I love Dogs, Can i keep it ?

Praise be to Allah

Summary:
Muslims are to be kind towards all creation of Allah, within the Bounds set By Allah and His Messenger. Muslims are permitted to keep service dogs, such as hunting dogs or guard dogs. The only prohibition is on keeping a dog purely as a pet, which reduces good deeds. A Muslim loses deeds not because of the dog itself, but due to disobeying the command of Allah’s Messenger.

Detailed Answer:

There are multiple authentic Hadiths (Ahadith) regarding the ruling on keeping dogs, and scholars from all Madhabs (Islamic schools of thought) agree on these narrations. The difference of opinion lies in whether dogs are considered unclean, and if so, which parts of them are considered unclean. However, there is no difference of opinion on the prohibition of keeping a dog purely as a pet.

“Whoever acquires a dog, with the exception of a dog to guard livestock, a hunting dog, or a farm dog, each day a Qirat is deducted from his reward.”
Sunan an-Nasa’i 4284

Another Hadith states:

“Whoever acquires a dog – with the exception of a dog to guard livestock, a hunting dog, or a farm dog – each day a Qirat is deducted from his reward.”
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1490

Other references include:

Sahih al-Bukhari 5480
Mishkat al-Masabih 4099
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1487

Initially, it was one Qirat worth of deeds, and when people did not listen, it became two Qirat. A Qirat is equal to the weight of Mount Uhud.

As narrated:

“Whoever acquires a dog – with the exception of a dog to guard livestock, a hunting dog, or a farm dog – each day two Qirat are deducted from his reward.”
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1490

Some People argue and try to justify it by giving the example of the dog mentioned in Quran but they forget the most important point which is The Sharia of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) does not apply retrospectively to the previous Ummah (nations before Islam). As for the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus, they were from the Ummah before us, around 320 years before the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The Sharia of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) does not apply retrospectively on the previous Ummah.

Surah Al-Kahf states:

“And you would have thought they were awake, though they were asleep. We turned them over, to the right and left, while their dog stretched his forelegs at the entrance. Had you looked at them, you would have certainly fled away from them, filled with horror.”
Surah Al-Kahf 18:18

And this was not a poodle or a Chihuahua.

It is crucial to understand that questioning the validity of these Hadiths is unnecessary as they are considered Sahih (authentic) and are agreed upon by scholars.

Scholars have extrapolated from the Hadith that angels of Barakah (blessings) and mercy do not enter a house with a dog, but the angel of death can enter any place with or without a dog.

The Hadith clearly states the consequences of keeping a dog as a pet, which is a reduction in good deeds. While there is no corporal punishment (Hadd) for keeping a pet dog, it is important for Muslims to learn and follow their Deen (religion) without being lazy or delegating this responsibility to others.

Muslims can keep service dogs for purposes such as guarding, hunting, or farming. The only prohibition is on keeping a dog purely as a pet, as it results in the reduction of good deeds. This reduction in good deeds is due to the disobedience of the Allah and Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) command Not because of the dog itself.

Muslims are encouraged to be kind toward all of Allah’s creation within the bounds set by Allah and His Messenger. There is also a Hadith emphasizing kindness towards dogs:

“A prostitute was forgiven by Allah because, passing by a panting dog near a well and seeing that the dog was about to die of thirst, she took off her shoe, and tying it with her head-cover, she drew out some water for it. So, Allah forgave her because of that.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 3321

Just because Muslims cannot keep dogs as pets, whales as pets, bears as pets, and other animals does not mean we hate them or harm them. It is about following the guidelines set by Allah and His Messenger for the well-being of both humans and animals.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, while service dogs are permitted in Islam, keeping a dog solely as a pet is prohibited and results in the loss of good deeds. This ruling is based on authentic Hadiths and agreed upon by scholars. If a person still wishes to keep a dog, they can, knowing the risk involved, so it’s a personal choice. There is no Hadd (corporal punishment) for keeping a pet dog. No one can force them to keep a dog or prevent them from keeping one. It’s imperative for every Muslim to learn their Deen and not be lazy or defer the task to others. Muslims are also encouraged to be kind to all of Allah’s creation within the bounds set by Allah and His Messenger.

And Allah Knows Best