Islam and Attitude Toward Dog Ownership

[alzado]

About two or three years ago I remember reading a number of news stories having to do with Iran.  The official policy from the ayatollahs at that time was that it was forbidden to own dogs. 

The reason is -- as best I recall -- that the Prophet had detested dogs, and considered them filthy or treacherous animals.  Perhaps some passages from the Koran?  I'm really not sure.

Anyway,  the heart of the news stories involved this top guy -- supreme ayatollah? -- who made a very angry speech on the subject.  He felt that the policies involving dog ownership were too lax, and were not being enforced.

He made clear that if the governmental authorities across Iran did not start confiscating and killing dogs ASAP, he vowed that he would stir up his own clique (I don't know, his tribe, his clan, his mosques, whatever) and he would personally take it on himself to order a kind of energetic slaughter of dogs.  House to house, etc.  In other words, he would take the law into his own hands. 

Does anyone remember this episode?   Is this just an eccentricity of the Iranians, and possibly a somewhat extreme viewpoint, or is this rather typical of Muslim viewpoints toward domestic animals such as dogs?

For what it is worth, I did a search of a Bible concordance a few years ago on the term "dog" or "dogs."  The only references to dogs in the Bible are perjorative.  The worst and wickedest men are compared to dogs.  The wicked Jezebel was eaten by a pack of dogs.  Dogs are filthy, craven, to be detested, etc. 

So I guess one could make a pretty good case that the ancient Hebrews of the Old Testament really had a pretty vile and negative picture of dogs.  If similar passages appear in the Koran, it might explain why the Iranian theocracy wants to eliminate dogs from the kingdom, and to slay any hidden dogs that are discovered.

Can anyone shed any light on this?  Hopefully, not all the jokesters and wags should chime in, but anyone who actually knows something about it.

This really stuck in my craw because I love dogs.  I don't think I could get on the same page with the Iranians, if that -- in fact -- is their official policy.  People wonder why westerners acquire a very unpleasant impression of Islam.  Just this very sort of thing is very off-putting, believe me.  It doesn't do the image of Islam much good. 

[prometheus]

I wonder what kind of dogs they had back then.

This really stuck in my craw because I love dogs.

Uuh, because those taliban-like people in the bible disliked dogs you think you need to dislike them too?


I have no idea what they do with dogs in Iran, but I do know religious extremists are able to find a little phrase in their holy book to support the most absurd rules with. There are people that think music origins from Lucifer and should therefore be banned, except on special song on holy occasions, I guess those were added by god later.

[zheer]

I is personally have had three Dogs in the past, i like dogs if they are clean and well mannerd. Resently i was in a park eating a chicken sandwich, and very scary looking dog came runing towards me i think it was a pitball  teror (spelling ) to my suprise the dog didnt attack me, just looked at me put his head down and walked away.
     Anyway yes most muslims dont like dogs, i personally think in the west people care more for their dogs than their neighbour and people in generall, just walk down a supermarket and you will find a dog and cat section next to your fruit and veg. Turn on the TV and see haw people in Africa have no food to eat.

     Just because Muslims dont like dogs does not conclude that we are bad people. And trust me both American and British soliders kill Muslims and treat muslims the same way as The peolpe in Iran treat dogs.
        Please no more islamaphopia on this forum.     

[gilad]

I is personally have had three Dogs in the past, i like dogs if they are clean and well mannerd. Resently i was in a park eating a chicken sandwich, and very scary looking dog came runing towards me i think it was a pitball  teror (spelling ) to my suprise the dog didnt attack me, just looked at me put his head down and walked away.
     Anyway yes most muslims dont like dogs, i personally think in the west people care more for their dogs than their neighbour and people in generall, just walk down a supermarket and you will find a dog and cat section next to your fruit and veg. Turn on the TV and see haw people in Africa have no food to eat.

     Just because Muslims dont like dogs does not conclude that we are bad people. And trust me both American and British soliders kill Muslims and treat muslims the same way as The peolpe in Iran treat dogs.
        Please no more islamaphopia on this forum.     

i dont think dogs were looked upon negatively in the bible.
the word for dog in hebrew is kelev. the word is derived from the the words kol-lev, which means all heart. that implies loyalty, bravery and love.
i must agree with zheer about stopping the islamaphobia posts.

[klavierkonzerte]

it's true you can't own dogs but the prophet doesn't hate dogs i'm a muslim and never heared about that

and another thing but i'm not sure about it, you can own dogs but you mustn't get them in your house so it's ok if it's a back yard or somthing as long as they are outside.

actually there's a story that man went to heaven because he gave water to a thirsty dog and that's well known among muslims.

and a story that a women went to hell because she tourchered a cat

it's forbidden kill or misstreat animals ,and that include dogs, for no reason, like that iranian guy is doing,  that actually one of the teaching of islam

and if a muslim does something wrong please don't generalize it because there are alot of extreemists that don't represent our faith and are not considered muslims by many.