This excerpt is taken from Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi's book Halal and Haram in Islam, translated into Urdu by Muhammad Tahir Naqash.
Keeping Dogs Without Necessity:
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also prohibited keeping dogs at home without necessity.
We have seen such indulgent people who spend lavishly on dogs but are stingy when it comes to spending on their own children. There are also those who not only spend money on the pampering and antics of their dogs but also develop emotional attachments to them, while they remain indifferent to their relatives and forget their neighbors and brothers.
If a Muslim has a dog in the house, there is a possibility that it may lick utensils and make them impure. The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
إذا ولغ الكلب فى إناء أحدكم فليغسله سبع مرات إحداهن بالتراب
"When a dog licks the utensil of anyone of you, it is necessary to wash it seven times, one of which should be with soil."
Reference: Bukhari, Book of Ablution: Chapter on If a Dog Drinks from Your Vessel, Hadith: 172 - Muslim, Book of Purification, Chapter on the Ruling on a Dog Licking, Hadith: 279
Some scholars have explained the reason for prohibition as the dog barking at guests, frightening beggars, and causing harm to passersby.
The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
آتانى جبريل عليه السلام فقال لي أتيتك البارحة فلم يمنعني أن أكون دخلت إلا أنه كان على الباب تماثيل وكان فى البيت قرام ستر فيه تماثيل وكان فى البيت كلب، فمر برأس التمثال الذى فى البيت يقطع فيصير كهيئة الشجرة ومر بالستر فليقطع فيجعل منه وسادتان توطان ومر بالكلب فليخرج
"Gabriel (peace be upon him) came to me and said: I came last night but did not enter the house because there was a statue at the door and a curtain with pictures inside the house, and there was also a dog in the house. So, have the head of the statue in the house cut off in such a way that it remains in the form of a tree. Tear the curtain and make pillows out of it, which can be trampled upon, and remove the dog from the house."
Reference: Abu Dawood, Book of Clothing: Chapter on Images, Hadith: 4158; Tirmidhi, Book of Manners, Chapter on the Angels Not Entering, Hadith: 2806 - Nasa'i, Book of Adornment, Chapter on Mentioning the Most Severely Punished, Hadith: 5367
This prohibition applies to those dogs that are kept without necessity and without benefit.
The Permissibility of Dogs for Hunting and Protection:
Dogs that are kept out of necessity, such as hunting dogs or dogs used for protecting fields and livestock, are exempt from this ruling. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
من اتخذ كلبا إلا كلب صيد أو زرع أوماشية انتقص من أجره كل يوم قيراط
”Whoever keeps a dog, his reward decreases by one Qirat every day, except if it is kept for hunting, farming, or livestock.“
Reference: Bukhari, Book of Agriculture, Chapter on Acquiring Dogs for Agriculture, Hadith: 2322 - Muslim, Book of Irrigation, Chapter on the Command to Kill Dogs, Hadith: 1575
From this hadith, some jurists have deduced that the prohibition of keeping dogs is a matter of dislike (makruh) and not a matter of prohibition (haram), because if keeping a dog were haram, one would have to avoid it in every case, regardless of whether the reward decreases or not.
The prohibition on keeping dogs in the house does not mean that dogs should be treated cruelly or exterminated. Because the Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
لولا ان الكلاب أمة من الأمم لا مرت بقتلها
”If dogs were not a nation, I would have ordered them all to be killed.“
Reference: Abu Dawood, Book of Hunting, Chapter on Taking Dogs for Hunting and Others: 2845; Tirmidhi, Book of Rulings, Chapter on the Killing of Dogs, Hadith: 1486; Nasai, Book of Hunting, Chapter on the Description of Dogs Ordered to be Killed, Hadith: 4285 - Ibn Majah, Book of Hunting, Chapter on the Prohibition of Acquiring Dogs, Hadith: 3205
Through this hadith, the Prophet, peace be upon him, pointed to an important reality, and this significant reality has been described in the Quran in these words:
وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا طَائِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلَّا أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُم
”There is no creature on earth or a bird that flies with its wings except that they are communities like you.“
Reference: (Al-An'am: 38)
The Prophet, peace be upon him, also told his companions the story of a man who saw a dog in the desert panting and licking mud out of extreme thirst. The man ran to a well, filled his sock with water, and gave the dog a drink until it was satisfied. After narrating this story, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: Allah appreciated this act of his and forgave him.
Reference: Bukhari, Book of Irrigation, Chapter on the Virtue of Giving Water, Hadith: 2363; Muslim, Book of Peace, Chapter on the Virtue of Giving Water to Animals, Hadith: 2244
Keeping a Dog According to Modern Knowledge:
In our country, we often come across people who are fond of Western civilization and consider themselves compassionate, humanitarian, and kind towards all living creatures. These people object to Islam for prohibiting a certain animal that is serious, familiar, and trustworthy. In the service of such people, we want to present a solid scholarly article written by a German scholar and published in a German journal. This article describes the significant dangers associated with keeping dogs or being close to them:
In recent years, the enthusiasm for keeping dogs has increased considerably among people, which necessitates drawing attention to the dangers arising from this, especially when people do not stop at just keeping dogs but also become affectionate with them, kiss them, and allow them to lick the hands of both children and adults. Often, leftover food is placed in the plates of those eating in front of dogs. Moreover, these habits are so objectionable that sound taste does not accept them, and they are also against decency. Furthermore, they violate the principles of health and hygiene.
From a medical perspective, it is not right to underestimate the health and life risks posed by keeping dogs and being affectionate with them. Many people have paid a heavy price for their ignorance because dogs carry germs that cause chronic and incurable diseases, and many have lost their lives due to these diseases.
The shape of this germ is like a ribbon, and it appears on the human body in the form of cysts. Although such germs are also found on livestock, especially pigs, the germs capable of full development are only found on dogs.
These germs are also found on jackals and wolves, but rarely on cats. These germs differ from other ribbon-like germs and are so fine that they are difficult to see. Only in recent years has some information about them become available.
The author of the article writes further:
These germs enter the human liver and appear there in various forms. They often invade the lungs, muscles, spleen, kidneys, and the inner part of the head. Their form changes so much that even specialists find it difficult to identify them.
In any case, the wounds caused by them, wherever they appear on the body, are very harmful to health. No treatment for these germs has yet been discovered. For these reasons, it is necessary to combat this incurable disease with all possible means and protect humans from its dangers.
German doctor Noller states that the wounds caused by dog germs on the human body are not less than one percent, and in some countries, up to twelve percent of people are affected. The best way to combat this disease is to confine these germs to dogs and prevent their spread.
If a person wants to protect their health and preserve their life, they should not be affectionate with dogs, should prevent them from coming close, keep children from mingling with them, not allow dogs to lick hands, and not permit them to stay in children's playgrounds and recreational areas where they spread filth. Unfortunately, a large number of dogs are found in children's exercise areas.
Similarly, their eating utensils should be separate. Plates and other items used by humans for eating should not be placed in front of dogs to lick, nor should dogs be allowed to enter markets, hotels, etc. In short, they should be kept away from all food and drink with full caution.
Keep this statement in mind and consider how much the prohibition by Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, on mingling with dogs is based on reality! He also instructed to avoid letting dogs put their mouths in eating and drinking utensils and forbade keeping dogs without necessity. Reflect on the great wisdom hidden in this!
Modern scientific and medical research is increasingly aligning with the teachings of an unlettered Prophet, peace be upon him! Seeing this reality, these words of the Holy Quran spontaneously come to our lips:
وَمَا يَنْطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَى إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَى
"He does not speak from his own desire. It is but a revelation revealed."
Reference: (An-Najm: 3-4)
