Recognizing the separate ethnicities of animals, including dogs in Islam, the Qur’an says: ‘All the animals that roam the earth and the birds that fly with two wings, they are all of one race like you.
Islamic Guidelines on Dogs in Islam and Their Permissibility:
1..It is permissible to keep dogs for hunting, guarding crops, goats, sheep, etc., guarding houses, shops, and offices, tracing the source of crime, and identifying criminals. (Fatwaate Mahmudiya: Kh. 18, p. 264 / Fatwaye Alamgiri: Kh. 4, p. 242) For more details, see IslamQA’s overview on keeping dogs in Islam.
2..In Islam, the prohibition of keeping dogs at home as a hobby, caring for dogs more than people, and establishing human relations with dogs is based on prioritizing human relationships and responsibilities. This provides a logical and rational basis for these guidelines.
Rasulullah (s.a.w.s.) said, ‘Whoever keeps a dog for hunting or guarding livestock or crops, his deed is reduced by two great per day. (Muslim: Hadith 1575; Tirmidhi: Hadith 1487)
Others say, ‘One Kirat is equal to the Uhud mountain.
3.. Our Hanafi Madhhab says a dog’s body is not impure. Therefore, if a dog touches one’s body and clothes, it may not become impure, even though dog saliva is impure.
If a dog pulls someone’s clothes with its mouth and saliva gets on them, the clothes will become impure; otherwise, it will not be impure. (Al-Bahrur Rayeeq: 1/101; Fatwaate Hindiya: 1/48; Addurrul Mukhtar: 1/208)
4..Eating dog meat is forbidden according to all religions, including Islam.
5..Killing of hunting dogs and guard dogs is unanimously haram or illegal. According to all specialists, killing dogs and troublesome dogs are lawful. Killing dogs in normal conditions is unacceptable in the eyes of Islam. (Source: Kuwait-based Islamic encyclopedia Al-Mawsuat al-Fiqhiya al-Quatiyyah: B. 35, p. 132-133)
6..If possible, feeding the dog, giving it water, and rescuing the dog if it falls somewhere are acts of reward in the eyes of Islam. A pure hadith said that an adulterous woman would also be granted paradise to feeding a dog in water.
Rasulullah (SAW) said, ‘Once a thirsty dog was roaming near the well. He was dying of thirst. Suddenly, an adulterous woman from Bani Israel saw it. He took off his socks and gave the dog water. Because of this, his past sins are forgiven. (Bukhari: 3467)
Hadith Sharif says, “The angels of mercy do not enter the house where there is a dog.” (Bukhari Sharif: Ha. 5525) Since the dog’s saliva is impure, it must be washed three or seven times if the dog mouths in a container.
Keeping dogs for guarding crops, for guarding, for guarding goats and sheep, etc., for guarding houses, shops, and offices, for the purpose of finding the source of crime and identifying criminals is legal, but if you keep the dog only for keeping your house at home or as a hobby. If he observes it is illegal in the eyes of Islam.
