The dog is one of those animals which is not permissible for a Muslim to keep unless a Muslim needs a dog for hunting, guarding livestock or guarding crops. otherwise two qiraats from his good deeds will be deducted each day he keeps a dog.
Al-Bukhaari (2145) narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: �Whoever keeps a dog, a qiraat from his good deeds will be deducted every day, except a dog for farming or herding livestock.
Muslim (2978) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Whoever keeps a dog that is not a dog for hunting, herding livestock or farming, two qiraats will be deducted from his reward each day.
Muslim (2943) narrated from Abd-Allaah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Whoever keeps a dog, except a dog for herding livestock or a dog for hunting, a qiraat will be deducted from his good deeds each day.Abd-Allaah said: Abu Hurayrah said: Or a dog for farming.
In addition to this the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or an image. (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3322; Muslim, 2106.)
Ibn Maajah (3640) narrated from Ali ibn Abi Taalib (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: �The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or an image. Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah.
The scholars differed as to how to reconcile between the reports which speak of one qiraat being deducted and those which speak of two qiraats being deducted.
It was said that two qiraats will be deducted if the dog is more harmful and one qiraat will be deducted if it is less so.
And it was said that that at first the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that one qiraat would be deducted, then the punishment was increased after that, so he said that two qiraats would be deducted in order to put people off from keeping dogs even more.
The qiraat is an amount that is known to Allah, may He be exalted, and what is meant is that some of the reward for a persons good deeds will be deducted.
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