That Atheist Blog

Thank you everyone for the emails - I understand much better the position of Iran and dogs :)

Dogs are not considered unclean by anyone other than human beings. God does not tell us in the Quran that dogs are dirty, forbidden and anyone who says that He does is a liar.

The dog is mentioned at least five times in the Quran and never to say they are bad.

I have four dogs all given to me by God. Human beings are cruel and evil and treat animals in the most appalling way. Governments have no right to interfere with religion. Religion belongs to God not humans. Dogs also belong to God.

Iran is a corrupt regime like many of these so called 'Islamic' countries. If all they have to worry about is a few dogs, it shows the mentality of the people. God will punish them and they will regret their decision.

Dear Jolly

Hi, i am a practicing Muslim and own a labrador (can send u her pic if u like), Almighty in Quraan has allowed to take dogs along in hunting or for sheep keeping and general protection of any nature, I am keeping a dog for security reasons and honestly i love her a lot, her name is "Bonie" and she has a bad habit of sitting in may lap all the time, yes for praying i have to wash and change clothes, but that's no big deal for me, and if this is ur dog in the pic, he or she is cute,...............byeeeeeeeeee

There are no instructions in the Quran to wash or change your clothes, before prayer, if you come into contact with a dog. I live with four dogs and I would have to change my clothes before every prayer if this was the case, and that is just not practical. Suppose I only had one change of clothes!

Dogs are not just designed to catch food and guard us, they are companions and we can learn a lot from how they behave in packs.

The myths surrounding dogs in Islam should be banished. God does not say they are forbidden or dirty so why should a human being?

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art44299.asp

So, how does Iran actually justify this? I've been a little confuzzled from the get-go on this story because I asked a few Muslim friends and they said dogs weren't forbidden.

I am not Muslim, but I do have some Muslim friends. I can't see how keeping dogs would be "haram" ("bad," "forbidden," or "prohibited"), but I can see how eating dogs would be because dogs are predators and several religions are against eating the meat of predatory animals.

As for using the dog for protection and to herd livestock, I can understand that. I live on a farm and I have five dogs---a black lab/pitbull mix and four Chihuahuas. I also keep Navajo-Churro sheep and llamas. Yesterday, I was using Chief, the black lab/pitbull mix to herd the sheep in for shearing and to trim their hooves. (Yes, I know I am shearing late in the year, due to lots going on in my personal life. It's better late than never! I don't see anything wrong with using the dog to do that. Chief actually enjoys herding the sheep!

I am not Muslim, but I do have some Muslim friends. I can't see how keeping dogs would be "haram" ("bad," "forbidden," or "prohibited"), but I can see how eating dogs would be because dogs are predators and several religions are against eating the meat of predatory animals.

As for using the dog for protection and to herd livestock, I can understand that. I live on a farm and I have five dogs---a black lab/pitbull mix and four Chihuahuas. I also keep Navajo-Churro sheep and llamas. Yesterday, I was using Chief, the black lab/pitbull mix to herd the sheep in for shearing and to trim their hooves. (Yes, I know I am shearing late in the year, due to lots going on in my personal life. It's better late than never!) I don't see anything wrong with using the dog to do that. Chief actually enjoys herding the sheep!

I hear ya Kristin, my dog Norbit is a chihuahua (on the big side) and he's the most chilly, cool pal in the world. We take him everywhere and I wouldn't have it any other way. :)

Thank you for sharing.

very interesting post Jolynn, and the discussion. I love animals, I used to have a few buddies, when I was in my mother-land. But their life is so very much shorter than human in general. Dogs are very hard to resist not get emotional attachment. Every time they passed away, it hurt me badly, and I suffer for a few months. Therefore I decided not to have one any more except fishes. My precious is longing for a pet, especially a dog, but I told him when he becomes 18,he can have one or more.. X

Hadith - Bukhari 4:538, Narrated Abu Huraira
Allah's Apostle said, "A prostitute was forgiven by Allah, because, passing by a panting dog near a well and seeing that the dog was about to die of thirst, she took off her shoe, and tying it with her head-cover she drew out some water for it. So, Allah forgave her because of that."

Iran to Ban Dog Ownership..thx for the info