Keeping dogs or photos in the house

According to a Hadith of Saheeh Bukhari and Saheeh Muslim, Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said that the angels (Farishta) do not enter a house where there are dogs or photos.

The Farishta who do not enter a house in which there are these things, are the Farishta of blessings. It is a way of saying that there is no blessings in a house in which there are these things. The photos that are prohibited to keep in the house are the photos or images of things that have life such as photos of people or images of animals. As for images or drawings like views of mountain, sea, sky and trees, etc., these are permissible. And this does not prevent the Farishta from coming into the house.

Similarly, it is not permissible to keep a dog for pleasure nor is it permissible to keep it as a “pet”. People, who do so, lose enormously because the value of two Qiraats (a certain amount) decreases from their actions daily. 

The hunting dog or the guarding dog

It is good to know that the Shari'ah has made concession regarding the hunting dog or the guarding dog. That is, a person who needs a dog to hunt or to guard, then his actions will not decrease. However, he must not meddle himself too much nor must he let it enter the house.

[English version of "Garde li chien ou bien photo dans la caze" – Al Jamiat – Vol.4 No.11]