QUESTION/ ANSWER SESSION

BY MUFTI MUHAMMAD ABDUL QADIR PEERAYE

AT QUATRE BORNES SUNNEE MASJID

ُ‫ﻋ َﻠ ْﻳ ُﻛ ْﻡ َﻭ َﺭ ْﺣ َﻣﺔُ ٱ ﱠ ِ َﻭ َﺑ َﺭﻛﺎﺗُﻪ‬

َ ‫ﺳ َﻼ ُﻡ‬
‫ﺍﻟ ﱠ‬
Dear Brother/ Sister in Islam

Please find answer to your question addressed to Mufti Muhammad Abdul Qadir Peeraye for
the Question and Answer Session at the Quatre Bornes Sunnee Masjid on 09 September
2022.

Session 010 Date 09 September 2022

Question asked by: Br Yashin Owasil
Telephone Number 57286908
Can you please explain precautions necessary when handling a dog, the
Question degree of filthness and annulation of wudu and rusul.
Answer by Mufti Sahab
Islam teaches its followers to be merciful to all creatures and all forms of animal cruelty
are forbidden. Why then, do many Muslims seem to have such problems with dogs?
Unclean
Most Muslim scholars agree that in Islam the saliva of a dog is ritually impure and that
objects (or perhaps persons) that come into contact with a dog's saliva require them to be
washed three times or up to seven times. This ruling comes from the hadith:
“When the dog licks the utensil, wash it seven times, and rub it with earth the eighth time.”
It is to be noted, however, that one of the major Islamic schools of thought (Maliki)
indicates that this is not a matter of ritual cleanliness, but simply a common-sense method
way to prevent the spread of disease.
There are several other hadith, however, that warns of consequences for dog-owners:
"The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: 'Whoever keeps a dog, his good deeds will
decrease every day by one qeeraat [a unit of measurement], unless it is a dog for farming or
herding.' In another report, it is said: ' …unless it is a dog for herding sheep, farming or
hunting.'"—Bukhari Sharif
"The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: 'Angels do not enter a house wherein there is a dog
or an animate picture.'"—Bukhari Sharif
Many Muslims base the prohibition against keeping a dog in one's home, except for the
case of working or service dogs, on these traditions.
Companion Animals
Other Muslims argue that dogs are loyal creatures that are deserving of our care and
companionship. They cite the story in the Qur'an (Surah 18) about a group of believers
who sought shelter in a cave and were protected by a canine companion that was
"outstretched in their midst."
Also in the Qur'an, it is specifically mentioned that any prey caught by hunting dogs may
be eaten—without any need for further purification. Naturally, the prey of a hunting dog
comes into contact with the saliva of the dog; however, this does not render the meat
"impure."
"They consult you concerning what is lawful for them; say, Lawful for you are all good
things, including what trained dogs and falcons catch for you. You train them according
God's teachings. You may eat what they catch for you, and mention God's name thereupon.
You shall observe God. God is most efficient in reckoning."—Qur'an 5:4
There are also stories in Islamic tradition that tell of people who were forgiven their past
sins through the mercy they showed towards a dog.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "A prostitute was forgiven by Allah, because,
passing by a panting dog near a well and seeing that the dog was about to die of thirst, she
took off her shoe, and tying it with her head-cover she drew out some water for it. So,
Allah forgave her because of that."
"The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: 'A man felt very thirsty while he was on the way,
there he came across a well. He went down the well, quenched his thirst and came out.
Meanwhile he saw a dog panting and licking mud because of excessive thirst. He said to
himself, "This dog is suffering from thirst as I did." So, he went down the well again and
filled his shoe with water and watered it. Allah thanked him for that deed and forgave
him.'"—Bukhari Sharif
In another point of Islamic history, the Muslim army came across a female dog and her
puppies while on a march. The Prophet posted a soldier near her with the orders that the
mother and puppies must not be disturbed.
Based on these teachings, many people find that it is a matter of faith to be kind towards
dogs, and they believe that dogs can even be beneficial in the lives of human beings.
Service animals, such as guide dogs or epilepsy dogs, are important companions to
Muslims with disabilities. Working animals, such as guard dogs, hunting or herding dogs
are useful and hard-working animals who have earned their place at their owner's side.
Middle Road of Mercy
It is a fundamental tenet of Islam that everything is permissible, except those things that
have been explicitly banned. Based on this, most Muslims would agree that it is
permissible to have a dog for the purpose of security, hunting, farming, or service to the
disabled.
Many Muslims strike a middle ground about dogs—allowing them for the purposes listed
but insisting that the animals occupy space that does not overlap with human living spaces.
Many keep the dog outdoors as much as possible and at the very least do not allow it in
areas where Muslims in the home pray. For hygienic reasons, when an individual comes
into contact with dog saliva, washing is essential.
Owning a pet is a huge responsibility that Muslims will need to answer for on the Day of
Judgment. Those who choose to own a dog must recognize the duty they have to provide
food, shelter, training, exercise, and medical care for the animal. That said, most Muslims
recognize that pets are not "children" nor are they humans. Muslims typically do not treat
dogs as family members in the same way other on-Muslim members of society might do.
Not Hatred, but Lack of Familiarity
In many countries, dogs are not commonly kept as pets. For some people, their only
exposure to dogs may be the packs of dogs that wander the streets or rural areas in packs.
People who do not grow up around friendly dogs may develop a natural fear of them. They
are not familiar with a dog's cues and behaviors, so a rambunctious animal that runs
towards them is seen as aggressive, not playful.
Many Muslims who seem to "hate" dogs are simply afraid of them due to lack of
familiarity. They may make excuses ("I'm allergic") or emphasize the religious
"uncleanliness" of dogs simply in order to avoid interacting with them.

