There are divergent views among Muslims about dog ownership. Some believe it is permissible to own dogs for purposes like protection, herding or hunting, but not as pets. Others argue that Muslims can only own dogs for guarding property but not in a close relationship. Still others believe Muslims should have no interaction with dogs. The debates surrounding dogs' perceived impurity and the lawfulness of owning them relate to interpretations of hadiths and pre-Islamic Arab traditions. While some hadiths suggest black dogs are evil, most jurists consider this attribution to the Prophet apocryphal. The permissibility of dog ownership remains an ongoing discussion rooted in analyzing Islamic scripture in a modern context.

1. DOG OWNERSHIP: THE ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE (1).
Dogs and Muslims are a very touchy and sensitive subject, no doubt. And the idea
or notion of its ownership is even another fiercer item that has generated so
much heated controversies and debates all over the world amongst erudite
Islamic scholars, puritans and jurists. This has caused so much divisions and
schisms (in opinions) amongst them and by extension their practicing and devout
Muslim followers.
There is a wide range of divergent views amongst Muslims about the issue of dog
ownership, not only in Nigeria, but throughout the World. While some are of the
view that there is nothing wrong or a Haraam (sin) in a Muslim owning dogs, not
only for guarding and protection as in herding, hunting and farming activities as of
old, but also as pets. Some are of the opinion that a Muslim can only own dogs for
purposes like protecting and guarding the property and the owner and others,
where animals serve humans, but not as in a close relationship as pets. Others
are of the strong convictions that a Muslim must not have anything to do with
dogs not to talk of even owning it.
Also with the foregoing is the reluctance, pure dereliction of auxiliary duties, a
ploy and outright refusal (citing religious reasons) in some cases of some security
guards, who are mostly from the North and beyond and Muslims (colloquially
referred to simply as ‘Malams’ or ‘Abokis’), who should ordinarily see the dogs as
tools or complements to their jobs, in having anything to do with their
companions.
It was Malam Abubakar, an old security guard, who usually restrains and touches
his owner’s dogs that enlightened me briefly on the significance of the invalidity
(for prayers) of the person and the clothing after a close encounter with a dog.
This is, according to him, is because of the hairs of the dog, which are seen as
impure in Islam attaching to the person and his clothing during the close
encounter. He advised that the person only has to do a change of clothing and a
wash to be again eligible for prayers.

2. In actual fact, the debates surrounding the avowed impurity of dogs, and the
lawfulness of possessing or living with these animals were one of the main issues
symbolizing the challenging dynamic between the revealed religious law, and the
state of creation or nature. In a fashion similar to European medieval folklore,
black dogs, in particular, were viewed ominously in the Islamic tradition.
According to one tradition attributed to Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, Peace
be unto Him (PBUH), black dogs are evil or even devils, in animal form. Although
this report did reflect a part of pre-Islamic Arab mythology, it had a limited impact
upon Islamic law. The vast majority of Muslim jurists considered this particular
tradition to be falsely attributed to the Prophet, and therefore, apocryphal.
Much of the debates and controversies about Muslims owning dogs, living with
them as pets or even having close contacts with and to see them in public places
like parks and buses, and the notion of whether they are pure or impure creatures
have their roots in the interpretations and translations, the relevance in this
contemporary age, critical analysis and deeper knowledge of pre-Islamic Arab
mythology, culture, customs, attitudes, traditions and hadiths- the traditional
accounts of the life and sayings of the prophet Mohammed(PBUH).
All of the respected, ‘rebellious’, international and erudite scholars and jurists,
who supported ownership and pets, found it hard to believe that the same Allah
(SAW) who created such companionable and wonderful creatures as dogs would
have his prophet declared them "unclean". And they also found out that a hadith
from one of the most trustworthy sources tells how the Prophet himself had
prayed in the presence of his playfully prancing dogs. And that a dog’s position
in Islam is not exactly like pigs, whereby it is stated clearly in the Quran that
pigs are haram for Muslims. The debate continues…………………………..