Keeping a dog to guard a house

Question

A man has built his house (a detached residence) outside the city; there is a danger to life and property there. In this situation he wishes to keep a dog for protection. What is the Shari‘a ruling? Should the dog be kept inside the house or outside? If it is not kept, what form can protection take?

Answer

In such a situation of danger, keeping a dog to guard the house is correct; thus in “‘Umdat al-Qari.” Further, it may be kept inside or outside the house — wherever is convenient.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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