It can be surprising to learn about certain rules and practices in Islam that have to do with keeping a person clean and pure. Coming from a Christian perspective, we know that God looks at the heart, and that He does not make us jump through hoops to reach him.

One thing Muslims must obey is avoiding dogs because in Islam, dogs are considered unclean. This does not mean that all Muslims hate dogs. Many love them and own them as pets but in this they are disobeying their prophet.  Unlike dogs, cats are revered in Muslim culture. Muhammad himself was a great cat-lover and he had a cat named Muezza.

It is important for Christians to understand the restrictions Muslims have concerning dogs, as well as how to handle it if you have a dog and your Muslim friend comes over.

What rules do Muslims have concerning dogs?

Here are the key rules about dogs: 

• Dogs are ritually unclean and should not be kept as household pets. 
• If a dog walks in front of a Muslim while they are performing their daily prayers, it nullifies that prayer, meaning it does not count as one of their obligatory five daily prayers. 
• Dogs must not be owned as pets inside the homes
• Some conservative and extreme Muslims believe that after touching a dog a Muslim must undergo a very thorough ritual cleaning to be pure again.

Muhammad said, “Whoever keeps a dog, except a dog for herding livestock or a dog that is trained for hunting, two qirats will be deducted from his reward each day.” (al-Bukhari, 5163; Muslim, 1574) So if a Muslim has a pet dog, they will lose a coin out of their rewards from Allah every day.

Something to note: Islam also states that if a woman walks in front of a man during his prayers, it cancels out his prayers as well. This is a sad example of the way Islam devalues women and considers them of less value. You can learn more about the unequal treatment of women under Islam in this blog.

Why did Muhammad ban having dogs as pets?

None of the rules about dogs are mentioned in the Quran. They are all derived from Muhammad’s sayings in the Hadith. Muhammad hated dogs and whether his teachings came from cultural bias, Pagan concepts, or his own imagination, they continue to impact Muslims to this day. 

Muhammad’s orders were that most dogs were to be killed and all dogs of a specific color (black) had to be killed. In one Hadith, Muhammad claims that the angel Gabriel told him that angels do not visit a house where there are dogs, and this could be one of the reasons he banned dogs. 

“Once Gabriel promised to visit the Prophet but he delayed and the Prophet got worried about that. At last he came out and found Gabriel and complained to him of his grief (for his delay). Gabriel said to him, ‘We do not enter a place in which there is a picture or a dog.’” Bukhari Vol. 7, #843

How to host your Muslim friend if you have a dog

Hosting your Muslim friend in your home if possible is important to cultivate a deeper relationship. Making sure that your Muslim friend is as comfortable as possible when they come over is a way to show Christ’s love to them!

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:3-4

Don’t worry you do not have to send your dog off to a kennel if your Muslim friend is coming over. Instead, keep the dog locked on one side of the house and make sure to clean up the dog hair and toys before your Muslim friend comes over so they can feel relaxed and respected.

Talk to your Muslim friend about what would make them feel most comfortable when they come over to your house. Individuals will have different comfort levels and different beliefs on what measures they should take to remain pure. Some may want to meet your dog and even play with them!

Talking about Islam’s rules surrounding dogs with your Muslim friend

Dogs are not usually included in theological discussions, but this topic can actually be used to speak to the grace of God and how true salvation is achieved. In Islam, rules and rituals must be done as perfectly as possible to gain Allah’s favor, in hopes that on judgment day the Muslim will be granted access into paradise.

There are a few questions you can ask your Muslim friend to get them thinking about these Islamic rules to possibly help them question them:

• Why would Allah allow something as small as a dog to separate your prayers from Him when He created dogs?
• How can you know if you are ever pure enough for Allah? When is enough going to be enough?
• If Allah loves you, why doesn’t Allah make it easier for you to connect with Him?

If you get the opportunity, tell your Muslim friend about the way God truly wants to know them. Explain to them that God offers a relationship instead of a religion with endless rules. For guides to help prepare for this, you can read these evangelistic posts:

• Read this before you share the Gospel with a Muslim
• How to prepare yourself for sharing the Gospel
• How to know the right time to ask your Muslim friend about accepting Christ into their heart

Prayer

Dear Lord, give me wisdom when I invite my Muslim friend over to my home. Please help me speak truth into their life about the relationship You want with us. Let their heart be opened up to receive Your love. Amen.