The Unofficial "Ask a Muslim" Thread.

[Tesla]

Why do Muslims not like dogs? Dogs make some of the most loving and loyal companions.

[BuffedGuy]

Peace be unto the one who seeks righteous guidance.

In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Why do Muslims not like dogs? Dogs make some of the most loving and loyal companions.

It is largely a cultural thing. Japanese people eat animals that many Americans are scared to even look at. In Arab and South Asian cultures, people are generally deathly scared of dogs. I don't know why that is. (This is one of the reasons that Guantanamo Bay used dogs to interrogate Muslim prisoners.)

Muslims are permitted to keep dogs for hunting, herding livestock, guide dogs, bomb and drug sniffing dogs, guard dogs, etc.

We are not however allowed to keep them as pets. The reason is that dogs in Islam are considered by us to be spiritually impure (najas). As for why that is, only God Almighty knows. We simply hear and obey His Command. It should be noted that calling someone a "dog" in Islam is one of the worst insults. That is why the shoe thrower in Iraq called President George Bush that.

We are, however, allowed to keep cats, and Muslims do that a lot. One of Prophet Muhammad's disciples was known as "The Father of Cats" for this very reason.

In the Care of God,
-Saladin.