Hadith Text and Context

Narrated Abu Huraira: I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, "If someone keeps a dog neither for hunting, nor for guarding livestock, the reward (for his good deeds) will be reduced by two Qirats per day." (Sahih al-Bukhari 5481)

This hadith addresses the permissibility and spiritual consequences of keeping dogs, establishing clear exceptions for legitimate needs while warning against unnecessary companionship.

Explanation of Key Terms

Qirat: A measurement of reward, with scholars explaining it as equivalent to a great mountain like Uhud in terms of spiritual weight and value.

Hunting: Refers to trained dogs used for lawful game hunting to provide permissible food.

Guarding Livestock: Includes protecting sheep, cattle, or crops from predators and thieves.

Legal Rulings and Exceptions

The prohibition applies specifically to keeping dogs inside homes without legitimate need. Scholars permit additional exceptions including guard dogs for property, police dogs for security purposes, and service dogs for the disabled.

The reduction in reward occurs daily as long as the dog is kept without valid reason, emphasizing the continuous nature of the spiritual consequence.

Wisdom Behind the Ruling

This ruling preserves household purity as angels do not enter homes containing dogs. It also prevents the imitation of non-Muslim practices and maintains Islamic cleanliness standards.

The exceptions demonstrate Islam's practicality, allowing for necessary uses while discouraging frivolous companionship that may lead to negligence in religious duties.

Scholarly Consensus

The four schools of Islamic jurisprudence agree on the basic ruling while differing slightly on additional permitted uses. All emphasize that when kept for permitted reasons, dogs should be maintained outside living quarters.

The ruling applies regardless of the dog's breed or size, focusing on the purpose of keeping rather than the animal itself.