❖ Shar‘i Ruling on Purity of Clothes When Touched by a Dog or Its Saliva ❖
✍ Response by: Shaykh Khidr Hayat ḥafiẓahullāh
I work in the UK, and my boss often brings his dog to the office. Though we Muslims try to avoid contact, sometimes the dog touches us or licks our clothes. Does this make the clothes impure? If so, what is the correct method of purification?
Prophetic Teaching:
“Whoever keeps a dog without necessity for livestock or hunting, his reward is reduced by two qirāṭs every day.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5480
✔ Allowed only for livestock protection, farming, hunting, or security purposes.
Keeping dogs without need or bringing them into homes or offices is impermissible because:
No impurity is transferred, and no washing is required.
That specific area is considered impure (najis) and must be washed accordingly.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"If a dog licks a vessel, wash it seven times, one of which should be with soil."
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 279
◈ If only touched by the dog without wetness or impurity, clothes remain pure.
◈ If saliva, drool, or any impurity touches, the affected area must be washed seven times, once with soil (or its equivalent).
◈ Avoid unnecessary contact and seek accommodation where possible, but if beyond your control, you are not sinful.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَم
✍ Response by: Shaykh Khidr Hayat ḥafiẓahullāh
❖ Question:
I work in the UK, and my boss often brings his dog to the office. Though we Muslims try to avoid contact, sometimes the dog touches us or licks our clothes. Does this make the clothes impure? If so, what is the correct method of purification?
❖ Islamic Ruling on Keeping Dogs
Prophetic Teaching:“Whoever keeps a dog without necessity for livestock or hunting, his reward is reduced by two qirāṭs every day.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5480✿ Permissible Cases for Keeping Dogs
✔ Allowed only for livestock protection, farming, hunting, or security purposes.
✿ Impermissible Cases
Keeping dogs without need or bringing them into homes or offices is impermissible because:- Angels of mercy do not enter homes where a dog is present.
- Dogs are associated with impurity, odor, and disruption of cleanliness.
- Their saliva is classified as najis (impure) by Sharī‘ah.
❖ Ruling on Purity When a Dog Touches or Licks
➊ If the dog touches the body or clothing without saliva or any visible impurity:
No impurity is transferred, and no washing is required.➋ If the dog licks, drools, or leaves behind moisture:
That specific area is considered impure (najis) and must be washed accordingly.✦ Purification Method
The Prophet ﷺ said:"If a dog licks a vessel, wash it seven times, one of which should be with soil."
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 279 How to Clean the Affected Area:
- Wash the area seven times.
- Use soil once, preferably in the first wash.
- If soil is unavailable, disinfectant soap or similar purifying agents may be used (as per some scholars’ opinion).
- Even with soap, the total of seven washes must be completed.
❖ Practical Advice for Workplace Situations
- Politely explain your religious perspective to your boss, requesting distance from the dog if possible.
- If your boss is non-Muslim and does not accommodate the request, you are excused under Sharī‘ah.
Summary
◈ If only touched by the dog without wetness or impurity, clothes remain pure.
◈ If saliva, drool, or any impurity touches, the affected area must be washed seven times, once with soil (or its equivalent).
◈ Avoid unnecessary contact and seek accommodation where possible, but if beyond your control, you are not sinful.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَم
