Dogs and Islam

[~Jackie~ 30]

....and as a sunni muslim I will follow hadith.

j

[Nutty 2]

Pro Dog Islamic View here:

http://www.shahbazcenter.org/dogs-in-the-i...-and-nature.htm

As to the issue of purity, the main point of contention was as to whether there is a rational basis for the command to wash a container if touched or licked by a dog.[18] The majority of jurists held that there is no rational basis for this command, and that dogs, like pigs, must be considered impure simply as a matter of deference to the religious text. A sizeable number of jurists, however, disagreed with this position. Jurists, particularly from the Maliki school of thought, argued that everything found in nature is presumed to be pure unless proven otherwise, either through experience or text.[19] Ruling that the traditions mentioned above are not of sufficient reliability or authenticity so as to overcome the presumption of purity, they argued that dogs are pure animals. Accordingly, they maintained that dogs do not void a Muslim’s prayer or ritual purity.[20] Other jurists argued that the command mandating that a vessel be washed a number of times was intended as a precautionary health measure. These jurists argued that the Prophet’s tradition on this issue was intended to apply only to dogs at risk of being infected by the rabies virus. Hence, if a dog is not a possible carrier of rabies, it is presumed to be pure.[21] A small number of jurists carried this logic further in arguing that rural dogs are pure, while urban dogs are impure because urban dogs often consume human garbage.[22] Another group of jurists argued that the purity of dogs turn on their domesticity—domestic dogs are considered pure because human beings feed and clean them, while dogs that live in the wild or on the streets of a city could be carriers of disease, and therefore, they are considered impure.[23] It is clear from the evolution of these discourses that as nature became more susceptible to rational understanding, complex and potentially dangerous creatures, such as dogs, became less threatening for Muslim jurists.

Follow the link to read the full document.....

So I guess it depends on what school of thought you belong to which determines the issue of pure or impure.

I love a #######-a-poo!!! I also love Lhaso Apso's!!!

[Nutty 2]

Another point to address:

Now with scientific studies proving owning a pet (dogs/cats/etc) is beneficial for mental and physical health of their human owners, why don't islamic jurists re-evaluate the taboo of owning a dog....?

This brings to mind the woman who wanted to have a baby with a surrogate birth mother, but was told this was not permissable in Islam.

These are things that need to be re-evaluated....

[Jenn! 918]

I think there are several things that need to be re-evaluated.

[amal 4]

although I find nothing wrong with dogs and I've had many-a-dog before, when I chose Islam as my religion to follow, I chose all of it and not just the parts I agree with. I follow hadith which says that dogs are not pure and not allowed to live inside the home. I will still play with them and have no problem with other pplz dogs but I will make sure to be clean for prayer as I'm told to do. I don't actually agree with this BUT who am I to decide what part of Gods word is right and what part is wrong, ya know?

I figure...The only hope of life not ending with death is God and if the only way to get there is to believe in him and follow my faith...well... that's what I'll do..no problem.

I also feel that if there's a heaven and hell, then I wanna go to heaven. If there's no heaven or hell...I want to lead a life believing that I will have paradise when I die coz honestly....that makes me happy.

I also wanted to say this... My husband knew (before he came here) that I had a dog and cats. I told him they lived in the house. when he got here he was stunned and not very happy coz he realized by me saying "they live in the house" means they acutally spend most of their day and night inside the house with me. Make sure ur SO knows this fact even if u think they understand coz it was a MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR issue for us...

[amal 4]

Another point to address:

Now with scientific studies proving owning a pet (dogs/cats/etc) is beneficial for mental and physical health of their human owners, why don't islamic jurists re-evaluate the taboo of owning a dog....?

This brings to mind the woman who wanted to have a baby with a surrogate birth mother, but was told this was not permissable in Islam.

These are things that need to be re-evaluated....

I think there are several things that need to be re-evaluated.

although I find nothing wrong with dogs and I've had many-a-dog before, when I chose Islam as my religion to follow, I chose all of it and not just the parts I agree with. I follow hadith which says that dogs are not pure and not allowed to live inside the home. I will still play with them and have no problem with other pplz dogs but I will make sure to be clean for prayer as I'm told to do. I don't actually agree with this BUT who am I to decide what part of Gods word is right and what part is wrong, ya know?

I figure...The only hope of life not ending with death is God and if the only way to get there is to believe in him and follow my faith...well... that's what I'll do..no problem.

I also feel that if there's a heaven and hell, then I wanna go to heaven. If there's no heaven or hell...I want to lead a life believing that I will have paradise when I die coz honestly....that makes me happy.

I also wanted to say this... My husband knew (before he came here) that I had a dog and cats. I told him they lived in the house. when he got here he was stunned and not very happy coz he realized by me saying "they live in the house" means they acutally spend most of their day and night inside the house with me. Make sure ur SO knows this fact even if u think they understand coz it was a MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR issue for us...

I agree that it would be great for things to be re-evaluated. The problem with that is that Islam is considered unchanged and is supposed to remain unchanged. That is one of the many reasons I was drawn to Islam. They have to do some fancy wording to make any changes (if that's even possible) ...... please don't slam me for posting this

[Nutty 2]

I don't slam you for appreciating the religion remained unchanged. Please note the link to the website with the PRO DOG ISLAMIC viewpoint from islamic jurists.

[sandinista! 1,816]

technically its not ok to have a dog unless its for protection and even then its a tender subject.

The main reason hubby didn't want our dog was coz if any part of the dog touched him , he would be considered "unclean" and unable to pray until he took a shower. It is more hassle than its worth in respect to prayer.

Same goes for if I touched the dog and then touched him with the same hand I touched the dog with, it would make him unclean and he'd have to shower in order to pray.

