Hadith Text & Context

"Whoever keeps a dog - except a dog for hunting or herding livestock - two Qirats will be deducted from his reward each day." (Sunan an-Nasa'i 4287)

This hadith from The Book of Hunting and Slaughtering addresses the Islamic ruling on dog ownership and its spiritual implications.

Meaning of Qirat

A Qirat represents a substantial measure of spiritual reward. Scholars explain it as equivalent to a great mountain like Uhud in terms of heavenly recompense.

The deduction occurs daily, emphasizing the continuous nature of the spiritual consequence for unnecessary dog ownership.

Permissible Exceptions

Hunting dogs trained for lawful game are exempt, as they serve a legitimate need for sustenance.

Herding dogs for livestock protection are also excluded, as they preserve wealth and provide livelihood.

Some scholars include farming dogs and security dogs in permissible categories due to similar needs.

Scholarly Interpretation

The prohibition primarily concerns keeping dogs as pets without legitimate need, as this involves maintaining ritual impurity and unnecessary distraction.

Imam an-Nawawi explains that the deduction occurs because angels avoid houses containing dogs, thus reducing divine blessings.

The ruling demonstrates Islam's balance between recognizing animal utility while maintaining spiritual purity and focus on worship.