animal sacrifices (Eid)

[Tonchi]

Originally Posted by skysidhe

Why can't you touch dogs?

Muslims consider dogs to be "unclean", in the same way that all carrion eaters are unclean to both Muslims and Jews. I believe the dog got this bad rap because in the environment where Islam spread, back in the 10th century, a lot of dead bodies got created. Dogs ran through the area of the fighting, eating the bodies of the dead. Vultures and eagles are also unclean for the same reason, and since pigs are fed garbage and have been known to eat anything that happens to venture into their pen.....

The only dogs traditional Muslims were allowed to have were the Salukis and other breeds which were used for hunting, as were the hawks. Although neither of these creatures may be eaten, they may be touched. They are not unclean if being used as hunting implements. However, making a PET out of an animal is either discouraged or forbidden in most Muslim cultures. There is a crackdown going on in Saudi Arabia right now by the "Morals Police" against people who are bringing pedigreed dogs or cats out in public as status symbols. Defenders of the right to own pets have pointed out that the Prophet kept cats, and even allowed his favorite cat to drink from the basin where he made his ablutions before praying.

I read an explanation of the indifference to animal suffering that has been noted in so many Muslim countries. This author explained that a Muslim has a different concept of pity. Of course, he was speaking of men, who tend to be the only face of these cultures for reasons best not gone into right now. Anyway, pity makes you weak so you must not let pity enter your mind. They believe that pity is not in YOUR nature, it is an essence sent out by the animal, woman, prisoner, whatever, which invades you and weakens you. It is like a contageon. It is not part of you. Therefore, the suffering of another entity does not affect you unless you allow it to. That might have something to do with why the people can calmly walk through rivers of blood during these sacrifices. Very possibly the women are not instructed in these fine points because it serves the culture to have them respond to the pain of others and offer succor, I don't know. It would be interesting to see what our new visitor's comments on this are.

[ladyangevil]

oh wow...that's a lot of replies in just...12 hours..hehe....

urm..first of all,let me remind you,English is my second language,so it's a bit difficult for me to understand at first glance about your replies...AND sometimes i find it hard to explain something,especially something like this as this is a sensitive issue & I don't want to misrepresent my religion in a bad way...sorry about that..I'm working on it..

to answer your questions in a simple way...in our society,we were taught that dogs & pigs are forbidden...however, rummaging through my old textbooks, they are "dirty"(can't find the right word) in such a way that we wouldn't be able to carry on our religious activities without cleansing ourselves first (by washing the area touched 7 times - once with water mixed with soil)so it's safer to avoid being in contact (with skin,fur,saliva,etc) of these animals

plus,there's the hygienic thing..there's an explanation somewhere but i just can't recall it..oh..and...of course you know this..don't believe everything you read (on the Internet,some books)..just verify sources..because there have been known sites,books which are counterfeits...they seem to be explaining Islam..but actually they are deviants looking to twist people's minds and maybe change people's beliefs...and if i'm not mistaken there was a case yearsss ago somewhere that someone tried to pass a fake Quran to unknowing people...I mean,I'm not saying everything you read is false,just be careful & get a second opinion ( i am not an expert thus my simple & short explanation)

thank you elspode.that gives me a warm feeling inside (or maybe I'm just hungry..just kidding =p ) we're really low profile...mild-mannered (most) people...we do know there are extremists out there...as i remembered it, we were taught that there are a few types of deaths where they can be guaranteed to be accepted in heaven...such as dying in a battle to fight in the name of Islam...However, the battle means somewhat like what our ancestors along with the Prophet did,against another army (who were armed) not innocent civilians...die in true honour...we are & would be repulsed by all that's happening & happened (i am sorry about the 9/11 incident..it was a horror to watch it on the news & i could only imagine what you feel) if i was a superhero,i'd end all the wars and bitch slap those who started it (har har =| ) for making the rest of us Muslims look bad and be hated for action(s) made by one person/group(s)..and again I am just grateful to read your responses and you guys are understanding (I thought I'd be banned for sure for bringing up this kind of topic =\ )

Anyway, pity makes you weak so you must not let pity enter your mind. They believe that pity is not in YOUR nature

i'm not sure about using this quote button..i'll just try it anyways

hmm...I'm not sure about the other countries,but here,we are taught to be compassionate even to the animals mentioned(even if we don't get to touch them).like I said, they are still God's creations.everything's here for a reason.it's just sometimes personal opinions/vendettas get in the way of true beliefs.

not having pity?we have to have pity unless we're not humans.i can't recall an example, but this is a close one (i guess).there is a saying which roughly translates as "even the Prophet forgives his people" where no matter what kind of fight you get into,you have to apologise or talk with the other person (if we don't talk to each other,it's a sin)because this was what the Prophet did (it is encouraged to follow his doings)..just in case the other person passes away...for example,if D has a fight with H then suddenly a few hours later H dies,D has to live with the guilt and the sin,as sins to God can be only forgiven by Him,but sins to others,must be forgiven personally.
so,not having pity does get in the way of forgiving,right?

again, there are different teachings..for us here, our sources are the Quran & Hadith(a collection of the Prophet's narrations & approvals)..whereas some doesn't accept the Hadith.

we live in a world with different cultures & religions.to live through all the differences,we should live together & harmoniously.personally,we can't live alone....we do need others =)

[xoxoxoBruce]

At the bottom of the link about dogs, that UT posted, they mention there are "tens of thousands of hadiths".
I would guess not many people read them, just rely on what their family, and the society around them, do.
In case there's a question they would rely on a cleric to answer, rather than read through all those hadiths.

[Undertoad]

Luckily there's a searchable Hadith database!

Reward for serving animals: 003-043-646

The Prophet said, "A man felt very thirsty while he was on the way, there he came across a well. He went down the well, quenched his thirst and came out. Meanwhile he saw a dog panting and licking mud because of excessive thirst. He said to himself, "This dog is suffering from thirst as I did." So, he went down the well again and filled his shoe with water and watered it. Allah thanked him for that deed and forgave him. The people said, "O Allah's Apostle! Is there a reward for us in serving the animals?" He replied: "Yes, there is a reward for serving any animate (living being)."

Meanwhile, numerous entries say that you lose one or two Qirat per day for keeping a dog. So you can keep one, but there is less reward for good deeds?

I heard the Prophet saying, "If someone keeps a dog neither for hunting, nor for guarding livestock, the reward (for his good deeds) will be reduced by two Qirats per day."

[xoxoxoBruce]

That's cool, they say since the advent of the printing press it's easy to own a set. But, then they show the search uses 4 different collections.
What's that for, if it's easy to get a printed set? That would lead me to believe there is not one complete set, they are spread out among a bunch of collectors.

Also, I wonder how many camel drivers and goat herders truly understand the power of boolean? I'm still betting most people rely on family/town custom and clerics for the answers.

[Sundae]

My understanding is that most people rely on the interpetation of the local Imam. In this country certainly there are issues in translation because British Muslims only know enough Arabic to read the Koran - if that.

Also it takes interpretation to understand how the Prophet's teachings apply to modern life. I used to stay up to watch a late night programme called Sharia TV, where a Muslim audience questioned a panel on various questions (for example organ donation). There was often difference of opinion between members of the panel, and even the person asking the question sometimes shrugged off the answer as not being what they believed.