It’s Not Haram to Keep a Dog!

It’s Not Haram to Keep a Dog!

The Quran is the book that explains everything related to Islam (an-Nahl [16] 89). What is haram is clearly stated in the Quran. To state things other than those stated as haram or halal is fabricating a lie against Allah (an-Nahl [16] 116,117). Whether or not to do things other than haram is left to the individual’s choice.

“And indeed, what has been revealed to you [the Qur’an] is truly a reminder/honor-prestige for you and your people. You will be questioned soon.” (az-Zukhruf [43] 44).

The Quran’s approach to dogs is positive. For example, the Quran insists that the faithful young people known as Ashab al-Kahf had their dogs with them when they had to hide in a cave to escape the tyranny of the society: “…And their dog extended its forelegs at the entrance…” (al-Kahf [18] 18, 22). Apart from these verses, the Quran does not give any information about dogs, nor does it impose any prohibitions.

Despite this, traditional understanding has identified dogs with the devil; that black dogs must be killed, that angels will not enter houses with dogs and that salah cannot be performed; it states that it is haram to keep dogs. The Quran is not the source of any of these expressions. The negative understanding of dogs is based on traditional understanding, not the Quran.

“And who can do more wrong; act more against his own good than the one who invents a lie about Allah?…”
(Hud [11] 18).

As a result, according to the Quran, it does not say anything that it is a sin to keep a dog inside or outside the house. These are completely left to the personal preference. If the person is able to provide the necessary vaccinations, care, cleaning and feeding conditions of the creature he intends to feed at home, he should take responsibility, and then he should not leave it on the street by saying “I can’t look after it.”