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Touching & Keeping Dogs

WHAT IS THE RULING ON TOUCHING & KEEPING DOGS AS PETS?

Touching Dogs

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: 

“With regard to touching the dog, if there is no wetness then it does not make the hand najis (impure), but if he touches it and there is any wetness, then this means that the hand becomes najis (impure) according to the view of many scholars, and the hand must be washed after those seven times, one of which should be with soil.”

(Majmu’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 11/246)

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: “The purification of the vessel of one of you, if a dog licks it, is to wash it seven times, the first time with soil.”

Narrated by Muslim, 279.

And according to another report by Muslim (280): “If a dog licks the vessel of one of you, let him wash it seven times and rub it with soil the eighth time.” 

Keeping Dogs

Raising or keeping a dog inside the house is not allowed in Islam under any circumstances, and even prevents the Angels of Mercy from entering the house, and deducts a large amount of a Muslim’s worship reward on every single day.

Dogs are only allowed to be kept for a few reasons: to guard wealth, farmland and property, and as a sheepdog, or for herding and for hunting―added to that is what some scholars have allowed: police sniffer dogs for explosives, narcotics, etc. Fatwaa Al-Lajnah Ad-Dā’imah, 4/195.

And also, to protect the homes of people if there is a need for that―due to them being isolated and vulnerable, as stated by Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen and alluded to by Ibn Abdil-Barr (in At-Tamheed), and Allaah knows best. As for keeping them as pets or companions, then that is not allowed.

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever keeps a dog, except a dog for herding, hunting or farming, one Qiraat will be deducted from his reward each day.”

Narrated by Muslim, 1575.

Al-Nawawi said: 

“There is a difference of opinion as to whether it is permissible to keep dogs for purposes other than these three, such as for guarding houses and roads. The most correct view is that it is permissible, by analogy with these three and based on the reason that is to be understood from the hadeeth, which is necessity.” Sharh Muslim, 10/236.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: 

“Based on this, if a house is in the middle of the city there is no need to keep a dog to guard it, so keeping a dog for this purpose in such situations is Haraam and is not permitted, and it detracts one or two Qiraats from a person’s reward every day. They should get rid of this dog and not keep it. But if the house is in the countryside and there is no one else around, then it is permissible to keep a dog to guard the house and the people who are in it; guarding the members of the household is more important than guarding livestock or crops.” Majmu’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 4/246.

Taken from the book:
Halaal & Haraam Animal Kingdom