That he heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "If somebody keeps a dog that is neither used for farm work nor for guarding the livestock, he will lose one Qirat (of the reward) of his good deeds everyday."
Beginning of Creation - Sahih al-Bukhari 3325
That he heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "If somebody keeps a dog that is neither used for farm work nor for guarding the livestock, he will lose one Qirat (of the reward) of his good deeds everyday."
Commentary on the Prohibition
This hadith establishes the Islamic ruling regarding keeping dogs without legitimate need. The scholars explain that angels do not enter houses where dogs are kept, as these noble beings maintain purity and distance from impurities.
The term "Qirat" refers to a substantial measure of reward - some scholars equate it to the size of Mount Uhud, indicating the gravity of this spiritual loss when maintaining unnecessary dogs.
Permissible Exceptions
The Prophet (ﷺ) specified two legitimate purposes for keeping dogs: agricultural work (hunting or farming assistance) and protection of livestock. Modern applications include police dogs, guide dogs for the blind, and security dogs.
Scholars emphasize that when kept for permissible reasons, dogs should be maintained outside living quarters and proper hygiene observed after contact with them.
Spiritual Wisdom
This prohibition reflects Islam's comprehensive approach to spiritual purity and reward preservation. Unnecessary attachment to dogs may distract from higher spiritual pursuits and affect household blessings.
The ruling demonstrates how everyday choices impact our spiritual account, encouraging Muslims to evaluate their actions against divine guidance for optimal reward attainment.