Hadith Text

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever keeps a (pet) dog which is neither a watch dog nor a hunting dog, will get a daily deduction of two Qirat from his good deeds." (Sahih al-Bukhari 5480)

Scholarly Commentary

This hadith establishes the prohibition of keeping dogs as mere pets without legitimate need. The deduction of two Qirat from one's good deeds serves as a spiritual deterrent. Scholars explain that Qirat refers to a substantial measure of reward, with some interpretations suggesting it equals the size of Mount Uhud.

The exception for hunting and guard dogs demonstrates the Islamic principle of balancing spiritual concerns with practical necessities. A hunting dog assists in obtaining lawful sustenance, while a guard dog protects property and livestock. These legitimate needs mitigate the general prohibition.

The continuous nature of the deduction ("daily") emphasizes the seriousness of maintaining such dogs unnecessarily. This ruling aims to preserve household purity, as angels do not enter homes containing dogs, and to maintain the dignity and cleanliness Islam encourages.

Juridical Rulings

The majority of scholars hold this prohibition applies to keeping dogs indoors as companions. Dogs kept for permitted purposes should be maintained outside living quarters.

Sheepdogs and farm dogs are generally included under the guard dog exception due to their protective function. Modern applications extend to police and service dogs performing essential duties.

The deduction occurs only while the dog is kept unnecessarily. Removing the dog stops the daily reduction of rewards, though past deductions are not restored.