FatwaFederal TerritoriesPurification (Taharah)
AL-KAFI # 886: MEMEGANG ANJING KETIKA DALAM LAKONAN
Is it permissible to hold or stroke a dog for a film role and perform the ritual cleansing after filming ends?
Short answer
Following the Shafii school practised in Malaysia, a dog is major impurity (najis mughallazah), and deliberately touching it without need is forbidden.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Al-Kafi li al-Fatawi
- Topic
- Purification (Taharah)
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Following the Shafii school practised in Malaysia, a dog is major impurity (najis mughallazah), and deliberately touching it without need is forbidden. Holding or stroking a dog merely for film acting is not permitted because it is done without a reason allowed by Islamic law, and it carries sin. The affected part must still be cleansed with seven washes, one of them with water mixed with earth. Concessions apply only to those who keep or handle dogs for a genuine need, such as hunting, guarding livestock, guiding the blind or security work.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Menyentuh anjing secara sengaja kerana menajiskan diri tanpa tujuan atau hajat adalah haram di sisi Islam.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “AL-KAFI # 886: MEMEGANG ANJING KETIKA DALAM LAKONAN”, 9 November 2018. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/2744-al-kafi-886-memegang-anjing-ketika-dalam-lakonan. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/holding-a-dog-for-film-acting-ruling/