Dear Tan Sri Dato Hj Othman Mustapha,
I read your statement to the young lady, Nurhanizah Abdul Rahman, earlier today. May I congratulate you on the soft and diplomatic language you employed towards her. That, my dear Tan Sri Dato Hj, is the language of the Prophet, rahmahlil ‘alameen (a mercy unto the worlds, Quran Chapter 21 Verse 107), so thank you for following the sunna of the Prophet there.
However, it is also the sunnah to use one’s reason (akal). In fact, the Quran tells us that the worst of beasts are those who do not use their reasoning (8/22). I feel that, in the issue of forbidding of dogs as pets, the orthodoxy has not used their reasoning effectively.
Think about it.
First and foremost, in your statement towards Nurhanizah, you did not once mention any Quranic evidence. As a Sunni Muslim, the Quran should be your first port of call, yet you did not even look at the mere six verses regarding dogs! How is this possible, Tan Sri Dato Hj?
In those six verses (5/4, 7/176, 18/18, 18/22, 18/22, 18/22), not once did Allah call dogs ‘impure’, let alone forbid keeping them as pets.
On the contrary, He actually declared animals caught and killed by hunting dogs to be halal. Why did He bother to make such a specific declaration, Tan Sri Dato Hj? Think about it, please.
Is it possible for meat procured after a deadly tussle with a dog to be halal if the dog itself is ‘najismughallazah’ (heavy impurity)? The dog’s saliva, possibly blood and definitely wet fur would have made contact with its prey and yet the prey is halal to eat but the dog itself is a heavy impurity! Come on now, that does not make sense at all!
Furthermore, in the story of the companions of the cave (ashab al-kahf), the dog is their constant companion! God did not say he was a hunting dog or taken to guard farms or what not. He was simply their companion and guess what, in one verse(18/22), he is actually mentioned three times! This shows a great emphasis on his role in the story.
Lessons from the Quran
As I am sure you know, Tan Sri Dato Hj, the stories in the Quran are meant to be lessons for us, as God says (11/120 and 12/111); so what lesson do you get from this one? That keeping dogs is haram? That is the opposite of what is being told!
Finally, on the hadith which renders keeping dogs in the house as haram. This hadith mentions that Jibreel told the Prophet that the angels would not enter any house with dogs in them. Does this make sense to you?
One of the angels is the angel of death. If he cannot come for you because a dog is in the house, then you will not die. Does this mean that anyone who keeps dogs in their houses will remain alive forever?? This makes no sense whatsoever, Tan Sri Dato Hj!
Hadiths, if taken, must be subservient to the Quran but in this case, you silenced the Quran and took an illogical hadith as evidence.
Dogs are such wonderful, loving companions to us. They can perform functions no other animal can. Why are we denying ourselves this pleasure and benefit when Allah so clearly declared for us, that dogs are neither impure nor forbidden? I urge you to consider this final verse:
But say not – for any false thing that your tongues may put forth,- “This is lawful, and this is forbidden,” so as to ascribe false things to Allah. For those who ascribe false things to Allah, will never prosper. (Quran, 16/116)
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By Farouk A Peru, Islamologist and author
ANJING
Sabda Nabi:
“Barangsiapa memelihara anjing, kecuali anjing ternakan, buruan atau tanaman, akan berkurang pahalanya setiap hari sebanyak satu qirat.”
Riwayat Muslim.
Sabdanya:
“Para malaikat tidak akan masuk ke dalam rumah yang ada anjing ataupun gambar.”
Riwayat Bukhari dan Muslim.
Walaupun ada perselisihan dalam kalangan ulama tentang sama ada rambut anjing najis atau tidak, tetapi dalam kalangan ulama Syafie dan Hanbali mereka sepakat bahawa air liurnya NAJIS MUGHALLAZAH (Najis Berat).
Ini kerana Nabi bersabda:
“Sucinya bejana kalian apabila dijilat anjing adalah dengan mencucinya tujuh kali dan yang pertama kali dengan tanah.”
Riwayat Muslim.
Kata Syeikh Ibnu Uthaimin rahimahullah:
وأما مس هذا الكلب فإن كان مسه بدون رطوبة فإنه لا ينجس اليد , وإن كان مسه برطوبة فإن هذا يوجب تنجيس اليد على رأي كثير من أهل العلم , ويجب غسل اليد بعده سبع مرات إحداهن بالتراب – انتهى .
