I am no ulama to comment on the “halal” and “haram” of touching a dog and I am not about to become one of those self righteous-I know all about Islam just bcoz I started wearing Hijab yesterday, nor do I want to be an “Ustazah Cyber” whose knowledge of Islam is obtained from chained/shared Whatsap and FB status. I can’t help but to question the benefit of “I want to touch a dog” event in becoming a good Muslim. Now before you all out there who think that you belong to the “Progressive Modern Hip Muslim” group makes hasty judgement on me, just hear me out first. After all isn’t a healthy debate and freedom of speech the basis of a modern progressive society?
What is the objective of this event? According to the organiser, Syed Azmi Alhabsi, it is an event to overcome fear of dogs and instill tolerance and understanding among Malaysian of all races and religion. I applaud his good intention. But why stop at dogs? I know many people who are afraid of cats…and most of them are Muslims. Some of them became hysteric and I have seen one who even jumped and squatted on her chair when this little furry adorable harmless kitten came near her feet asking to be fed. Not to mention those people who abuse cats, be it Muslim or not. And this is an animal where you don’t have to worry about washing your hands 6 times with water and one with earth. An animal stated in the hadith as the prophet favourite pet. What about other animals too like sugar glider, hamster, guinea pig, and chameleon? These are some of the pets in my most feared animals list. Yup, why don’t we organise a whole petting zoo for that matter? Shouldn’t a good Muslim love all animals and not hate or abuse them?
One misguided Muslim attendee of the event even post on her FB status saying that the aim of this event is to create awareness amongst Muslims to not hate or abuse dogs. Helloooooooo!!!!! It is sad and humiliating every time I read a thoughtless comment from a Muslim generalising the rest of her fellow believer. Please…. a person who abuse any animal is not a Muslim or belong to any religion! For a non Muslim to perceive us like that is expected, but coming from a Muslim…..Masya’Allah girl, u should spend more time in understanding Islam rather than spending your weekend petting a dog.
What I can see this is no other than an excuse to allow Muslim to satisfy their urge to pet a dog with a hidden agenda of changing the perception of others about Muslim relations with dogs. Some of the comments I read (of course most of them come from Muslims themselves), that those who did not agree with this event are labelled as conservative, barbaric, and even stupid. Well explain to me how does touching a dog make you modern, progressive, brilliant and a good Muslim? If you want to portray yourself as such a progressive Muslim let’s strive at excelling in all field that we are involved, be it at studies, career, business, science, technology, aeronautics, arts, to name a few. Or the simplest way of being a modern, good, progressive Muslim is to mind your language and manners when posting comments … apparently many of us fail to even do just that! Well perhaps there is someone out there who can think of a creative and attractive event to change these sickening so called Muslim attitude and maybe we can call it “I want to touch the Muslim in me” event.
Honestly I do not hate dogs. Being a cat lover, I do think dogs are more adorable than cats. I just don’t like the idea of being licked by one and having to go through the trouble of cleaning myself with 6 times of water and one earth. In fact my late grandfather used to have 2 dogs in the kampung….yes u got it right “kampung” as in Jeram, Kuala Selangor. The dogs were for guarding his chicken farm from wild animals and thieves.
I am not against this event. I just think there are many other better things we can do to potray an image of a good Muslim and to become one. I find this sermon from an Ustaz I heard recently very interesting indeed: “Allah ask us to touch the hands of our parents and husbands for love and forgiveness, the Prophet ask us to caress the head of an orphan for the sake of Allah, a good deed will be written to his/her account for every hair over which he passed his hand….and why do we want to go and touch a dog instead!”
If I am wrong let Allah be my judge and to Him I shall seek forgiveness.
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