It's a fatwa on Fido.
A senior Islamic cleric in Iran has issued a religious ruling (fatwa) declaring dogs to be dirty and and not fit to be kept as pets, reports the Calgary Herald, citing a Reuters report.
The cleric, Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, admits that the Koran does not explicitly prohibit contact with dogs, but insists it is necessitated by Islamic tradition. "We have lots of narrations in Islam that say dogs are unclean," the Calgary Herald reports Shirazi as saying.
Keeping dogs as pets is offensive for another reason, says Shirazi.
"Friendship with dogs is a blind imitation of the West," Shirazi is quoted as saying. "There are lots of people in the West who love their dogs more than their wives and children." (And let's not forget husbands!)
"Guard dogs and sheep dogs are considered acceptable under Islamic law," reports the Calgary Herald. "But Iranians who carry dogs in their cars or take them to public parks can be stopped by police and fined."
Comments
Stupids crazy islamics !
Dogs spends more love than islam...
I'm glad the cleric clarified that this is not from the Koran but only a tradition (or one he would like to start at any rate). In fact the only time the Koran mentions dogs is in passing when describing nomadic tribes.
Religious leaders of all faiths have many eccentric notions and they are routinely ignored.
Many Iranians have dogs as pets and love them as much as we do. This is not a law that is currently enforced.
We here in the US have some odd laws. We have a law that makes it illegal to spit on the sidewalk. Talk about unclean! I wish that one were enforced.
Oh how ridiculous.Who cares about their opinion.
lol Rubbish!!!! Whatever! My dog is probably cleaner than he is!
shut up
What will those rediculous people come up with next! Their dogs are cleaner than they are...they always look so dirty. Religion and hatred-- scary combo!
Better one million of dogs than one hundred moslems. Thesee guys are completely crazy ! Yes, I LOVE my DOG ! and I dislike all these dirty lunatics ! Stop them they are a lethal poison in our Western democracies.
Better two million dogs than one Iranian Islamic jerk.
One of the things that I love about dogs is that they are not as small minded and racist as so many humans.
Another inbred wacko!
1
Dogs have more of a sense of compassion than any muslem on the planet. These people hate the West and all our religions, traditions and beliefs. Do away with puppy mills amd muslems and the world would be a much better place. How to accomplish that is the kicker.
Idiot Islamic, better to save one dog than a million like him!
I hesitate to criticize any person for their religious views. However, regardless of this man's title and position, he is still only one man (not a god in any sense of the word). He is entitled to his opinion but speaking an opinion does not make it truthful.
As for a dog being "unclean" and not fit to keep as a pet, I personally could never follow a religion who denied me the opportunity to show compassion to a dog (or cat) and provide the animal with the comfort and love it deserves. Is that a Western philosophy? Possibly. I was born and raised in the United States and am not ashamed of that fact!!
While I do not agree with the "unfit to be pets" part and I DEFINITELY do not agree with the Muslim religion. I will not stoop to the level some of you have and say hateful things about other people. He does have a very good point about the fact that many (not all) pet owners do, in fact, love and treat their pets better than they do other people.
Glad I don't live in Iran and that I am not Muslim. I mean, really?! How sad.
Ayatollah Shirazi may be right that dogs are not fit to be pets. Muslims on the other hand are clean and should be kept as pets.
Now lay down Naser. Good boy!
Now play dead. Stay! Good boy!
The more I learn about this Muslim religeon the more I believe the followers are nothing more than ignorant sycophants. The world would be a MUCH, MUCH better place without them in it. I mean really, what do they add, in a positive way, to the planet? If my dog and a Muslim cleric were cought in a raging river and I had but one life preserver to throw, you better believe it's going to my dog.... Bye Bye Cleric....
I am muslim, a veterenary surgeon, people should stop stereotyping all Muslims based on some Fanantical maniac's obviously crazed utterings! Animals are creations of this earth irrespective of religious beliefs, I have 5 adorable dogs, 2 critter cats, a bossy goose as pets! Which Islamic Tradition? If it is not in the Qu'ran which guides all Muslims, please could someone enlighten me?
That guy is the reason many of us DO prefer animals to people!!
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