The reason its so unclear to a lot of ppl is coz in the Qura'an the dog was in the cave with the men. There has been and always will be a controversy over wether its ok or not to have a dog in the house....

hope this helps

amal

that being the case, i fail to see how it could be construed as unclear or controversial.

because yes the dog was in the cave BUT it also says that the angels won't visit the home if there is a dog inside. It also says that dogs are unclean and that one has to fully shower after coming in contact with a dog if that person wants to pray. So therefore it is controversial because on 1 hand it was ok for the guys to have a dog in the cave but the dog was for protecting them, therefore was allowed BUT when is a dog considered "for protection only" these days? (no u don't have to answer that..its merely a statement in the form of a question) which causes the controversy over wether its ok or it's not ok to have a dog period. There is also always the controversial question of .. if the guys were in the cave with the dog, did they take a full shower every time they wanted to pray? and how does that differ from todays times?

yes, very much a controversy...

have you actually read it?

they (including their dog) are turned by God on their right and left sides while they sleep-yet we're to believe angels won't enter a house with a dog in it?

018.018

YUSUFALI: Thou wouldst have deemed them awake, whilst they were asleep, and We turned them on their right and on their left sides: their dog stretching forth his two fore-legs on the threshold: if thou hadst come up on to them, thou wouldst have certainly turned back from them in flight, and wouldst certainly have been filled with terror of them.

everyone, including the dog, was asleep for 309 years. how does an asleep dog protect anyone?

018.022

YUSUFALI: (Some) say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; (others) say they were five, the dog being the sixth,- doubtfully guessing at the unknown; (yet others) say they were seven, the dog being the eighth. Say thou: "My Lord knoweth best their number; It is but few that know their (real case)." Enter not, therefore, into controversies concerning them, except on a matter that is clear, nor consult any of them about (the affair of) the Sleepers.

018.025

YUSUFALI: So they stayed in their Cave three hundred years, and (some) add nine (more)

ghusl isn't mentioned anywhere in the surah either, before God turned them in their sleep or anything.

[chaishai 1]

There are several ahadith that say it's not allowed to keep a dog as a pet for other than hunting, herding or protection (and even then it's not allowed to sleep in the house where the ppl sleep); the dog's saliva is impure and anything it comes in contact with must be washed 7 times (and in another hadith, an eighth time with dirt) to be pure again; it's not allowed to buy or sell dogs (or cats) and angels don't enter a home with a dog (or pictures on display).

isnt a dogs saliva suppsoed to be cleaner than anything? or is that a cats? no matter what it is, i aint buyin it! UGH i cant stand furry pets. i just think about my mom's pug, every once in a while she has to drain his ####### glands if he doesnt do it himself? what? where? #######?!

[Sassy1natl 0]

There are several ahadith that say it's not allowed to keep a dog as a pet for other than hunting, herding or protection (and even then it's not allowed to sleep in the house where the ppl sleep); the dog's saliva is impure and anything it comes in contact with must be washed 7 times (and in another hadith, an eighth time with dirt) to be pure again; it's not allowed to buy or sell dogs (or cats) and angels don't enter a home with a dog (or pictures on display).

isnt a dogs saliva suppsoed to be cleaner than anything? or is that a cats? no matter what it is, i aint buyin it! UGH i cant stand furry pets. i just think about my mom's pug, every once in a while she has to drain his ####### glands if he doesnt do it himself? what? where? #######?!

Awww man... I just ate. *threw up in my mouth a little*

[Nasturtium 500]

There are several ahadith that say it's not allowed to keep a dog as a pet for other than hunting, herding or protection (and even then it's not allowed to sleep in the house where the ppl sleep); the dog's saliva is impure and anything it comes in contact with must be washed 7 times (and in another hadith, an eighth time with dirt) to be pure again; it's not allowed to buy or sell dogs (or cats) and angels don't enter a home with a dog (or pictures on display).

isnt a dogs saliva suppsoed to be cleaner than anything? or is that a cats? no matter what it is, i aint buyin it! UGH i cant stand furry pets. i just think about my mom's pug, every once in a while she has to drain his ####### glands if he doesnt do it himself? what? where? #######?!

Without looking it up, I believe the actual study showed that dogs' mouths contained less variety of bacteria than a human mouth. That made people think it's cleaner. That is a total misunderstanding. Cats have more bacteria than a dog in their mouths, but still less than us if I remember correctly. Their acidity is jsut different. Also cats have a 60% rate of communicability of disease with humans and dogs have a 40%. Cats are just a bit closer to us Disease manifests itself differently though. Cats can catch your colds, etc.. and a major thing they can catch is strep-- except in them it is a fatal infection. The cleanliness of your animals is somewhat dependant on you-- if you're not cleaning the litterbox so your cat has to touch feces (which they normally try to avoid touching at all, ever), then that is your fault (and kind of mean). If you aren't washing your dog, then that's your fault. But seriously? I have never seen or heard of a cat eating it's own, or found, poop-- which is a dog thing. I just cannot buy that dogs are "cleaner."

[sarahaziz 0]

I got a chihuahua hahhaha he's so funny he brings whatever you point at to you and knows all these tricks my spouse loves him. His bilingual he understands arabic and english

[Nutty 2]

I am happy to see there are some muslim spouses who do enjoy having dogs as pets!

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

I think there are several things that need to be re-evaluated.

[hollyw 0]

My husband is worse than I am with the dog. They are best friends - Chili sits on the couch when they watch TV together, Medy gives him pieces of whatever he's eating and sometimes Chili even charms his way onto the bed at night. Right now they are on a walk to the ice cream place to get human ice cream AND a pint of dog ice cream....

There he is on the couch in my old apartment!

Medy didn't grow up with dogs, but his family did have rabbits and now his sister has a cat - named Holly...

Edited June 27, 2008 by hollyw