The Permissibility of Keeping Hunting Dogs and Watch Dogs Dogs which are kept for a purpose, such as hunting, guarding cattle or crops and the like are exempted from the above ruling. In a hadith reported by both al-Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet (peace be on him) said, Whoever keeps a dog except for hunting or for guarding crops or cattle will lose one large measure (qirat) of his reward each day.On the basis of this hadith some jurists argue that the keeping of dogs as pets can be classified as makruh rather than haram, as the haram is absolutely prohibited without regard to whether there is a decrease in reward or not. However, the prohibition of keeping dogs in the house does not mean that dogs may be treated cruelly or that they should be eradicated. Referring to the following verse of the Qur'an, There is not an animal on the earth, nor a bird flying upon two wings, but comprise nations like yourselves. (6:38), the Prophet (peace be on him) said, "If dogs were not a nation (ummah) among nations, I would have ordered that they be killed.'' (Reported by Abu Daoud and al-Tirmidhi. (This was said by the Prophet following Jibril's remark that angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog. Trans.))The Prophet (peace be on him) told his Companions a story concerning a man who found a dog in the desert panting and licking the dust due to thirst. The man went to a well, filled his shoes with water, and relieved the dog's thirst. Said the Messenger of Allah (peace be on him), "Allah appreciated this and forgave him all his sins." (Reported by al-Bukhari.)
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