Islamic Invitation Centre
Animals
Q: Does Islam allow cats as pets?
A: Yes.
Q: Does Islam allow dogs as pets?
A: It is forbidden (haraam) to keep a dog unless it is for the purposes for which Islam permits keeping dogs. Whoever keeps a dog except a dog for hunting or farming, his reward will decrease each day by one or two qeeraats.
The word qeeraat refers to a large amount of reward; if a person’s reward decreases by one qeeraat, that means that he is sinning, for losing reward is like earning sin, both indicate that something is haraam because of the consequences it leads to.
The impurity of dogs is the greatest of animal impurities. The impurity of a dog can only be removed by washing seven times, one of which should be with earth. Even pigs, which the Qur’aan states are haraam and describes as an abomination are not impure to such an extent.
Q: Does Islam allow other pets?
A: Yes (apart from pigs).
A: Only if there is no physical and psychological harm to the animals.