The Canine Companion of the Cave: The Place of the Dog in Qur'ānic Taxonomy

Abstract:The idea that dogs are held in contempt in Islam amounts almost to a truism in the modern West. This notion is shared by both Muslims and non-Muslims and is reflected in writings ranging from public media to academic literature. The supposed Muslim bias against dogs is inferred primarily from two themes: (1) the emphasis that Muslim tradition lays on the principle of the impurity of dogs and (2) the objection to admitting these animals indoors and keeping them as pets. However, some have pointed out that an important exception to this rule is the Qur'ānic narrative of the Aṣḥāb al-Kahf, or the Companions of the Cave (also known as Ahl al-Kahf), in which a dog is a prominent feature. Previous academic discussions of this story, however, fall short of accounting for the full significance of this character. More than merely providing a favorable depiction of the dog, the Aṣḥāb al-Kahf pericope redefines the role and status of the dog in accordance with the Qur'ān's theocentric worldview. Moreover, even though the issues of the impurity of dogs and keeping them as pets are not discussed explicitly in the Qur'ān, they seem to be implicit in this Qur'ānic narrative, without conveying negative connotations. In this article I reexamine the Aṣḥāb al-Kahf pericope in light of current scholarship on dogs to consider how the Qur'ānic viewpoint agrees with or departs from cultural stances on dogs in world traditions, and how the Qur'ān inscribes its own worldview on the role and status of this animal.