Can Muslims keep dogs and cats as pets?
Quick Answer
Cats are permitted and were loved by the Prophet ﷺ. Dogs are permitted for specific purposes (guarding, hunting, herding) but the majority of scholars discourage keeping them as house pets due to ritual purity concerns.
Detailed Answer
Cats: Permitted without restriction. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'They (cats) are not impure; they are among those who go around among you' (Sunan Abu Dawud 75). The companion Abu Hurairah ('father of the kitten') was known for his love of cats.
Dogs: A nuanced ruling exists.
Permissible uses (by hadith): Guarding livestock, hunting, guarding property/farms (Sahih Bukhari 5481).
Keeping as house pets: The majority of scholars (Hanafi, Shafi'i, Hanbali) discourage it because: angels do not enter a house with a dog (Sahih Bukhari 3322), and dog saliva is ritually impure requiring specific washing (Sahih Muslim 279).
Maliki position: More lenient — considers dogs not impure during life, only their saliva is to be avoided. Some contemporary Maliki and other scholars permit indoor dogs with conditions: dog has a purpose (companion for the lonely, service dog, etc.), maintained cleanly, kept out of prayer areas.
Key practical points if owning a dog: keep it out of the area used for salah, wash anything the dog's saliva touches per ritual (seven washings, one with earth/soap per Sahih Muslim 279), keep it clean.
Sources
- Sunan Abu Dawud 75
- Sahih Bukhari 3322
- Sahih Bukhari 5481
- Sahih Muslim 279
Madhab Notes
Maliki school is most lenient on dogs. Hanafi, Shafi'i, and Hanbali require ritual washing if saliva contacts the body or clothes.
Disclaimer: This answer is educational guidance based on authentic sources. For binding rulings on personal matters, please consult a qualified Islamic scholar.