Hadith Text & Context

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'If a dog licks the vessel of any one of you, let him wash it seven times.'" (Sunan an-Nasa'i 64)

This narration from The Book of Purification addresses the ritual purity of vessels contaminated by canine saliva, establishing specific purification requirements.

Legal Ruling (Hukm)

The majority of classical scholars consider canine saliva to be najis (ritually impure) based on this hadith. The vessel becomes contaminated and requires purification before use for drinking, eating, or worship.

Imam ash-Shafi'i and Imam Ahmad held that one washing suffices if thoroughly done, while the seven washings represent the complete recommended method.

Purification Methodology

The preferred method according to most scholars: First washing should be with soil or earth, followed by six washings with pure water. This combines the prophetic instruction with another narration specifying soil for the first cleaning.

If soil is unavailable, water alone suffices according to some scholars, though the complete method with soil is preferred when possible.

Wisdom & Benefits

This ruling preserves public health, as modern science confirms dogs carry harmful bacteria and parasites in their saliva.

The specification of seven washings ensures thorough cleansing beyond what might be achieved with fewer repetitions, teaching Muslims the importance of complete purification.

The ruling instills consciousness of purity in all aspects of life, connecting physical cleanliness to spiritual purity.

Scope of Application

The ruling applies specifically to vessels used for food and drink. Other items touched by dogs may require different purification methods.

Scholars differ regarding the ruling's application to other animals. The majority restrict this specific ruling to dogs, while some extend it to pigs and other carnivores.