.
So, if you touch a dog, you do not become impure. However, if any part of your body gets wet after coming into contact with a dog, you will need to purify yourself.

I have tried to explain this matter as simply and briefly as possible, but the topic is not so straightforward. There are difference of opinions among Islamic scholars on this matter, so it warrants a detailed discussion. If you want to know more about this subject or learn how to purify yourself if you come into contact with dog saliva, and the broader rulings regarding dogs in Islam, you can read this post, Keeping Dogs in Islam: Allowed?

Though I could write more about these topics, you know well that I am not an Islamic scholar, so these matters fall outside my area of expertise. So please go and check the link I provided in this post.

I will conclude this post here for today. I want to remind you that dogs are not inherently impure animals. That said, it does not mean that you should form an overly intimate relationship with them, cuddle them, or pamper them excessively. Even though you may not become impure by doing so, it is better to be cautious. Islam generally discourages overindulgence in matters that are not permitted. We know that dogs are loyal animals, and it is our duty to treat them kindly as long as they do not harm anyone. However, we should avoid going to extremes. May Allah grant us the proper understanding of Islam and the ability to act accordingly. With this prayer, I conclude today’s post. JazakAllah Khair.