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Muslims should not deliberately touch or pet dogs, says Jakim

KUALA LUMPUR: The Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has urged Muslims not to deliberately touch or pet dogs as it is against the Shafi'i Islamic school of thought (mazhab), practised here.

Jakim director-general Tan Sri Othman Mustapha, in statement today, said according to the Shafi'i mazhab, Muslims are prohibited from intentionally touching dogs because defilement without reason is haram (forbidden) in Islam.

"Although Islam provides purification methods in place when exposed to 'najis' (impurities) categorised as 'mughallazah' (severe), that is not a reason to allow someone to intentionally touch najis mughallazah," he said.

The advice came about following a video uploaded on Facebook by a Muslim woman on July 1 of herself and her pet dog for a competition.

Othman said Jakim "deeply regrets" the action of intentionally touching a dog, as it could raise concern among Muslims as it is against the Shafi'i school of thought and norms practiced in Malaysia.

"This act is similar to those who intentionally commit a sin out of the ability to repent later.

"Therefore, Jakim hopes that this individual will stop her actions and repent to Allah," he said, adding that her actions suggested that she was trying to start a new culture that would subject Islam to ridicule.

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