Keeping Dogs In The House

It is impermissible for one to keep a dog on one’s property except for purposes of necessity. Necessity would cover keeping a watchdog outside the house (for example, in the yard), in order to secure one’s home from robbery and theft. Similarly, if one is a farmer, then in order to secure one’s crops and livestock from predators. In the same manner, one is allowed to keep a dog for hunting etc.

However, to keep a dog for any other purpose, such as keeping a dog as a pet or as a hobby etc. will be impermissible and will be a cause of keeping the angels of mercy away from one’s house. Keeping in mind the above-mentioned Hadeeth, there is a difference of opinion amongst commentators of Hadeeth, regarding whether the angels of mercy enter that house in which a dog is kept out of necessity or not. Imam Nawawi Rahimahullah and others are of the opinion that as long as any type of dog is in one’s house, the angels of mercy will not enter that house. On the other hand, Imam Khattabi Rahimahullah and others are of the opinion that those dogs which are kept out of necessity are exempted from the above-mentioned Hadeeth, and the angels of mercy will enter such a house.

Hence, it will be better for one to try and use other means of security. If one really does have to keep a dog due to some necessity then (as alluded to earlier on), one should try his/her best to keepthe dog outside of the house. For example, one could keep it in the yard or elsewhere apart from within the actual house itself.