pets in islam

[NUJUM]

does islam allow to own pets (small animals like cats, dogs, rabbits..) in one's house? in mi country it is very common for a family to own a pet and to consider it part of the family, but i have muslims friends who don't approve this. i don't understand if it comes from islam or from their arab traditions. i understand that in islam dog are considered very dirty animals, but what about cats?

baraka allahu fik

[Bash ah Rat]

Assalamu alaikum

I dont know the answer regarding cats but as to dogs, you are only allowed to keep them but for hunting and to protect your home, but if a dog is kept in the home the angels do not enter the house.

[Muslim Sista]

i thought we weren't allowed dogs!:confused:

[Bash ah Rat]

Assalamu alaikum

Only in the circumstances i have mentioned

[jamila]

Assalam alaykum,
Abu Harrayrah used to feed all the stray cats that came his way. That's how he got his Kunya.
Also, there is a hadith about a woman who was extremely cruel to her cat, eventually starving it to death. In one interval, the cat was 'rescued' by neighbours, who kept it for a while, but returned it to the woman on oath that she would treat it well. It was after that the woman starved it to death, locked up in a cupboard. According to the hadith, her reward for this cruel traetment to an animal was Jahanam.
As for dogs. If you feed a dog out of a bowl which you want to use, you must wash it 7 times before it is purified for use. The dog, as bash n rat implied, cannot be kept indoors, but has to be kept outside and should only be used for one of two functions. As a guard or as a hunting assistant. You also should not let the dog lick your face - and if it licks your hand, wash the hand 7 times to purify it (like the dish).
Sorry. I haven't got the hadith to hand. If you need the sources, I'll try and supply them.
jamila

[Bash ah Rat]

Assalamu alaikum

I am aware of the hadiths you quote Jamila, and it is true what you say.

One must remember that all creation has been created by Allah (swt) and has a right to live, if you keep a pet then you must feed it and provide it with what it requires.

One famous story (if I remember correctly) is that of Hazrat Umar (may Allah swt be pleased with him) that during his Khilafahship (may Allah return the Islamic state and save mankind) that a dog died due to thirst as it had been a drought and Hazrat Umar (may Allah swt be pleased with him) was so distraught he wrote a letter to the Nile (I think it was the Nile) for it never to run dry again and to this day due to the will of Allah (swt) it has never run dry.

This story only goes to stress the importance of all of Allahs (swt) creation have.

[jamila]

Walaykum Assalam,
Yes indeed, and in yet another hadith is the story of a traveller who, when parched was passing by a well. he went over to the well, but the rope and bucket were gone. He was so thirsty, he risked his life by climbing down the well to the water to quench his need. Finally, he climbed back up the well. As he climbed out of the mouth, he noticed a dog acting in a very peculiar way. it was trying to eat bits of mud that had formed by people spilling water from the well. He rralized the dog was trying to get at the liquid to quench its thirst. Knowing how he had felt but an hour before, the man decided to help. He climbed down the well again with his shoes tied around his neck, filled his shoes with water, ascended the well wall again, and gave the thankful dog the water.
This act, according to the hadith, earnt this man enough hasana to tip the scales in his favour and spill him into Heaven.
Thankyou bash ah rat.
wassalaam

[Bash ah Rat]

Assalamu alaikum

As for the dog, it is filth due to what was narrated that the Prophet (saw) was invited to a house so he responded positively, and he was invited to a house and did not respond. He was asked about this so he said: “In the house of so and so is a dog. So it was said to him: In the house of so and so is a cat, so he said: The cat is not filth.”

The Rules of Prayer (aHKaam us-Salat)
Ali Raghib
Professor (Ustadh) in Al-Azhar Al-Shareef
Cairo

[amal]

W'alaeikum Assalam
I like very much the dogs because they are very faithfull.About cats i don't express myself. I kept and keep a dog pet. I never did not catch any illness from my pet. Reading the threathes Jamila and Bash i did not understand why the dog is not allowed in the house. And off course always before meals i wash my hands, but why to wash seven times??

