PURIFICATION SECTION · 37 – PERFORMING ABLUTION WITH THE LEFTOVERS OF A DOG
71 – From Abū Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If a dog licks the vessel of any one of you, it is purified by washing it seven times, the first time with earth.” [83]
EXPLANATION
Based on this hadith, Imām al-Shāfiʿī and Ahmad ibn Hanbal have accepted the opinion that it is obligatory to wash a vessel licked by a dog seven times. Imām al-Aʿzam (Abū Ḥanīfa), on the other hand, said: it is purified by washing it three times. (Bazl al-Majhūd, vol. 1, p. 186) Rubbing with earth is to remove the odor of the dog’s mouth that permeates the vessel. Soap and other detergent-based substances serve the same function as earth.
72 – From Abū Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him): It is narrated in the meaning of the previous hadith (in the narration of the transmitter Ayyūb), with the addition of the following sentence: – “If a cat licks it, it is washed once.”
73 – From Abū Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him): It is narrated that the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When a dog dips into a vessel, wash it seven times, the seventh time with earth.” Abū Dāwūd said: This hadith was narrated from Abū Hurayra by Abū Ṣāliḥ, Abū Razīn al-Aʿraj, Thābit al-Aḥnaf, Hammām ibn Munabbih, Abū Sudday, and ʿAbd al-Raḥmān. None of them mentioned the word ‘turāb’ (earth). [84]
EXPLANATION
The flesh of the dog is impure. The saliva of every animal follows the ruling of its flesh. Therefore, the saliva of the dog is also impure. If it dips into a vessel or puts its mouth into it, the water it drinks becomes impure. It is also necessary to wash the vessel containing the water. In some narrations, there is no stipulation to rub with earth.
74 – From Ibn al-Mughafal (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded the killing of dogs, then said: “What is the matter with people that they are killing all the dogs?” He permitted that hunting and sheep dogs not be killed. He said: “If a dog dips into a vessel, wash it seven times, and on the eighth rub it with earth.” [85]
EXPLANATION
At first, the command was given to kill all dogs without distinction; but later, the killing of hunting dogs, guard dogs, and dogs that accompany shepherds with their flocks was prohibited. The initial command to kill all dogs was thus abrogated by the subsequent prohibition. (ʿAwn al-Maʿbūd, vol. 1, p. 28)