Why are dogs considered unclean?

Question

I know they say it has to do with the saliva but what about this verse
"They ask thee what is lawful to them (as food): say: Lawful unto you are (all) things good and pure: and what you have taught your trained hunting animals (to catch) in the manner directed to you by Allah; eat what they catch for you but pronounce the name of Allah over it: and fear Allah; for Allah is swift in taking account. (Surah 5:5)

Trained hunting animals can only be dogs and Allah is saying w/e they catch is Halal so how can their saliva be considered unclean?

yes Hassan, countless innovations in the islam has led ppl in believing Islam is weird...we know that Quran can never be wrong so its up to the ppl what they believe in. I would go with the word of Allah.
Allah also said dont make those things haram which have been made Halal onto you.

LOOKS LIKE NO ONE IS READING MY QUESTION!!

@ umm ali, hunting and farming dogs cannot be trained unless they r in close contact with the owner.
And ofcouse dog saliva is dirty. I would clean myself even if a human spit gets on my body or clothes lol. So thats just the same thing
And i wont even drink from the same cup that an animal has drank from. Im surprised that hadith is saying u can use that cup.

I still didnt get any satisfactory answers! : (

Answer 1

Praise be to Almighty Allah!

Traditionally, dogs have been seen as impure, and the Islamic legal tradition has developed several injunctions that warn Muslims against most contact with dogs. Unfortunately, many Muslims have used this view to justify the abuse and neglect of dogs, even though cruelty contradicts the Qur'an's view that all animals form "communities like you."

All animals are a part of Allah’s creation and belong to Allah (swt). Muslims are custodians of this beautiful planet. How we care for animals and what we use them for we will be accountable for to Allah (swt). All of creation is Muslim, submitting to Allah’s will—only man and jinn are granted a freedom of choice. So yes, even animals are Muslim.

It is NOT haraam to touch a dog or any other animal. If the saliva of a dog touches you or any part of your clothing, then it is required of you to wash the body part touched and the item of clothing touched by the dog’s mouth or snout.

No animal has been cursed in any way. Animals are referred to in many instances in the Qu’ran. In Surah Kahf, mention is made of the companions of the Cave and their dog. (S18: 18-22)

We would love for Allah to bestow His mercy upon us, so let’s show mercy and compassion to all His creation. This will also give non-Muslims a true reflection of Islam, aiding da’wah.

There are many Muslims who care well for their animals.

The appeal goes out to those Muslims: Please do not abuse or neglect any animal. This gives a distorted picture to others who are not Muslim.

May Allah be pleased with our efforts.

Edit: I agree with you, May Allah help us spread and gain knowledge.

Answer 2

To me it is simple look at these two hadeeth

within narrowly-defined limits, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) explained: "Whoever keeps a dog, his good deeds will decrease every day by one qeeraat (a unit of measurement), unless it is a dog for farming or herding." According to another report: ". . . unless it is a dog for herding sheep, farming or hunting." (Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, 2322)

Dogs are extremely naajis (impure, unclean). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "If a dog drinks from the vessel of any one of you, let him wash it seven times" (reported by Muslim, no. 279). According to another report: ". . . and clean it the eighth time with earth." (Saheeh Muslim, no. 280).


If the dog catches the pray you would just have to wash it properly before you eat it. The washing is meant for anything the saliva touches.

Answer 3

I did read it but I dont know the answer to your question.
There is a hadith that forbids us having a dog in our house and petting them.
But then you have this ayyah. hmm...the hadith also allows us to use dogs for security,,hunting..so may be like someone else mentioned because we cook the animals that we hunt bofore eating that gets rid of the germs? may be that answers your question?

Answer 4

As others have replied, and you too, that it contains Saliva which has been considered as impure and dirty in Islam and you can't always keep an eye on your pet dog as where it could have licked at and made that portion unclean. and you cannot even offer prayer then.
"A Muslim is not allowed to keep a dog as a pet except for the purpose of guarding or hunting." It has been proven that the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) said: (Anybody) who keeps a dog as a pet, except for the purpose of guarding or hunting, will loose daily a Qiirat (a given portion) from his good deeds. [Narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh and by Malik in the Muwatta'].
For this reason, it's been advised to quit keeping the dog as a pet, if it is not kept for (the purpose of) guarding, because this will decrease on daily basis your good deeds; and to reduce one's good deeds daily is more than a sufficient punishment for a person who hopes (believes) to meet Allah.

Therefore,You can train dogs for the sake of security, for the sake of making your dog a guard and make sure that it will be Outside the home, Not inside the home. In addition, angels do not enter a house where there is a picture or a dog. [Reported by Imams al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Rest Allah knows the best :) ~!

Edit: why do u want to eat anything caught by the dog? and if lets say you are in a jungle and there is nothing for you to eat, and you know you could die, and your dog gets something from somewhere, clean it three times with water and if not available then dust, then have it. But Allah forbid, there is no such need of having to have anything being caught by a Dog :s... is that ok now?

Answer 5

Because their saliva contains many germs AKA icky! icky!

Answer 6

I don't know why they are considered unclean because scientist have long known that a dog's saliva is cleaner than a human's.

Answer 7

dogs are considered being unhygienic (unclean and constituting a likely cause of disease).
one of the disease you could get from dogs is tapeworm.You can get tapeworm infection by eating raw or undercooked meat from an animal or a fish.
and you can get it from dogs,how...Dogs with fleas may have tapeworms, also known as Dipylidium caninum, which they get from swallowing fleas when they groom themselves. Fleas can carry tapeworm eggs that grow into an adult tapeworm once they're in an animal or person's system. Little kids are especially at risk of getting tapeworm if they swallow an infected flea. People who have tapeworms may notice tapeworm pieces in their poop. (Pieces of tapeworm can look like grains of rice.)


we might never know why our prophet(sala Allah aleh wa salam) considered dogs unclean, but we as Muslims have to follow his steps.

The Prophet said, “Purifying a container that a dog has licked (in order for human’s to use it) is done by washing it seven times, the first washing being with dirt.”


edit, yes its halal
I asked the Prophet (about the hunting dogs) and he replied, "If you let loose (with Allah's name) your tamed dog after a game and it hunts it, you may eat it, but if the dog eats of (that game) then do not eat it because the dog has hunted it for itself." I further said, "Sometimes I send my dog for hunting and find another dog with it. He said, "Do not eat the game for you have mentioned Allah's name only on sending your dog and not the other dog."

and don't forget we cook the meat, so if it has anything insha allah it would be good after cooking it.

Answer 8

well when you catch an animal you usually cook it...so all the germs in the saliva die...if a dog licks you you cant really cook your skin so the best way to get rid of the germs is to wash it. meaning the germs exist, but we get rid of them when before we eat the meat..if your eating it raw, then..hmm you should probably wash it.

Answer 9

Dog's saliva contains a lot of germs. This has been scientifically proved.

Answer 10

Eve was here alone, and the Lion possessed by the devil came at her rabid and the froth feel to the earth and Allah SWT made the dog from that, so its kind of part of the devil.

Good animal to have so many uses and very useful and can be a good companion also but you don't put a sweater on it and let it sleep in your bed AstugfarAllah Azeem.

Would you call the devil into your house, even a part of him? Think about it.