And Allah and His Prophet know best

 Annexe
Fatwa 1
Are Dogs as Pets Considered Haram According to Quran?
Dogs are said to be a man’s best friend Right. Thank you for visiting, and welcome. In this
post, we will discuss the contentious issue of whether it is permissible to have dogs as pets
in Islam. It appears that many people are divided on this topic. For such a subject, we shall
first look to the Quran, then to the hadith, and finally to the rulings of seven scholars on the
subject. Hopefully, by the conclusion of this post, you will have gained an understanding
of the many arguments for and against and will be able to make an informed choice for
yourself.
Quran Verses on Dogs
A total of two references to dogs are found in the Quran. The first is in Surat Al-Ma’idah,
while the second is in Surat Al-Ma’idah. In a nutshell, Allah states that it is permitted to
consume food that has been hunted for you by a dog. Then they inquire as to what has been
declared permissible for them. “What is permissible for you are good meals and what you
have trained of hunting animals, which you train in accordance with Allah’s instructions?”
Consequently, eat of what they capture for you, mentioning Allah’s name on it, and fear
Allah.” Indeed, Allah is prompt in his judgment.” (Surah 5:4) (Quran 5:4) Canines appear
for the first time in Al-Kahf, the Quran’s second reference of them. It was one of Allah’s
signs, as you can see.” He who is guided by Allah is the guided, while he who is led astray
will never be protected by a protective guide, as Allah has promised.
Meanwhile, their dog stretched his forelegs in front of the entry as we turned them to the
right and then to the left.
According to these passages, it is unquestionable that dogs can be maintained for either
hunting or protecting purposes.
So, why do so many Muslims believe that dogs are haram?
Hadith on Dogs
Dogs are mentioned in a negative Hadith. This appears to be the source of hostility to the
practice of keeping dogs as pets. In the words of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with
him), the Messenger of Allah (saws) stated, “He who maintains a dog would lose out of his
good works equivalent to one Qirat every day, save one who retains it for protecting the
crops or his herd.” The Messenger of Allah (saws) is believed to have said in another
narration of Muslim: “Whoever maintains a dog for any cause other than to defend his
property (land) or his flock of sheep, his good deeds will be reduced daily in the amount of
two Qirat.” The hadith that follows describes in detail what a qirat is and how to identify
one.
‘Can you tell me what two Qirat are?’ the Prophet was asked.
Bukhari and Muslim both mention it.
“What exactly is the problem with dogs?” After that, he approved a permit for the use of
dogs for hunting and herding purposes.
Sahih Muslim 280 is the source for this information.
“The angels will not enter a house if there is a dog or an image,” the Prophet (pbuh) said.
Book 48, Hadith 308 is the reference in the book.
“By Allah, it is not permissible for you to injure a dog or a pig without a reasonable cause,”
Fudayl ibn Iyad, may Allah be pleased with him, stated, according to Adh-Dhahabi.
Source: Siyar A’lam al-Nubala, 8/427 (Siyar A’lam al-Nubala, 8/427).
He discovered a well and descended into it in order to obtain water.
From dehydration, he was eating damp ground with his tongue protruding from his lower
lip.
Allah was pleased with his deed and forgiven him of his sins.” In response, the
Companions inquired, “Will we also be rewarded for our charity toward the animals?” In
the words of He (saws), “A reward is granted in connection with every living creation.”
Muttafaqun Alayhi is a Muslim (authenticity agreed upon)
In one tradition, Muhammad ordered all dogs to be slaughtered, but subsequently made an
exception and permitted them to be used for hunting and guarding purposes.
In the Quran, there is no reference of dogs being cruel or deplorable.
Some believe that the saliva is filthy, yet the Quran teaches that we can consume meat that
