dogs and angels

Submitted by Taj (United States), Apr 17, 2008 at 05:24

Did the explanation given to it come from yourself or an Iman?

Thanks for your comments, B.:

I didn't given an "explanation", I simply cited a hadith - one that implies clearly that "creatures" (not just humans) have souls...

as for the explanation, it can be found in various commentaries of this hadith, and as such it is interpreted as it is stated - an angel does not enter into a house wherein there is a dog or pictures of creatures that have souls.

I would not interpret it as dogs and pictures are problematic to angels since the hadith does not imply that angels have "problems" with dogs or pictures - or anything.

The presence of angels is islamically implied as one that bears people blessings, salutations, etc...thus the existence of dogs (considered "unclean") in the house or pictures would simpy bring about a refusal of angels to attend and/or extend such blessings in these cases..

BTW, I am an "Imam", however being one is not a requirement to formulate an opinion or reiterate an already formulated scholarly opinion in Islam...

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