22/10. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1570c — Command Carried Out
The command to kill dogs, and its abrogation. The prohibition of keeping dogs, except for hunting, farming, (herding) livestock and the like
Hadith on the Dog-Killing Command Being Carried Out
Sahih Muslim : 1570c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1570c
وَحَدَّثَنِي حُمَيْدُ بْنُ مَسْعَدَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ الْمُفَضَّلِ - حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ أُمَيَّةَ - عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَأْمُرُ بِقَتْلِ الْكِلاَبِ فَنَنْبَعِثُ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ وَأَطْرَافِهَا فَلاَ نَدَعُ كَلْبًا إِلاَّ قَتَلْنَاهُ حَتَّى إِنَّا لَنَقْتُلُ كَلْبَ الْمُرَيَّةِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَادِيَةِ يَتْبَعُهَا .
`Abdullah Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ordered the killing of dogs and we would send (men) in Medina and its corners and we did not spare any dog that we did not kill, so much so that we killed the dog that accompanied the wet she-camel belonging to the people of the desert.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1570cIn-book reference : Book 22, Hadith 57USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 10, Hadith 3811
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1570c
This Hadith gives a stronger picture of how the command was carried out. Abdullah b. Umar reported that they would go through Medina and its edges and not leave a dog without killing it. The narration even mentions a dog following a wet she-camel belonging to desert people. The main search phrase is “Hadith about killing dogs in Medina.” The text shows how widely the command was applied at that time. It does not provide the reason, and it does not mention later permission in this wording. According to other narrations in the same chapter, later reports mention that the killing was forbidden except for a specific black dog, and permissions were given for hunting and herding dogs.
What we learn from this hadith
- The command was carried out widely in Medina and its outskirts.
- The narration shows the seriousness with which the command was followed.
- The provided text does not state the reason for the command.
- Later related narrations should be read separately for more detail.
