Cleaning Objects Licked by a Dog According to Islam

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Hi readers! In this article, I will explain how to clean objects that have been licked by a dog according to Islam. This is an essential topic for Muslims because objects licked by a dog cannot be cleaned using ordinary methods, such as just water. Islam prescribes a specific purification process.

For some people, interaction with dogs may be unavoidable in daily life. This could happen because they own a dog, their job involves handling dogs, or they accidentally come into contact with a dog, such as their clothes, body, or belongings being licked. So, how does one purify such objects according to Islamic teachings?

Hadith About Cleaning Objects Licked by a Dog

There is a hadith of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that specifically addresses this issue. Here is the hadith:

عَنْ أَبِيْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ : طُهُوْرُ إِنَاءِ أَحَدِكُمْ إِذَا وَلَغَ فِيْهِ الْكَلْبُ أَنْ يَغْسِلَهُ سَبْعَ مَرَّاتٍ أُوَلَاهُنَّ بِالتُّرَابِ . أَخْرَجَهُ مُسْلِمٌ وَفِيْ لَفْظٍ لَهُ : فَلْيُرْقِهِ . وَلِلتِّرْمِذِيِّ : أُخْرَاهُنَّ بِالتُّرَابِ

From Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "The way to purify your container if licked by a dog is to wash it seven times, the first time using dust." (Narrated by Muslim). Another narration by Muslim adds: "Dispose of the contents." At-Tirmidhi narrates: "The last washing should be with dust."

Explanation of the Hadith

From the hadith above, it can be concluded that the proper way to purify an object licked by a dog is to wash it seven times, with one of those washes using dust. According to the narration by Muslim, the first wash should include dust, followed by water for the next six washes. However, according to the narration by At-Tirmidhi, the seventh wash should include dust, while the first six washes are with water.

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Important Points Derived from the Hadith

• The dog's saliva and mouth are considered impure (najis mughalladhah):

This is the opinion of the majority of Islamic scholars. It applies to the dog's saliva and other parts of its body. However, Imam Malik held a different opinion, stating that dogs are pure and the washing method is prescribed as an act of worship.

• Water or food licked by a dog must be discarded:

Islam emphasizes cleanliness and hygiene, making it obligatory to dispose of items contaminated by a dog's saliva.

• Scientific relevance of the hadith:

This hadith is one of the scientific miracles of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Modern medicine has proven that dog saliva contains harmful germs and bacteria that cannot be eliminated by water alone but can be neutralized using a mixture of dust and water. This is why Islam prescribes this specific purification method.

Conclusion

Now you know how to clean objects licked by a dog according to Islam. By washing the object seven times, including one wash with dust, you can ensure that it is purified as prescribed by Islamic teachings.

I hope this article has been helpful and informative!

May Allah guide us all in maintaining cleanliness and purity. See you in the next article, insha'Allah!