Divorce - Sahih al-Bukhari 5346

The Prophet (ﷺ) prohibited taking the price of a dog, the earnings of a soothsayer and the money earned by prostitution.

Commentary on the Prohibition

This noble hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari establishes three categories of unlawful earnings that are strictly forbidden in Islamic law. The prohibition stems from the impure and harmful nature of these sources.

The price of a dog is forbidden because dogs are generally considered najis (impure) in Shariah, except for specific permitted purposes like hunting, guarding livestock, or farming. Their sale price is therefore tainted.

The earnings of a soothsayer are prohibited because they involve false claims to knowledge of the unseen, which is exclusive to Allah. This constitutes shirk (associating partners with Allah) and deception of people.

Money earned through prostitution is forbidden due to the grave sin of zina (unlawful sexual relations) and the corruption it spreads in society. All transactions involving haram activities are invalid and impure.

Legal Implications

Scholars agree that wealth acquired through these means cannot be used for any purpose, including charity, as Allah is pure and accepts only what is pure. One must repent and dispose of such wealth appropriately.

This prohibition extends to all similar unlawful earnings, establishing the principle that the means of earning must be halal (permissible) in both substance and method according to Islamic principles.