Touching a dog is not "haram" (forbidden) although the animal is categorised as "najis" (unclean), says Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin.To conclude that it is "haram" was an over-simplification of the Islamic teachings, the former Perlis mufti added.
He said this is because Muslims scholars have agreed that touching a dry dog is not "najis" despite differing views when it comes to touching wet dogs.
Pointing out that the Shafie school of thought (which Malaysia follows) is strict on the matter, he said the views in other Islamic schools were wider and easier.
"The Maliki school of thought is the most flexible and wide when it comes to dogs,” he said, commenting on the controversy surrounding the "I Want to Touch a Dog" event held in Bandar Utama in Petaling Jaya yesterday.
"One can touch 'najis' but there are rules that need to be adhered to that includes washing and cleaning.
"If it is 'haram' to touch 'najis', then it is 'haram' for a person to touch their own waste or that of their children or those under their care when in the process of cleaning them.
"What about those whose work involves cleaning toilets or working with blood or other bodily fluids?" he asked.
"What about veterinarians? So, all these are shallow conclusions," Mohd Asri said on his Facebook page DrMAZA today.
On keeping a dog at home, he said Muslims are not encouraged to do so except for certain purposes such as hunting, farming and security purposes.
He admitted there were scholars who forbid keeping dogs at home but said there was no hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) that said it was a sin.
"Only that it will effect our merit. Thus, many scholars agreed that it is 'makruh' (disapproved). The reasons for it has something to do with spirituality and societal impact," he said.
It was reported today that Jakim director-general Datuk Othman Mustapha told Bernama that the programme should not have taken place, adding that Jakim would investigate the matter immediately.
This came after the event received overwhelming response from Muslims in and around the federal capital yesterday.
Syed Azmi Alhabshi, a pharmacist in his 30s, had organised the event to help people overcome their fear of dogs and learn compassion for all animals.
The Kuala Lumpur native also said he wanted to help people overcome certain misconceptions and sensitivities surrounding dogs.
Over 1,000 people had attended yesterday’s event which saw Muslims and non-Muslims alike interacting with dogs of various breeds. – October 20, 2014.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/dont-over-simplify-islamic-teachings-touching-dog-not-haram-says-dr-asri#sthash.SaF1Bps5.dpuf
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