Document Type : scientific
Authors
1 Master's degree student in private law, Institute of Islamic Jurisprudence and Jurisprudence, Qom Seminary
2 Level Two Seminary Student
3 Doctorate in Islamic Philosophy and Theology and Level 4 Jurisprudence and Principles from the Feyziyyah Seminary of Qom. Professor at the seminary and the University of Arak.
Abstract
In Ja‘fari jurisprudence, the sale of intrinsically impure objects (‘ayn najis) is generally considered invalid due to the absence of a rationally permissible benefit, with dogs being a prominent example. However, jurists have recognized exceptions for dogs with practical utility, particularly hunting dogs (kalb ṣayd) and, according to some opinions, the four recognized types (kalāb al-arba‘a). The emergence of domestic and ornamental dogs in modern times introduces a new challenge, as these animals neither belong to the exempted categories nor meet the traditional criteria for stray or worthless dogs. Furthermore, the lack of explicit legislation and divergent judicial practices regarding ownership, sale, and damages underscore the need for renewed jurisprudential and legal analysis. This study employs a descriptive-analytical method, drawing on hadith sources, principles of jurisprudence, and both classical and contemporary jurists’ opinions to examine the permissibility of trading ornamental dogs. The findings reveal that the primary criterion for validating a sale is the presence of a “permissible rational benefit” (malakat al-ṣiyād), which ornamental dogs lack, thereby lacking the legal capacity (māliyat shar‘iyyah) required for a valid transaction. Nonetheless, based on the principle of “exclusive right” (ḥaqq ikhtiyār), owners of ornamental dogs may exercise limited proprietary rights, preventing third-party interference. This allows for gifting and provides minimal legal protection, though full ownership rights and commercial transactions remain unsupported under traditional jurisprudence.
Keywords
- Kilāb al-Arba‘ah
- Malakat al-Istiṣyād
- Ḥaqq al-Ikhtiṣāṣ
- Sale of Ornamental Dogs
- Validity of Dog Transactions
Main Subjects
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