Islam is a complete and final religion. It provides clear guidance on various day-to-day affairs. Accordingly, Islam is very particular about cleanliness, personal hygiene, and physical and ritual purification. The emphasis on purification and cleanliness is so important in Islam that one cannot worship without it.
The matters relating to different animals, such as dogs and cats, are explicitly described in the Islamic teachings. While keeping dogs is not prohibited in Islam, it has been described as “impure”. Islam permits keeping dogs for specific purposes, such as guarding, hunting, herding, and farming, but at the same time, keeping them as pets, without a valid purpose, is strictly prohibited. The dogs are considered impure as per Islamic teachings, especially their saliva, which is highly impure. But the question is, why is it considered impure in Islam? The question is more than sufficiently addressed in various Hadiths.
Let’s explore the Islamic perspective on the impurity of dogs, in the light of the Quran and Hadith.
The Concept of Impurity in Islam
The impurity in Islam is an important matter. Anything that is called “Najis” is termed as ritual impurity. One is not allowed to perform religiously obligatory acts of worship, such as reading the Quran and offering Prayers (Salah), without attaining ritual purity. Ritual purity refers to cleaning and removing impurity from the body.
Impurity in Islam is normally of two types: Physical Impurity and Ritual Impurity. Physical Impurity, as the name suggests, is a tangible impurity, which may include human or animal blood, urine, feces, alcohol, dead animals, and pigs and their byproducts. Purity against Physical Impurity can be achieved by physically removing the cause of impurity. It can be done by washing if the impurity is wet. If it had dried up, first you need to scratch it from your body, then clean it by washing.
On the other hand, Ritual Impurity (Hadas) is a kind of impurity that needs Islamic Ghusl or just Wudu. It includes passing gas, urination, defecation, touching your private parts, sexual intercourse, menstruation, and death. These are the conditions where the impurity can be removed by either ghusl (Islamic bath) or wudu, before performing any act of worship.
The Impurity Caused by Dogs
The impurity of a dog, especially its saliva, comes under the category of Physical Impurity; hence, it needs perfect removal. The impurities caused by dogs may include:
- The fur of the dog, in dry condition, is not considered najis or impurity. However, touching the body of the dog, when wet, causes impurity.
- The urine or feces of the dogs also cause impurity.
- The saliva of the dogs is highly najis and results in extreme impurity.
- If the dog licks the utensils, it also transmits impurity.
Type of Impurities Caused by Dogs
The impurities caused by dogs are generally considered ritually impure. The term Ritually Impure should not be confused with “Ritual Impurity”. Hadas cause Ritual Impurity, such as passing of gas or sexual intercourse, etc., whereas when it is said that the impurity caused by dogs, especially through their saliva, is termed “Ritually Impure”. It means that the person affected by a dog’s impurity needs to clean himself before he can worship or offer prayers. The impurity caused by dogs is therefore a physical impurity, where cleaning and/or washing becomes imperative.
Keeping Dogs in Homes – Islamic Perspective
Keeping dogs is not outrightly prohibited. The evidence of allowance of keeping dogs is often given by referring to the 18th verse of Surah Al-Kahf, where the presence of a dog along with the pious young men in the cave is mentioned, while describing the “ashab e kahf”.
Translation of relevant part
We made them turn right and left, while their dog lay with his forelegs stretched across the threshold.
Likewise, the 4th verse of Surah Al-Ma’ida specifically permits keeping dogs for hunting.
Translation of relevant part
All things are lawful for you that are clean, and what the trained hunting animals take for you as you have trained.
So, while dogs are allowed to be kept, the permission is subject to certain conditions, such as hunting or herding, etc.
On the other hand, keeping dogs is disliked by the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, as is evident from the Hadith 1575b of Sahih Muslim, where it is mentioned explicitly that keeping a dog is only allowed for hunting, herding, or guarding. Anyone holding a dog without a valid purpose will lose rewards.
Translation of relevant part
He who kept a dog except one meant for watching the herd, or for hunting, or for watching the fields. He lost two qirat of reward every day.
Similarly, Hadith 3225 of Sahih Al-Bukhari narrates that Angels do not enter a house where a dog is kept other than for permitted purposes.
Translation
Angels (of Mercy) do not enter a house wherein there is a dog or a picture of a living creature (a human being or an animal).
The above Quranic and Hadith references clarify that keeping dogs is not permitted unless required for certain purposes. It implies that dogs are generally considered Impure or Najis, which is why keeping them in homes is a disliked activity.
Why are Dogs Considered Impure in Islam
As discussed above, the dogs themselves are not generally considered impure or najis; instead, their saliva is highly najis. The Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ had specifically instructed his companions to clean and wash the utensils that are licked by the dogs, first by soil and then by water, at least seven times. That shows how impure the saliva of a dog is.
Hadith 279a and 279d narrate this as follows:
- Translation 279a When a dog licks a utensil belonging to any one of you, (the thing contained in it) should be thrown away, and then (the utensil) should be washed seven times.
- Translation 279d The purification of the utensil belonging to any one of you, after it is licked by a dog, lies in washing it seven times, using sand for the first time.
It may be noted here that the impurity of a dog’s saliva is so dangerous for humans that it needs washing seven times. More importantly, first, it needs to be cleaned with soil to remove its contents, which are considered harmful and highly impure. The latest medical research has also confirmed that the saliva of a dog is highly detrimental and contagious to human health.
So, these are the main reasons behind the Islamic perspective about the impurities caused by the dogs, especially through their saliva.
Important
Scholars are of the view that the dogs are considered impure due to the following reasons:
- They are hygienically impure and may carry different germs in their saliva, which are medically harmful to humans.
- In the context of Hadiths, it is implied that the presence of dogs in homes may distract the attention of the residents while worshiping. Hence, the presence of dogs impacts the spiritual environment of a home.
- Historically, the dogs were associated with the wild animals in the pre-Islamic Arab culture. These wild animals often lived in an unclean environment; hence, dogs are also considered unhygienic.
Conclusion
Keeping dogs as pets is strictly prohibited in Islam. They can be kept only for specific purposes, such as hunting, herding, guarding, and farming. Even then, it is advisable to keep them away from one’s home. On the other hand, their saliva is considered highly impure and harmful to human health. That’s why there are many Hadiths where keeping dogs is disliked. Similarly, the impurity caused by the saliva of a dog needs to be cleaned at least seven times, as narrated in the Hadith referred to above.
Generally, the dogs are considered najis (impure) in the Islamic teachings. Although touching the dry fur of the dogs is not termed as an impurity, a dog may cause different types of impurity. Above all, their presence in a home, just as a pet, is highly disliked in Islam and is strictly prohibited. Their presence in a home causes physical as well as spiritual impurities; hence, they are strictly prohibited.
 in Islam, the basis in Hadith, and the exceptions for using dogs for protection, hunting, and assistance.){kind=link}