179. Are Dogs Haraam

By Asma Bint Shameem

Before I answer the post, let me clarify that dogs are not haraam in and of themselves. 

Touching dogs is permissible as long as one does not come into contact with their saliva. 

In that case, the person should simply purify oneself before performing Salaah.

As Muslims we are supposed to believe in the Qur’aan AND the authentic ahaadeeth of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam. 

That’s PART of being a Muslim. 

That’s PART of saying “La ilaaha ilallaah Muhammadur Rasoolullaah”

How can this man ignore the authentic ahaadeeth of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam that CLEARLY prohibit keeping dogs as pets?

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

"Whoever keeps a dog, his good deeds will decrease every day by one qeeraat (meaning a very large portion), unless it is a dog for herding sheep, farming or hunting." (al-Bukhaari)

In another hadeeth he Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said:

“Whoever keeps a dog, except a dog for herding livestock or a dog that is trained for hunting, TWO qiraats will be deducted from his reward each day.” (Muslim)

And he Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam also said:

“The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or an image.” (Ibn Maajah -- saheeh by al-Albaani)

Islaam is not just what’s in the Qur’aan.

Islaam is ALSO following the Sunnah. 

The Qur’aan is the basic commands of Allaah. 

The Sunnah is the IMPLEMENTATION of those Orders. 

  

Allaah said:

“He who obeys the Messenger, has indeed *obeyed Allaah*; but he who turns away, then we have not sent you (O Muhammad SAW) as a watcher over them.” 

(Surah an-Nisaa:80)

And Allaah said:

“And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad SAW) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, *ABSTAIN* (from it) , *and FEAR Allaah. *

*Verily, Allaah is Severe in punishment.” *

(Surah al-Hashr :7)

So we’re supposed to ACCEPT whatever the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam tells us to do and SUBMIT to that. 

That’s why I’m this Aayah, Allaah is WARNING those people who want to OPPOSE the instructions of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam and *only follow the Qur’aan*. 

Just look at the words.

Allaah is saying...

*”FEAR Allaah. “*

*”Verily, Allaah is SEVERE in punishment.” *

In fact the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam already warned us 1400 years ago about such people who will ONLY want to follow the Qur’aan so that they can follow their desires instead of submitting to Allaah and His Messenger Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam. 

He Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said:

“Verily I have been given the Qur’aan and *something similar to it along with it.* *(the Sunnah).*

But soon there will be a time when a man will be reclining on his couch with a full stomach, and he will say, ‘You should adhere to this Qur’aan: what you find that it says is permissible, take it as permissible, and what you find it says is forbidden, take it as forbidden.’

But indeed, *whatever the Messenger of Allaah forbids is like what Allaah forbids.”*

[al-Tirmidhi (2664); hasan by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah(2870)]

So as Muslims we’re supposed to follow the Qur’aan “AND” the Sunnah. 

Muslims are not “blindly following their sects and Ulama”, as the author of the post alleges. 

We’re following the *Prophet* sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam and his instructions!

And it is HE that is “blindly following” “his desires” and conveniently “misinterpreting” the Aayaat of the Qur’aan and “ignoring” the clear instructions of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam, just to fulfill HIS OWN WHIMS. 

I’ll go over each Aayah and explain Bi idhnillaahi Ta’aala. 

1.  Surah Kahf: 18

”And you would think them awake, while they were asleep. And WE turned them to the right and to the left, while their dog stretched his forelegs at the entrance". 

My answer:

The fact that the dog was with the people of the cave does NOT mean that it’s allowed to keep dogs as PETS. 

Allaah is mentioning a “circumstance” where a dog accompanied the youth and he was GUARDING the youth

“their dog stretched his forelegs at the entrance"

And guard dogs are ALLOWED, as per the authentic hadeeth of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam. 

And even if keeping a dog was allowed in the Sharee’ah of that time, ALL the legislation of previous Prophets was ABROGATED by the Sharee’ah that the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam brought. 

Just because Allaah mentions a dog in that story does not mean that it’s allowed for ALL time to come till eternity!

2. Surah Kahf: 54

“And indeed We have put forth every kind of example in this Quran, for mankind. But, man is ever more quarrelsome than anything.“

My answer:

The Aayah #54 of Surah al-Kahf is NOT referring specifically to the DOG!

Rather, if we read the Aayaat before and after this Aayah #54, we will see that Allaah is talking about Iblees and the criminals and disbelievers who set up partners with Allaah and commit SHIRK!

It has NOTHING to do with the dog. 

The Aayaat that mentioned the dog are done and over with. 