has been fetched by dogs, proving that this is untrue.
It is possible that the dogs were slaughtered in the past because they were contagious with
rabies, but that people have forgotten the reason for their euthanasia and ascribe it to their
being dirty.
Now that these services are being expanded to include guide dogs, Muslims should refrain
from reacting in such a severe manner.
The general theme is to be kind to dogs since they provide important functions such as
security dogs and Seeing Eye dogs. Many Muslims have an unfavorable reaction to a
Muslim who requires the assistance of a guide dog. He and the dog are being treated
unfairly as a result of this.
Fatwa 2:
1- Dogs are not permitted to be kept in Islam, except for the purpose of hunting or guarding
livestock and crops. 2- It is acceptable to maintain dogs for the purpose of defending
houses as long as the residence is located outside of the city and there is no other means of
protecting the residence. 3- The Muslim should refrain from imitating others by running
with the dog or stroking its lips and kissing it, as this can lead to a variety of ailments in
dogs. Allah be praised for his mercies.
Is keeping dog’s haram in Islam?
In Islam, it is forbidden for Muslims to have dogs, and the punishment for doing so is that
the person who does so will lose one or two qirats from his or her hasanat (good acts) for
each day that they do so. Keepers of dogs used for hunting, livestock protection, and crop
protection have been granted an exception from this rule. When the Prophet (peace be upon
him) declared, “Whoever maintains a dog, except a dog for herding, hunting, or farming,
shall have one qirat removed from his reward every day,” Abu Hurayra (may Allah be
pleased with him) related the story to him.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever maintains a dog,
except for a dog for herding sheep or a dog that is trained for hunting, shall have two qirats
withheld from his reward every day.” Al-Bukhari records 5163 incidents, whereas Muslim
records 1574 incidents.
Is it permissible to keep a dog to guard houses?
“There is a difference of opinion as to whether it is permitted to have dogs for purposes
other than these three, such as for protecting houses and roadways,” Al-Nawawi explained.
It is acceptable, in accordance with these three examples, and on the basis of the
explanation that is to be understood from the hadith, which is necessity,” the most right
position is. Shirh Muslim (Sharh Muslim, 10/236) According to Scholars, if a house is in
the middle of a city, there is no need to keep a dog to guard it, and therefore keeping a dog
for this purpose in such situations is haram and is not permitted, and it detracts one or two
qirats from the reward of a person every day.
It is acceptable, however, to retain a dog to guard the home and the people who live there if
the house is located in a rural area with no other people around.
Protecting family members and members of the household is more essential than protecting
animals or crops.”
Does one lose one qirat or two qirats if he keeps a dog?
It is possible to reconcile the accounts that say “one qirat” with the records that say “two
qirats” according to many academic perspectives. According to Al-Hafiz al-‘Ayni (may
Allah have pity on him),
It’s possible that they have something to do with two different breeds of dogs, one of
which may be more dangerous than the other. It has been reported that the rule of “two
qirats” applies in towns and villages, and the rule of “one qirat” applies in rural areas.
As previously stated, the warnings were sent at two distinct points in time: initially, “one
qirat” was given, and then the warning was made more severe, with two qirats being cited.
Umdat al-Qari (12/158) is an Arabic proverb.
Are dogs impure?
The questioner stated that “having a dog is najis” in response to the question. As it turns
out, this isn’t quite right since the najasah (impurity) isn’t found in the dog itself, but rather
in its saliva when the dog drinks from a vessel.
