18/17. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1490 — Farm Dog Exception
What Has Been Related About How Much Is Deducted From The Reward Of One Who Keeps A Dog
Hadith About Farm Dogs, Hunting Dogs, and Livestock Dogs
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1490
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1490
حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْحُلْوَانِيُّ، وَغَيْرُ، وَاحِدٍ، قَالُوا أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنِ اتَّخَذَ كَلْبًا إِلاَّ كَلْبَ مَاشِيَةٍ أَوْ صَيْدٍ أَوْ زَرْعٍ انْتَقَصَ مِنْ أَجْرِهِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ قِيرَاطٌ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَيُرْوَى عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ أَبِي رَبَاحٍ أَنَّهُ رَخَّصَ فِي إِمْسَاكِ الْكَلْبِ وَإِنْ كَانَ لِلرَّجُلِ شَاةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ . حَدَّثَنَا بِذَلِكَ إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ عَنْ عَطَاءٍ بِهَذَا .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Said: "Whoever Acquires A Dog - With The Exception Of A Dog To Guard Livestock, A Hunting Dog, Or A Farm Dog - Each Day A Qirat Is Deducted From His Reward."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1490In-book reference : Book 18, Hadith 32English translation : Vol. 3, Book 16, Hadith 1490
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1490
This hadith about keeping a dog gives three exceptions in the wording: a dog for livestock, a hunting dog, and a farm dog. Outside these named cases, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said a qirat is deducted from a person’s reward each day. The text is clear and practical. It does not discuss every modern case, so the explanation should stay with the categories mentioned. The narration also includes a statement from Ata bin Abi Rabah about allowing a person to keep a dog even if he had one sheep. That is reported in the Arabic passage, but the main hadith itself names livestock, hunting, and farming.
What we learn from this hadith
- The hadith warns against keeping a dog without the named need.
- Livestock, hunting, and farm dogs are exceptions in this narration.
- The daily deduction mentioned here is one qirat.
- The report should be explained through its own stated categories.