“Adapun menyentuh anjing, sekiranya disentuh dalam keadaan tak basah maka ia tidak menajiskan tangan. Tetapi sekiranya dia menyentuh dalam keadaan basah, maka hal ini membuatkan tangannya NAJIS menurut ramai daripada kalangan ulama, dan wajib membasuh tangan tujuh kali dan salah satunya dengan tanah.”
(Majmuk Fatawa, 11/246)
Jilatan anjing ke muka manusia jelas menajiskan muka dan ia perlu disamak; dibasuh bahagian muka yang dijilat sebanyak tujuh kali; salah satu basuhan dengan tanah.
Kajian perubatan hari ini menunjukkan terdapat pelbagai penyakit yang boleh berjangkit kepada manusia melalui anjing lebih-lebih lagi melalui air liurnya.
Pelbagai jenis kuman virus, bakteria, protozoa dan parasit yang dikaitkan dengan anjing.
Di kalangan mereka yang JAHIL atau terpedaya dengan fahaman LIBERAL mahu menafikan ketetapan Syarak yang melarang Umat Islam daripada memelihara anjing tanpa keperluan dan membawanya masuk ke dalam rumah.
Memelihara anjing menampakkan mereka bertamadun tinggi dan berperikemanusiaan mungkin – kononnya.
Demikian manusia apabila terikut-ikut dengan budaya Kafir Barat sehingga akhirnya batasan Agama diketepikan dengan syubhat-syubhat kemanusiaan dan hak asasi – menurut mereka.
Apakah mereka menyangka Agama tidak berperikemanusiaan dan bersikap zalim? Nauzubillah min zalik
Apa pula reaksi mereka dengan sabdanya:
لولا أن الكلاب أمة من الأمم لأمرت بقتلها فاقتلوا منها كل أسود بهيم
“Seandainya anjing itu tidak termasuk salah satu umat diantara pelbagai umat, niscaya aku akan perintahkan supaya ia dibunuh. MAKA BUNUHLAH ANJING YANG HITAM PEKAT.”
Hadis sahih. Riwayat Imam Ahmad dan yang lain.
Islam adalah menyerah diri kepada ketetapan Allah dan hukumNya.
Usahlah mencabar Allah dan Agama dengan menganggap diri lebih berperikemanusiaan dan lebih adil daripada Allah Yang Maha Mengasihani, lagi Maha Adil.
Catatan:
Kini ada usaha sesetengah pihak untuk ‘menormalisasikan’ budaya kafir Barat dalam kalangan masyarakat Islam; untuk ‘desensitise’; supaya mereka tidak lagi merasa sensitif atau janggal terhadap budaya-budaya kafir ini.
Wallahul musta’an.
– Ustaz Idris Sulaiman (hafidzahullah) –
God graced us with a brain but when it isn’t used in the right way, wouldn’t that be dishonouring God’s grace?
In the mahabharbta, yudhistira refuses to enter heaven without his pet dog! And indra king of heaven eventually let him enter. Yudistira realises the concept of non duality amongst souls!
Well said! Thank you for clarifying this misguided facts about ‘dogs’ in Islam. I am an animals lover. Though i am a Christian still, i have muslim relatives and friends who do love dogs. Great information indeed! Well done Farouk! Bless your truthful heart??
There is a Big Difference between a Pet Dog and a Wild Dog or a Stray Dog. Furthermore, there are also many different species of dogs too. Not every dog is alike. Dogs and woman are mammals that must be properly trained and cultured before they are safe to handle.or live with. Every dog had their own individual traits and so must treat them individually instead of as a lot.
You actually said and i quote your verse; “Dogs and WOMEN are mammals that must be properly trained and cultured before they are safe to handle or live with”??
Dude did you just equate dogs and women as alike?? As in women are in the position of an animal??
It’s not about a dog, it’s all about stopping Flik as in A Bug’s Life to start a revolution of thinking as a sensible Malaysian Muslim. Thus spell the end of race and religion politics.
What A Beautiful World If All The People have Hearts Like A Dog.
Thank you for the wonderful write up. We need more educated and mindful individuals in this country. Now what’s needed is this article to be translated in to Bahasa Malaysia if it has not been done yet. Terima Kasih.
Well said, Farouk.