[Bash ah Rat]

Assalamu alaikum

Islam does not always provide a reason for something, as we accept that the sunnah is from Allah (swt) we accept it. Some scholars delve into the reasons for the various laws but if Allah (swt) has not provided it there is no need to delve into it.

As for dogs I believe it has been recently proved that they are unclean and carry bacteria of some sort, also we are told that the Angels do not enter the house of someone who keeps a dog.

[amal]

Bash i am very sorry to hear the way in which you think about dogs. It means you never kept a dog like pet. I don't know to much about cats but to keep a dog its very different. They are intelligents, faithfull, and if only once you were kind with one dog he will never forget you. and they don't carry any bacteria. are not more dirty like the cats. you must think at that and if you can look after one pet that deserve to be a dog.

[Outcider]

An interesting topic and interesting answers!

We know, of course, that eating pork is forbidden according to Islam, but what about keeping a pig as a pet. Is it also forbidden and on what accounts? You might want to have a look: http://www.upprs.com/

[Bash ah Rat]

Assalamu alaikum

Amal - you missunderstand me, I have given the Islamic opinion on keeping dogs and scientific evidence not my own opinion.

If you are interested in my opinion, I dont personally like dogs and having had one I have found them to be loyal and rewarding but I wouldn't class them as being hygienic.

[Muslim Sista]

Dogs and hygenic are you mad?!

[Bash ah Rat]

Assalamu alaikum

Sorry Muslim sister I didnt understand your last post

[Peter J. Malloy]

Didn't the ancient Egyptians consider the cat to be the guardian of the underworld?

P

[Outcider]

Speaking of cats, our family has had one for 15 years. When we taught our cat to be clean and not to jump on tables, we sprayed water on its face every time it attempted to jump on where it wasn't wanted. It was totally harmless, of course, but it worked extremely well. The sprayer was one which you often use to moisten plant leaves.

As for other cleanliness, it learnt without any aids.

[amal]

I read about that ,in the pyramids are mummy cats, hundreds of cats . Depends to the culture. The ancient egyptians believed that: the cats can guide you in the underworld. To keep an pet depend only to you. If you don't like the cats don't keep them. In islam they are the favourites pets because even the prophet kept them.

[Outcider]

While on holiday in Southern Tunisia, there were lots of cats in the hotel where our family lived. The cats were all very friendly, obviously somebody's pets, but they behaved a little badly. We had to be careful not to leave any food unattended on tables!

[Gwenhwyvar]

I have a fear of dogs.... always have, always will. :nervous:

As for cats... i love them :inlove:

[guile]

Originally posted by Gwenhwyvar
I have a fear of dogs.... always have, always will. :nervous:

As for cats... i love them :inlove:

hey, it's exactly the same for me!
i'm really afraid of dogs (and even also a little bit disgusted by them), but i do love cats, especially mine! so cute... :inlove:

peace,
guile

[Sultan]

I don't own a cat myself, but there are a lot of cats in my neighbourhood. But I think their owners mistreat them by putting them out in the cold, rainy nights.

When that happens, the cats come to me for company.

They like the food I give them, as well as a warm place to sleep.

However, one cat went as far as thanking me by bringing me a live mouse!

My favourite is the 'felix' cat who is always at my front door, waiting for me.

:D

[.: Anna :.]

i dont really like dogs either...am scared of em.
cats are nice but i rather have no pets in ma house. i spose if a cat was starving and everything i'd hav 2 take it in otherwise its cruel

[Ebony]

i would hve a cat :D
bt not allowed one :crying:

when i get married...mke my husband get me one :D

[.: Anna :.]

Originally posted by Ebony
i would hve a cat :D
bt not allowed one :crying:

when i get married...mke my husband get me one :D good plan ;)

[courtshands]

http://haram.wordpress.com/category/pets-islam/


YOU SHOULD REALLY READ THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LukinForAnswers]

Hmm. I have a pet snake. Is this against the teachings?

[.: hayat :.]

As-Salaamu Alaykum,

If this helps you inshallah http://ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?t=113596

Ma As-Salaama.

[jihada]

Salam. I have a praying kitty. Yes. A praying kitty. He comes into my room and stands beside me when I pray. he even puts his face down when I do. I'll see if I can get some vids on here.