Hadith Text

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "If a dog drinks from the utensil of anyone of you it is essential to wash it seven times."

Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 172

Legal Ruling & Purification

This hadith establishes that utensils licked by dogs require ritual purification through washing seven times. The first washing should be with soil, followed by six washings with water, according to the most authentic opinion of the scholars.

The wisdom behind this stringent purification lies in the dog's saliva being considered najis (ritually impure). This ruling preserves hygiene and spiritual purity, as dogs are creatures whose mouths frequently come into contact with impurities.

Scholarly Commentary

Imam al-Nawawi explains that the consensus of Muslim scholars considers dogs to be impure. The requirement of seven washings, one with soil, demonstrates the seriousness of this impurity.

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani notes that the soil in the first washing serves to break down the oily substance in the dog's saliva that water alone cannot properly remove. This reflects the divine wisdom in Islamic purification laws.

The Hanafi school permits the use of alternatives to soil if they possess similar cleansing properties, while the majority maintain the specific requirement of soil based on the prophetic tradition.

Practical Application

The ruling applies specifically to utensils from which people eat and drink. Modern scholars have extended this to include any container used for consumption.

If the utensil is merely touched by a dog's dry body without saliva, most scholars consider it pure, though washing is recommended as a precaution.

This teaching emphasizes the importance of cleanliness in both physical and spiritual aspects of life, reflecting Islam's comprehensive approach to purity.