A Dog's Life

Generally speaking, Muslims don't like dogs.  This is something that a lot of Westerners don't really think about before they move here.  It's not illegal to have a dog in the Emirates, but dogs are always supposed to be on a leash and be muzzled.  [This is good for Cindy and I since we're not really dog people.  But I digress...]. 

Some of the reasons for this were explained in the newspaper this week.  There is a weekly  "Ask Ali" column where people generally write in with cultural questions - and Ali, who is Emirati, provides his insights. 

Ali starts off by mentioning that the general dislike for dogs is not universal and that he even had a dog when he was young.  The average person's attitude towards dogs can be summed up pretty well, though, by noting that people would often say to his father,

 "Do you think your prayers are answered when you keep that dog?"

People would call the dog haram [forbidden].  Ali goes on to mention some of the specific reasons why Muslims do not like dogs. 

[Muslims are]..."afraid that being near a dog will break their ablutions, their Wudu, or bring disease, or that angels will not linger when a dog barks....  [This is] what they have been taught."

Both ablutions and Wudu refer to the ceremonial washing that a Muslim must do before praying.  So essentially, touching a dog would make the Muslim unclean and unable to offer prayers.  Obviously, however, a Muslim could still own a dog, and simply not touch the dog until after praying, and still be ceremonially clean for prayers.

This attitude towards dogs is interesting in light of the fact that the Bedouin who have lived in the deserts of Arabia for centuries have often hunted with Salukis, a particular breed of dog known for its speed (check out the photo of the Salukis racing below).  It's also worth noting that in spite of the general disdain for dogs, it's trendy right now for younger Arab guys to keep Salukis.  It's seen as a way that they're embracing their Bedouin heritage.