Jakim advises Muslim woman in 'dog' video to repent

Muslims who intentionally touch dogs are advised to repent and not create a new culture that can be insulting to Islam, said Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim).

Its director-general, Tan Sri Othman Mustapha said such act caused anxiety among Muslims as it contravened the Syafie school of thought (mazhab Syafie) in this country.

"According to mazhab Syafie, Muslims are forbidden from touching dogs intentionally as they are deemed unclean and thus 'haram' in Islam," he said in a statement, here today.

The Jakim statement followed a video uploaded on Facebook by Nurhanizah Abdul Rahman showing the woman touching her dog called Bubu.

Othman said Islam does not despise animals, including dogs, and does not condone the killing of dogs without reason since it is against the teachings of Islam.

However, the Syafie school of thought forbid Muslims from keeping dogs as pets.

--BERNAMA