by Asma bint Shameem
ANSWER
Just because a dog is mentioned accompanying the People of the Cave, does not mean that it’s allowed to keep a dog as a “pet” just like that.
That’s because the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam CLEARLY prohibited us from keeping dogs as pets UNLESS there’s a valid Shar’ee need for that.
🍃 The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:
"Whoever keeps a dog, his good deeds will decrease every day by one qeeraat (meaning a very large portion), unless it is a dog for herding sheep, farming or hunting." (al-Bukhaari 2145)
🍃 In another hadeeth he Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said:
“Whoever keeps a dog, except a dog for herding livestock or a dog that is trained for hunting, TWO qiraats will be deducted from his reward each day.” (Muslim 2978)
🍃 And he Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam also said:
“The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or an image.” (Ibn Maajah 3640 -- saheeh by al-Albaani)
The prohibition in these ahaadeeth is vividly clear.
So the fact that the dog was with the people of the cave does NOT mean that it’s allowed to keep dogs as PETS.
How can I say that?
Let’s look at some points.
1. Allaah is mentioning a “specific circumstance” where a dog happened to accompany the young men when they escaped the tyrant king.
It’s just a matter-of-fact information.
That’s not any evidence that Allaah is “approving” or “encouraging” us to keep dogs as pets.
Just because Allaah mentions a dog in that story does not mean that it’s allowed to have a dog for ALL time to come till eternity!
2. Even if the young men had the dog with them, that still doesn’t mean that it’s allowed to keep dogs as pets.
That’s because the dog was NOT INSIDE the cave; rather he lay at the entrance and he was GUARDING the youth.
🍃 Allaah tells us:
وَكَلْبُهُم بَاسِطٌ ذِرَاعَيْهِ بِالْوَصِيدِ
“their dog stretched his forelegs ‘at the entrance’" (Surah al-Kahf: 18)
And it’s allowed to keep dogs for “GUARDING” purposes as per the authentic hadeeth of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam quoted above.
🍃 Imaam Ibn Kathir said:
“Ibn Jurayj said “He was guarding the door for them.”
It was his nature and habit to lie down at their door as if guarding them.
He was sitting outside the door, because the angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog, as was reported in As-Saheeh, nor do they enter a house in which there is an image, a person in state of ritual impurity or a disbeliever, as was narrated in the Hasan Hadeeth.
The blessing they enjoyed extended to their dog, so the sleep that overtook them overtook him too.
This is the benefit of accompanying good people, and so this dog attained fame and stature.” (Tafseer Ibn Katheer)
3. Even if keeping a dog as a pet was allowed in the Sharee’ah of that time, thousands of years ago, it is not allowed in the Sharee’ah that our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ brought.
ALL the legislation of previous Prophets has been ABROGATED by the Sharee’ah that was given to the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam.
4. Besides all that, we need to remember that the Qur’aan including Surah al-Kahf, was revealed to the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam.
And he was the one who understood the Aayaat of the Qur’aan the best, and knew exactly what each Aayah meant, exactly what is allowed and what is not.
No one on the face of the earth understood that more than him.
Yet he FORBADE keeping a dog as a pet, and warned against doing so.
Had it been permissible to keep a dog as a pet, the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam would surely not have discouraged it in such strong words, and would not have said anything against it.
So we must follow him Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam and his teachings and accept the fact that keeping dogs as pets is not allowed except for a few specific situations.
We must hold on to that which he brought and stay away from anything that he forbade, even if it goes against our desires or wishes or “logic”.
There’s NOTHING more perfect than the laws of Allaah and there is no guidance better than the guidance of our beloved Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam.
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Don't just “READ” Surah al -Kahf every Friday....
🔺UNDERSTAND
🔺REFLECT
🔺IMPLEMENT
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