Can I Live With Roomates Who Are Owning Dogs?

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Question: I have been looking for apartments for almost four months. The only options I seem to receive is all female roommates. However, most of the roommates have dogs.

I know that keeping animals as dogs is only permissible under certain circumstances. However, would is be possible that an exception applies to my situation?

Answer: Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah

I pray this finds you in the best of health and spirits. May Allah facilitate your search!

While it is not permissible to keep that dog indoors as a pet, you are not responsible for others keeping such a pet.

Thus, you can move-in to such an apartment, and simply observe the relatively straightforward guidelines related to dogs and purity.

Note, of course, that as Muslims we have nothing “against” dogs, and should treat them with the mercy and concern that we have for all of Allah’ creation.

Please see: Are Muslims Allowed to Have Pet Dogs? and: Possible Residual Impurities from Dog Saliva or Marital Relations; Should I Wash Everything? and: Can I Pray in Clothes that Were Licked by a Dog? and: The Reward for Feeding Animals and: What is the Islamic Stance on Having a Dog?

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And Allah is the giver of success and facilitation.

Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani