Dogs in Islam
Etymology and Terminology
- Arabic: كلب (kalb), جمع. كلاب (pl. kilāb)
- Hebrew: כֶּלֶב (kelev)
Dogs as Unclean Animals
According to Islamic tradition, dogs are considered unclean animals. A well-known hadith narrated by Abū Hurairah states that the Prophet Muhammad advised that if a dog drinks from a vessel, the vessel must be washed seven times, with the first cleansing using earth (Mishkāt, book iii. c. ii. pt. 1).
Cultural Beliefs and Superstitions
In some Islamic cultures, there exists a belief that a howling dog near a house foretells death, as dogs are thought to be able to see Azrāʿīl, the Angel of Death (Burton’s Arabia, vol. i. p. 290).
Dogs in Sacred Spaces
Ibn ʿUmr recounts that dogs entered the Masjid in Makkah during the Prophet’s time, but the mosque was not specifically purified unless the dog was wet.
Legal Rulings on Dogs
Different Islamic scholars have varying opinions on the sale and use of dogs:
- Imam Abū Yūsuf: Selling a biting dog is unlawful.
- Imam ash-Shāfiʿī: Selling any dog is absolutely illegal, citing the Prophet’s statement that the price of a dog is forbidden.
- Imam Abū Ḥanīfah: Lawfully trained dogs used for hunting or guarding can be sold.
Hunting with Dogs
Hunting with trained dogs is permissible in Islam, grounded in guidance from the Qur’an, Sūrah 5:6:
<p>“Lawful for you are all good things and what ye have taught beasts of prey to catch, training them like dogs; ye teach them as God taught you. And mention the name of God over it.”</p>
A dog is considered trained if it catches game three times without killing it. Before releasing the dog, the hunter must recite “Bismillāhi ʾllāhi Akbar!” (“In the name of God, the great God!”). This custom ensures that all game seized by the dog becomes lawful food. Further details on hunting with dogs are available in Hamilton’s Hidāyah, vol. iv. p. 170.
Suggested Books for Further Study
- Mishkāt al-Masābīḥ by Al-Baghawī
- The Hidaya - Commentary on Hanafi Fiqh by Burhan al-Din al-Marghinani
- “Burton’s Arabia”, by Richard Francis Burton
- “The Concept of Impurity in Religion and Its Influence on Medieval Culture” by Mohammad T. Alahyan
Takeaways and Conclusion
The status of dogs in Islamic culture is multifaceted, involving religious, cultural, and legal considerations. While regarded as ritually unclean, they also play important roles in hunting and guarding. Scholars’ opinions on the sale and use of dogs highlight the diversity of Islamic legal thought. For those looking to delve deeper into Islamic views on dogs and other animals, studying traditional texts and modern interpretations is recommended for a more comprehensive understanding.
