be sold—even if he sells it for this purpose, namely hunting, it is still not permissible.

If someone were to ask: How can the sale of a dog be prohibited despite its benefits, while predatory land animals suitable for hunting are not prohibited?

We reply: The distinction is established by textual evidence. The Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, prohibited the price of a dog (1). Predatory land animals suitable for hunting cannot validly be analogized to it, since they fall under the general import of Allah’s saying: “Allah has permitted trade” [al-Baqarah 2:275]. Moreover, they are less harmful than dogs. If a dog laps from a vessel, it must be washed seven times, one of them with soil; whereas with other predatory animals, neither washing seven times nor using soil is required. Thus, the distinction is clear, and analogy is precluded.

If someone were to ask: Has there not been reported, in what al-Nasa’i (2) and others narrated, an exception for a hunting dog?