Fatwaa ID: 1186

Question:
I have a unique set of questions which as yet has never been answered. I would really appreciate if you can help in clarifying my issue.
Jazakallah:

Question 1.

I have read the ruling on keeping guide dogs for the blind.
What would the ruling be for training a specialist guide dog puppy in my home to become a registered adult guide dog, so that it can then be handed over to the charity to someone who is hearing/sight impaired, or someone with learning/medical disabilities?

This would be done as an act of charity with no monetary incentive.

Question 2.

What would be the ruling on keeping a registered adult female Guide Dog which would produce offspring in my home after being inseminated by the charity’s studs. Once the pups reach the age of 6 to 12 weeks they will be collected by the Guide Dogs charity to be officially trained in preparedness for a life of serving the blind and those with physical/mental disabilities.

Again, as an act of charity with no monetary gain.

Answer:
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullaahi wa-barakaatuh.

We take note of the details of your query. In principle, it is not permissible to keep a dog in the house. Rasulullaah ﷺ forbade from this. Aside from the prohibition, consider the following:

لا تَدْخُلُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ بَيْتًا فِيهِ كَلْبٌ وَلا تَصَاوِيرُ
“Angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or there are pictures/idols.” (Bukhaari)

مَنْ أَمْسَكَ كَلْبًا فَإِنَّهُ يَنْقُصُ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ قِيرَاطٌ إِلاَّ كَلْبَ حَرْثٍ أَوْ مَاشِيَةٍ‏
“He who keeps a dog would deduct from his deeds equal to one qeeraat (a mountain size) every day, except (a dog kept) for cultivating the field or herding.” (Muslim)
Other Ahaadith mention two qeeraat. (Bukhaari)

The prohibition of keeping dogs is unanimously agreed upon by the jurists. They have however excused those who have genuine needs, such as the visually impaired or as guard dogs. In the enquired situation, though your intentions are commendable, there is no need for you to train or breed dogs for the said reasons. There are venues available for that. Accordingly, in both of your enquired scenarios, it will not be permissible for you to keep the dogs.

And Allaah Ta’aala knows best.
Mufti Muajul I. Chowdhury
Darul Iftaa New York
https://askthemufti.us/

وصل اللهم وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى ءاله وصحبه أجمعين

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