Are dogs considered haram in Islam?
05/20/25 5:47pm
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In Islam, no living animal is forbidden. In fact, no object is ever considered to be “haram” because a human action is required on the spectrum of haram - halal. For example, we do not say pigs are haram, but rather that eating and consuming pork is what is forbidden.
According to the major school of law, not only are dogs not haram, but every living animal is pure by default. Some scholars consider dogs to be haram due to cleanliness, and really, it’s just their saliva that is impure. All that means is if it gets on you, you should wipe it with water. But it doesn’t mean that a sin was incurred.
When it comes to keeping dogs, there are different opinions, and that’s the beauty of Islam. Dogs are allowed to be kept, but not inside the home. One opinion for this is because of a sociological understanding that dogs need to be outside and, therefore, trapping them inside would be unjust. The second opinion is that dogs, unlike cats, don’t clean themselves, so they will bring filth into your home. This is especially important if you’re praying in your home, because those areas should be as pure as possible. There is a valid exception to this, though, and that’s if a dog is required for specific support, like a guard dog.
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According to the major school of law, not only are dogs not haram, but every living animal is pure by default. Some scholars consider dogs to be haram due to cleanliness, and really, it’s just their saliva that is impure. All that means is if it gets on you, you should wipe it with water. But it doesn’t mean that a sin was incurred.
When it comes to keeping dogs, there are different opinions, and that’s the beauty of Islam. Dogs are allowed to be kept, but not inside the home. One opinion for this is because of a sociological understanding that dogs need to be outside and, therefore, trapping them inside would be unjust. The second opinion is that dogs, unlike cats, don’t clean themselves, so they will bring filth into your home. This is especially important if you’re praying in your home, because those areas should be as pure as possible. There is a valid exception to this, though, and that’s if a dog is required for specific support, like a guard dog.
Dogs are not considered haram in Islam. Dogs can be used for hunting, and as a watchdog to protect. Dogs are found in the 18th chapter of the Quran, where the people that were the sleepers in the cave had a dog that was a watchdog.
However, their saliva is said to be impure, and there's a whole level of cleanliness that needs to be done if, say, they lick your clothes or if you get their saliva on them, but essentially, dogs are not forbidden in the religion and are considered very beneficial. They're one more being in the creation of God that we should show mercy to.
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However, their saliva is said to be impure, and there's a whole level of cleanliness that needs to be done if, say, they lick your clothes or if you get their saliva on them, but essentially, dogs are not forbidden in the religion and are considered very beneficial. They're one more being in the creation of God that we should show mercy to.
Dogs are normally considered Haram because we consider the dog’s saliva as unclean. There is one exception to this, and that’s if you need the dog for protection – a dog wouldn’t be considered Haram in this case.
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There's some debate about whether dogs are haram in Islam and the Quran doesn't specify whether dogs are prohibited or not. Some Muslims believe you are allowed to own dogs, but they are considered Najis, or impure animals like pigs. Some Muslims believe that the impurity spreads when a dog touches you or another item, and may require purification or cleaning afterward, and that dogs should be kept outside. Other Muslims believe dogs are haram unless they're used for hunting or guarding your home.
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