Can Muslims keep dogs/puppies as pets?

Q. What is the Shariah ruling of keeping a dog/puppy as a pet as I have witnessed many Muslims keeping dogs/puppies as pets? Kindly advise?

A. It is not permissible to keep dogs/puppies as pets. In doing so, one’s household will be deprived of the Mercy and blessings of Allah Ta’ala. Rasulullah Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam said:

لاَ تَدْخُلُ المَلاَئِكَةُ بَيْتًا فِيهِ كَلْبٌ وَلاَ صُورَةٌ

“Angels do not enter a house wherein there is a dog or an animate picture” (Bukhari)

However, if a dog is kept for a valid reason, for e.g. a dog is kept for security, farming and hunting purposes, it will be permissible to kept a dog under certain limitations and restrictions. (Shaami)

Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

Mufti Ismaeel Bassa

themufti.com