I've always been curious, what has Middle Eastern culture, in general, and Islam in particular, got against dogs? Domestication of the dog is generally considered one of humanity's greatest early achievements, right up there with taming fire. Man's partnership with dogs has been quite possibly more important than our partnership with the horse. Even today, in the US, dogs are used for emotional therapy in hospitals, you will find them various tasks in virtually all police and military forces, not to mention their traditional rolls as household pets and companions, hunting partners and, in extremity, food.
So, what does Islam find objectionable about the dog?
If I take that Hadith as literal. Then I should also kick my parents outside right. Because disbelievers are in the same rank as dogs apparently. So there are no angels near my vicinity.
(mildly) Respectfully, I must point out that Sheikh Khaled Abou El Fadl has obtained both ijazas from the Middle East (Egypt and Kuwait), as well as degrees (including a doctorate of Law) from American universities. I have read several of his books, and they are well-written (though a bit inaccessible for the general pubic, I find) and thoughtful.
It may be that one may disagree with some of his opinions (which is what fatawa are- opinions), but one cannot just dismiss him. Even less should one suggest that he does not have knowledge.
This sheikh accesses the Qur’an, the Sunnah, as well as a wide range of classical Islamic texts (he has 40,000 books in his personal library alone) when searching to understand Allah’s Will. His training and his learning are formidable, and even more importantly, his manners are very good. (smile) You may wonder at this last, but a person who has poor behaviour cannot be truly knowledgeable in Islam.
I personally am not very in favour of pets in a house. (smile) The fact that I am allergic to them may colour my views considerably, though. I would also like to state that I had the understanding that dogs were not permissible unless they had a use, and that they should be kept outdoors. But after reading Sheikh Abou El Fadl’s comments (and he has published others, too, not just the ones quoted above), I have filed his opinion (and he is not alone in his opinion, it seems) as one amongst others that inform my understandings.
Would I suggest that Muslims should rush out to acquire dogs? No. But I feel that I should not speak or judge harshly those Muslims who do have dogs. (mildly) Because it may be that my understandings are wrong. And because this question is relatively minor in my opinion. Behaving well, fulfilling our duties, working to promote justice and kindness… it seems to me that we Muslims have so many things that we could potentially be thinking and working on, that to get overly wrapped up in minor questions -especially if it may cause dissension and hurt- would border on sinful in and of itself.
Bhabha, my dear, no one is forcing you to abandon your dogs (or your parents!). They are stating their opinions, and you are free to disagree with them and make your own choices. (gently) Just as they are free to disagree with you and make their own choices.
And in the end, we will all be Judged by God, the High, the Knowing, for what we have done, haven’t done, tried to do, and our intentions.
(smile) Ramadan Mubarak my dear brothers and sisters in Islam! May Allah, the Compassionate, help us to restrain ourselves for His Sake, and may He Accept our efforts to so Please Him.
Maa shaa Allaah, excellent response posted here by brother najimuddin.
Esp. the final paragraph;
It is a reality that some Muslims drink liquor, commit adultery, sodomise or abandon the compulsory prayers. As long as they accept these misdeeds to be their own personal weakness, there is hope of repentance and reformation. Salvation is dependent on acknowledgement of our weaknesses. To some degree or the other we all sin. What is frightening is the recent trend of justifying our sins and weaknesses. Islam is being re-interpreted to suit our own fancies. Guilt is pacified by the re-invention of Islam. Herein lies our self destruction. May Allah Ta’ala save one and all.
If I take that Hadith as literal. Then I should also kick my parents outside right. Because disbelievers are in the same rank as dogs apparently. So there are no angels near my vicinity.
.. . ...What is frightening is the recent trend of justifying our sins and weaknesses. Islam is being re-interpreted to suit our own fancies. Guilt is pacified by the re-invention of Islam. Herein lies our self destruction. May Allah Ta’ala save one and all
@najimuddin
So true. The deen is being attacked at the fringes and working inwards via what has been clearly explained showing concerted effort to isolate and counter, and possibly targetting those who are born muslims but know not . . using only scientific knowledge and western reasons, without actually they themselves seeking out what is said and learning. . .it is not really a surprise then to see how these kinds of reasoning styles have not already been dealt with. People fall prey through ignorance. .
For this thread, it is about dogs. There was a similar thread about over a year, maybe 2?
We can all see why it is haraam to eat the pig, it eats poop. We are what we eat! On Noah's ark, the pigs cleared out the poop and the dogs licked up the remains. Hence its impurity, especially the saliva.
So to have dogs, discipline is needed. And rules.
Last edited by greenhill; 06-15-2016 at 05:15 PM.
As long as my heart does beat, I shall live, not lie
For when my heart does stop its beat, with truth, I die.
since majority has stated authentic opinions here,I want to state im in love with dogs awe my bad they aren't allowed as pets ,though dogs are known to be loyal little fellas ,also they are excellent breed for afore mentioned reasons above so here is the answer I guess...Peace
You sound just like my sister, she goes around screaming as if it's a blood-sucking vampire, honestly.....
I think moths are pretty.
They scare the crap out of me, I really hate it when they fly up to the light bulb above my bed and thn fall down - i literally feel like i'm jumping out of my skin, you've never seen anyone move so fast lol.
I have heard this hadtih 100 times from many people , I m a landlord and my owner lives in groundfloor and we in first floor so basically its a same house the owners have a dog bread German Shepherd so does it mean angels won't reside in our house , in first floor ?
But yeah, dogs have survived the seasons as God made them to survive them, and this sharpens their fitra as they are animals... when you keep a dog in the home, you are taking a part of its fitra away from it, and domesticating it - if you love dogs, why would you do that?
Let's put the saliva argument aside for a moment and instead, let's make the issue about you and your domesticating a dog by keeping it in the home, shall we?
You'll find you have way more problems with a dog inside your home than inside of a kennel outside of it. But whatever - let's explore the issue further, shall we?
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they make me shriek like a 6 year old girl, no lies. Just yucky bulbous ugh vile things
though dogs are known to be loyal little fellas ,also they are excellent breed for afore mentioned reasons above so here is the answer I guess...Peace
I can visualise that quite well, it would have put even me off them forever.
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