['Aalim Network QR] Dog, Keeping as a Pet

[Mustafa Rawji <mrawji@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca>]

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|       In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful       |\
|  Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\
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Salaamun alaykum,

	The reply to the following question about keeping a dog was kindly
provided by Shaykh Hasnain Kassamali. 

Wasalaam,

Mustafa Rawji
Moderator, 'Aalim Network

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QUESTION:

Would you be so kind as to explain the circumstances & the guidelines
under which a momin would be able to keep a dog as a pet. 

We live on a large parcel of land and with all the criminal activity these
days we have entertained having a guard dog on the premises. It would
always be outside and would never enter the living quarters. 

Is there anyway to accomplish both, have a dog and still meet the Islamic
directive. 

Also, I understand a dog by the name of Tatmir will be allowed into
heaven; if it is truly "Najis", why then the exception? 

Thanks in advance for your response.

Salam


ANSWER:

In His name, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

Wa-`alaykum as-salaam.

Islamically there is no problem in keeping a guard dog on your premises.
Since dogs (and pigs) are from Najisul `ayn (inherently impure) animals, you
will have to make sure that they do not lick the areas which are always
supposed to remain tahir, such as place of prayers, place where sacred
things like the Holy Qur'an and sajdagha (turbah) are kept. Also, do not eat
or drink from the utensils which have been licked by the dog, unless you
have cleansed it by rubbing with wet clean earth and then washing it with
water. Sometimes your dog will cling to your clothes (say, pants) then such
clothes should not be worn for salat. 

The dog which accompanied Ashabul Kahf (people of the cave) has been named
in some accounts as KITMIR. Some people believe that it will go to Jannat.
Perhaps, its accompanying the youths who stood up for tawheed (absolute
unity of God) against the mushrik (polytheist) king of their time may have
cleansed him from other external impurities.  In any case, such issues (why
a particular dog will go to Jannat?) do not have any bearing to the noble
teachings of Islam. God knows best.

With salaams and du`as.

(References: Islamic Law by Syd Seestani, Elements of Islamic Studies by S.
S. Akhtar Rizvi, commentaries to surah 18 of the Qur'an).

Hasnain Kassamali
Humble servant of the Ahlul Bayt (a).