Is Selling Dogs Permitted in the Hanafi School?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam
Question: 1) if the reasons are within the shariah for having a dog, are we then allowed to still purchase a dog? Since selling is prohibited, would participating in a non-sanctioned action be allowable?
2) Was the ability to get an appropriate dog more feasible (and with all of the legally mandated and cautionary health related injections/inspections required now) in older times? If so, would the buying/selling of dogs issue become modified? I did not know if this was an absolute issue or not.
Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
I pray that you are in the best of health and faith, insha’Allah.
According to the Hanafi school, it is permitted to sell dogs. [Ibn `Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
However, it may be considered slightly disliked if there is indirect assistance in sin, namely by selling to somebody who will not use the dog for a shari`ah countenanced reason. [see: Are Muslims Allowed to Have Pet Dogs? and: Is It Considered Assisting in Sin to Develop Software for Casinos, Banks, or Insurance Companies?]
Please see: Breeding Guard Dogs for Profit
And Allah alone gives success.
wassalam,
Tabraze Azam
Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani