Can Muslims Have Dogs as Pets and What Does Islam Say About It

In Islam, dogs are considered unclean animals and many Muslims believe they should not have them as pets.

Some Muslims view dogs as a distraction from their spiritual duties and a potential source of temptation.

However, the Quran does not explicitly prohibit Muslims from keeping dogs as pets.

The Hadith, a collection of sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad, mentions dogs in a few instances, but it does not provide a clear ruling on keeping them as pets.

In Islam, dogs are considered permissible for hunting and guarding, as stated in the Quran.

The Quran makes no direct assertion for forbidding dogs as pets, and only has positive things about them.

Dogs can be kept for guarding properties or herds, and their saliva is considered impure, but not their bodies.

The Malikite Jurists believe the dog is pure, even its saliva, and it's not obligatory to wash the body or clothes, but one must still wash a bowl that has been licked by a dog.

Additional reading: Should You Wash Your Hands after Petting a Dog?

The Hanafite Juristic School and some Hanbali Jurists say it's only the dog's saliva that's impure, but its body is not.

If a person's clothes get wet from touching the dog's fur, this doesn't render them impure, and if one touches the dog's fur after making ablution, this doesn't nullify the ablution.

However, if one has dog's saliva on oneself, then this must be removed.

The Prophet Muhammad said that the angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or an image, which might lead some to believe dogs are haram.

But there are also positive hadiths about dogs, such as one where the Prophet appreciated a man's kindness to a thirsty dog and forgave his sins.

On a similar theme: Can You Hurt a Dog's Feelings?

In Islam, animal welfare is a vital aspect of the faith, with a strong emphasis on treating animals with kindness and respect.

The basic rule in Islam is the permissibility of keeping dogs for hunting and guarding, as long as excessiveness is avoided.

Going to extremes is what shari'a goes against, because there should be no collision between human rights and animal rights.

The Malikite Jurists maintain that the dog is pure, even its saliva, and this is the predominant opinion.

This means that it's not obligatory to wash the body or the clothes if they come into contact with a dog, but one must still wash a bowl that has been licked by a dog.

If a person's clothes get wet from touching the dog's fur, this doesn't render them impure, according to the Hanafite Juristic School and some Hanbali Jurists.

Similarly, if one touches the dog's fur after making ablution, this does not nullify the ablution.

Related reading: Can Dogs Only Have One Puppy

In Islam, the ruling on keeping dogs as pets is not straightforward, as some scholars consider them impure animals.

Many Muslim scholars believe that dogs are considered najis, or impure, and therefore cannot be kept as pets in a Muslim home, as stated in the article section "Islamic Perspectives on Dogs".

The Quran does not explicitly mention dogs, but the Hadiths, or sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, do. According to the Hadiths, dogs are considered to be unclean animals and should not be brought into the home, as mentioned in the article section "Hadiths on Dogs".

However, not all Muslim scholars agree with this view, and some argue that dogs can be kept as pets if they are well-behaved and do not pose a threat to the family's spiritual well-being, as discussed in the article section "Diverse Opinions on Dogs".

Many Muslims believe that dogs are loyal creatures deserving of care and companionship, citing the story in the Qur'an about a group of believers who were protected by a canine companion.

Dogs can be beneficial in the lives of human beings, and service animals like guide dogs or epilepsy dogs are important companions to Muslims with disabilities.

The Prophet Muhammad showed mercy to a female dog and her puppies, posting a soldier to protect them while on a march. This story highlights the importance of kindness towards dogs in Islamic tradition.

In Islam, the basic rule is the permissibility of keeping dogs for hunting and guarding, but excessiveness must be avoided. This means that owning a dog should not interfere with human rights or animal rights.

The Malikite Jurists believe that a dog's body is pure, even its saliva, and it's not obligatory to wash the body or clothes after touching a dog. However, it's still necessary to wash a bowl that has been licked by a dog.

If a person's clothes get wet from touching a dog's fur, it doesn't render them impure, but if they have dog's saliva on themselves, it must be removed.

On the Road to Mercy, many Muslims find a middle ground when it comes to having dogs as pets. They allow dogs for specific purposes such as security, hunting, or service to the disabled.

For instance, keeping a dog outdoors as much as possible is a common practice among Muslims. This ensures that the dog's living space doesn't overlap with human living areas.

It's essential to wash thoroughly after coming into contact with dog saliva, not just for hygiene's sake, but also because of Islamic teachings.