Question:

 

Assalaamu Alaikum,

 

I follow that a dog in itself is not impure, its hair is pure but its saliva, urine and poop is impure. Even if the hair of the dog is pure, I have read a fatwa that says if the dog is wet we have to wash our hand or cloth 7 times if touched. because the wetness is most probably from the dog licking itself. But what is the ruling on a rainy day? If it rains and a dog becomes wet because of the rain, will it be regarded as pure or impure, as it may have licked its body from before? Similarly, after raining if a dry dog walks on a rain-soaked road or puddle, or sits in a wet place will that place or puddle be regarded as pure or not?

 

Answer:

 

حامدا و مصليا و مسلما

 

Wa Alaikum As-Salaam,

 

The Honorable Jurists have mentioned that the authoritative opinion in the Hanafi Madhab, regarding a dry dog that has no visible impurities, sweat or saliva on its body, and gets slightly wet by rain or some water poured over it, then by the dog touching one’s clothes or body will not render it impure.

 

The Honorable Jurists have further explained that this is because the wetness is on its fur/hair, which in itself is not impure.

In substantiation of this, the adept author of Al-Fataawah At-Taatarkhaniyah have mentioned: “If the outer layer of the dog’s fur/hair becomes wet, then Salaat is permitted (if touched by it), and this is the authoritative opinion”.

The same is echoed by the eminent author of Al Durrul Mukhtaar and additionally strengthened by Allamah Shami where he states “ There is no difference of opinion regarding the impurity of the dog’s meat and the purity of its hair/fur”.

 

However, if the dog is immersed in a drain or pool of water such that it is completely soaked, then the water on its body is contaminated by its sweat. Therefore, its whole body is now considered impure, such that if any part of its hair touches one’s clothes or body that amounts to more than the size equal to the inner circumference of the palm, then Salaat will not be permitted in this state.

 

In this regard, the expert Jurist ‘Allamah Faridud-Deen Al Hindi’ (Rahimahullah) mentions in his monumental book Al-Fataawah At-Taatarkaniyah’, “If a dog is immersed into water or gets soaked from the rain and then touches the clothes of a person, if the water reached the dog’s skin, then a person will be prevented from performing Salaat. However, if water did not reach the dog’s skin, then a person can perform Salaat (if the dog touches his body or clothes)”.

 

As such, as long as theres are no visible impurities, sweat or saliva on a dog’s body and feet, then by its sitting or walking in a puddle of water or a rain soaked road will not render that place impure, as long as the water did not reach the skin of the dog.

References

 

  1. Al Fataawah Al-Hindiyah, 1:53, Qadimi Kutub Khanah
  2. Halabi Kabeer, 171-172, Suhail Academy, 1979
  3. Raddul Muhtaar Ala-Durril Mukhtaar, 1:208-209, Darul Fikr, 1386
  4. Al Fataawah At-Taatarkhaniyah, 1: 318-319, Maktabah Rashidiyah, 2010
  5. Al Dhakhiratul Burhaniyah, 1:428-429, DKI, 2019
  6. Fatawah Qadhi Khan, 1:27, Qadimi Kutub khanah
  7. Al Binayah, 1:473, DKI, 2000
  8. Fatawah Al-Lakhnawi, 119, Maktabah Rashidiyah
  9. Fatawah Diniyah, 1:321, Jamiah Husainiyah, 2013
  10. Fatawah Darul Uloom Deoband (Mukammal Mudalal), 1:231, Darul Isha’at, 2002
  11. Fatawah Mahmoodiyah, 8:315, Darul Isha’at, 2010

 

 

 

 

And Allah Almighty knows best

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Usaamah Al-Ameen Mohammed

Darul Iftaa

Darul Uloom Trinidad and Tobago

 

Checked and Approved:

(Mufti) Waseem Khan

Date: 18.05.2023