3.Surah Kahf Aayah 22 

“ (Some) say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; (others) say they were five, the dog being the sixth, guessing at the unseen; (yet others) say they were seven, the dog being the eighth. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "My Lord knows best their number; none knows them but a few." So debate not (about their number, etc.) except with the clear proof (which We have revealed to you). And consult not any of them (people of the Scripture, Jews and Christians) about (the affair of) the people of the Cave.”

My answer:

Just because Surah Kahf Aayah 22 counts the dog among the people does not mean that allowing a dog as a pet. 

No one is denying that the dog was there.

We believe in the Qur’aan and so we all know the dog was there. 

But we ALSO believe in the authentic ahaadeeth and we know that the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam FORBADE keeping a dog unnecessarily. 

4. Surah al-Maa’idah:4

”They ask you what (is) made lawful for them. Say, "Are made lawful for you the good things and what you have taught (your) hunting animals, ones who train animals to hunt you teach them of what Allah has taught you. So eat of what they catch for you, but mention (the) name (of) Allah on it” 

My answer:

Yes the Aayah tells us to train dogs to HUNT. 

And what they catch is allowed for us 

No one doubts that. 

But the same Rabb that has allowed us to use dogs as hunting tools, is the SAME Rabb who has said NOT to keep dogs as pets. 

So it’s all about SUBMISSION to Allaah’s orders. 

5. Surah al-Aa’raaf:176 

“And had We willed, We would surely have elevated him therewith but he clung to the earth and followed his own vain desire.

 So his description is the description of a dog: if you drive him away, he lolls his tongue out, or if you leave him alone, he (still) lolls his tongue out. Such is the description of the people who reject Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.). So relate the stories, perhaps they may reflect.“

Allaah is giving an example of a stubborn evil man called Bal’am, who did NOT SUBMIT to Allaah or His Messenger Musa Alaiyhis-Salaam. 

Ibn `Abbas said, 

"When Musa and those with him went to the city of the tyrants (Jerusalem), the cousins of Bal`am and his people came to him and said, `Musa is a strong man, and he has many soldiers. If he gains the upper hand over us, we will be destroyed. 

Therefore, supplicate to Allah that He prevents Musa and those with him from prevailing over us.' Bal`am said, `If I supplicate to Allah that He turns back Musa and those with him, I will lose in this life and the Hereafter.' They kept luring him until he supplicated against Musa and his people, and Allah took away what he bestowed on him (of knowledge).“ (Tafseer Ibn Katheer) 

Allaah talks about this man in a very derogatory manner and likens him to a dog that pants no matter what he does. 

Similarly such a man will never be guided no matter what. 

Ibn Katheer says:

“Scholars of Tafsir have conflicting opinions regarding the meaning of this Ayah. 

Some scholars said that it refers to the end of Bal`am's tongue which flickered out of his mouth, as in the story narrated from Ibn Ishaq, from Salim, from Abu An-Nadr. 

Therefore, his example is the example of the dog, its tongue pants regardless of whether it is driven away or not. 

It was also said that the meaning here is a parable of this man -- and his like -- concerning their misguidance, persisting the wrong path and not being able to benefit from faith or comprehend what they are being called to. 

So his example is that of a dog which pants whether it was driven away or left alone. The person described here does not benefit from the advice or the call to faith, just as if the advice and call never occurred. 

It was also said that the meaning here, is that the heart of the disbeliever, the hypocrite and the wicked is weak and devoid of guidance. Therefore, it keeps faltering. Similar was narrated from Al-Hasan Al-Basri.“

(Tafseer Ibn Katheer ; Surah al-Aayaat:176)

So the dog is NOT mentioned in a positive way or in a way that supports the author of the post’s arguments about dogs. 

“If God did not curse the dog, it is because God wants us to know that He created that beautiful creature He expects us to make all use and companionship with that animal that accompanied these righteous people of the cave.”

My answer:

That’s a lie. 

No one says that Allaah has cursed the dog. 

Rather Allaah tells us to be KIND to ALL animals, including dogs, cats, lions, horses, fish etc. 

Muslims are not forbidden to be around dogs.

Muslims are not allowed to keep dogs as PETS in OBEDIENCE to the orders of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam. 

But Muslims ARE allowed to USE dogs as guard dogs, hunt dogs, cow dogs, guide dogs etc. 

May Allaah guide this man and enable him to see beyond his limited vision of his desires. 

And enable him to submit to the orders of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam. 

As Allaah said:

“But no, by your Lord, *they can have no Faith*, until they make you (O Muhammad SAW) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves *no resistance* against your decisions, and ACCEPT (them) with *full submission*.” 

(Surah an-Nisaa:65)

And Allaah knows best