Does touching or kissing a dog require purification?
If a human comes into contact with a dog or if a dog comes into contact with him, it does
not follow that he must purify himself with dirt or water. However, if a dog drinks from his
vessel, he must discard the water and wash the vessel seven times with water and an eighth
time with soil before he may use it again. If he makes it just for the purpose of feeding the
dog, he is not required to cleanse it. When a dog licks the vessel of one of you, it was
related from Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The purification of a vessel of one of you is to wash
it seven times, the first time with dirt.” Muslim, 279 is the narrator.
This is Malik’s point of view.
This is the point of view of al-Shafi’i, and it is one of the two points of view that Ahmad
has related.
This is the point of view of Abu Haneefah, as well as Ahmad, according to the other
narrative given by him.
In other words, if the moisture of the dog’s fur gets on one’s clothing or body, that does not
constitute najis.” The Majmu’ al-Fatawa (Majmu’ al-Fatawa, 21/530) “That is because the
fundamental principle is that substances are tahir, and it is not permissible to categorize
anything as najis or haram without evidence, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“while He has explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you, except under the
compulsion of necessity?” he continued.
Allah would never lead a people astray once He has led them until He makes it obvious to
them what they should avoid doing.
In another hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “If a dog
licks a vessel.” All of the ahadith reference simply licking; they make no mention of any
other portion of the dog, and hence the designation of them as najis is based only on a
comparison.
The person in charge of them must be able to feel the dampness of their hair, exactly as is
the case with mules, donkeys, and other similar animals.
How do you clean dog saliva?
Regarding the manner in which purification from a dog’s najasah is to be accomplished.
What is to be done is to wash the najasah of a dog seven times, with the first of those
washes being with filth. If soil is accessible, it must be used, and nothing else will suffice
in its place. If there is no soil present, there is nothing improper with utilizing another
cleaning product, such as soap, to clean the surface.
Animal diseases that affect humans
Something that the questioner suggests about kissing the dog is something that has been
linked to a variety of ailments. There are numerous diseases that people can contract as a
result of violating Islamic law by kissing dogs or drinking from their vessels before
purifying them. One such disease is pasteurella, which is a bacterial disease whose cause
exists naturally in the respiratory systems of humans and animals, but under certain
conditions, this germ can invade the body and cause disease.
This disease is caused by tapeworms, which are microscopic worms that are 2-9
millimeters in length and are divided into three sections: a head, a neck, and four suckers
on the head of the worm.
It is transferred to people by kissing or drinking from the vessels of dogs that have a strong
affection for the animals.
Conclusion
Only dogs used for hunting or protecting livestock and crops are permitted to be kept, and
dogs used for guarding residences are permitted if the house is located outside of the city
and there is no other means of protecting the house. Dogs used for other purposes are
prohibited. Muslim men and women should not emulate the kuffar by running with their
dogs or touching their mouths and kissing them, which might lead to a variety of illnesses.
Many thanks are due to Allah for bestowing upon us this clean and faultless shari’ah,
which was sent to set people spiritual, and material affairs right, but which the majority of
people are unaware of.
And Allah and His Prophet know best
Fa’qeer-wa-A’see
Servant,
Muhammad Abdul Qadir Peeraye
09.09.2022