ahadith about black dogs

[muzaffar]

Assalamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu

Imam sahib,

Their is currently a hadith topic about 'black dogs being shaitan' in the discuss Islam section where someone has asked a question, whether all black dogs are shaitan ? Here is the cut and paste .


Hadith: The Black Dog is a Devil
Sahih Muslim, Book 4, Number 1032:

Abd Allah ibn al-Samit said: Abu Dharr said: Allah's Messenger -- Allah bless and salute him! -- said:

"When one of you stands in prayer, what definitely constitutes a barrier for him is an object placed in front of him of the same height as the back of a camel-saddle. If it is not in front of him and of the same height as the back of a camel-saddle, then some [stray] donkey, or some woman passing, or some black dog will cut off his prayer." I said: "O Abu Dharr! What is it that makes a black dog different from a red or yellow dog?" He replied: "O dear cousin! I asked Allah's Messenger -- Allah bless and salute him! -- the exact same question. He said that the black dog is a devil."

Notes on the legal rulings based on this hadith and its meaning:

The passing of the above-mentioned in front of the person at prayer does not invalidate his prayer according to the vast majority of the Imams of Law, Salaf and Khalaf (early and late authorities) who concur that the meaning of "will cut off his prayer" is not literal but means: "will make his prayer imperfect" due to the distraction they will cause in people's hearts, while Imam Ahmad considered that only the passing of a black dog actually invalidates it. This was mentioned by Imam al-Nawawi in Sharh Sahih Muslim and al-Mubarakfuri in Tuhfa al-Ahwadhi.

Some of the narrations mention "the dog that bites indiscriminately" (al-kalb al-`aqur). Others: "The jet-black dog" (al-kalb al-aswad al-bahim). The gist of the reference seems to be that a wild-looking dog, or one known to be dangerous, has the greatest potential for distracting attention, and Allah knows best.

[Imam]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Wa'alaykum 'Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu,


Praise be to Allah who is the Lord of the Worlds, and may Endless Blessings be showered upon Our Most Beloved and Final Messenger, Hadrat Muhammad Mustafa (Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam)


Jazak'Allah for your valued question. I actually tried finding the hadith, which had the mention of a black dog being a Shaytan, but unfortunately was unable to find it, as the reference in the previous post was somewhat misleading. However, the issue in the hadith, relates to the non passing of someone or something, across a person who is performing Salaah, whereas the black dog issue, is something which is secondary to the topic.


Black dogs, have never been the nicest of creatures, as it has been known that a jinn, can if it wanted to, transform into a black dog, as other non-worldly creatures could, as this is the sort of animal, when seen, is greatly avoided, because of its impurity, and because of it known to be wild. This could be a reason why, a person should not cross another mans prayer, as the example has been given due to its evilness, impurity, distraction, and so forth.


Whatever the case maybe, it has been a saying of the beloved Messenger of Allah (Salla Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa Sallam), and we must rever that, and take heed from it. May Allah the Almighty give us all the tawfiq, to do what is right, and to keep away from what is wrong.


Wallahu A'lamu Biththawaab


M. Waseem Ashrafi