Question : A question was asked about [the validity of] owning a dog for reasons other than hunting, as well as the ruling of hunting with a dog.

Fatwa in Brief: It is not permitted to own a dog except for the purpose of hunting, guarding property, or guarding cattle. The money gained from buying and selling dogs was prohibited by the Prophet (upon him be peace).

Shaykh Ibn al-‘Uthaymin: Nur ‘Ala al-Darb, p. 74

Response:

It is permitted to own a dog if this benefits you. However, if you do not benefit from owning it, then it is not permitted. Buying and selling dogs is permitted according to Imam Malik, while Abu Hanifa held the same opinion, as long as it [the dog] is not dangerous.

Commentary:

In Muslim, it is narrated that the Prophet (upon him be peace) said: “Whoever owns a dog other than those used for guarding (cattle) and for hunting will have his rewards decreased by two kiraat [measures] daily”. And, in another version, it adds that this holds except regarding “dogs kept for guarding crops, or sheep, or for [the purpose of] hunting”.

From this, we understand that the prohibition against owning a dog applies only to those dogs from which we do not benefit. This is the case because, in the above hadiths, the exceptions that stipulated – hunting dogs and those guarding crops and cattle – bring benefits to Muslims. Likewise, we may derive from these sources that it is permitted for us to own [guard] dogs, to protect our homes, streets, and so on. By the same logic, police dogs would also be permitted.

[On the other hand] In [the collection of] Muslim, in a hadith attributed to Abu Masud al-Ansari, the Prophet (upon him be peace) prohibits money gained from selling dogs, the dowry (mahr) of a prostitute, and the gift of a magician. And, according to al-Shafi‘i, it is not permitted to sell dogs. Malik disagrees, however, and approves of their sale. Suhnun even remarks that “it is permitted to perform hajj from the money earned from it [selling dogs]. While Abu Hanifa said: “Selling a dog is permitted, except for those [dogs] which are dangerous”.[1] The same was mentioned, in a hadith attributed to Jabir, and included by al-Nisa’i, who said that the Prophet (upon him be peace) prohibited the money earned from [selling] dogs, except hunting dogs.

In light of the above, buying and selling dogs is permitted according to Imam Malik, as well as the saying of Sahnun. Abu Hanifah argues that it is permitted to own dogs, providing that these are that are not dangerous. While al-Shafi‘i claims that this is not permitted whatsoever.[2]

And God knows best.

Dr. Anas Abu Shadi