6th August 2015
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
Questions: Are guinea pigs allowed to be kept as pets?
الجواب حامداً و مصلياً
In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
As a general Islamic ruling, animals that are harmful by nature are not permissible to keep as pets such as snakes, scorpions and so forth. Animals that are generally not harmful and soft in nature are permissible to keep unless specified otherwise. The classical jurists have allowed keeping birds [non-predators] and pigeons as pets provided that the owner feeds them and cater for their welfare.[1] Guinea pigs are generally non-harmful and docile animals. Due this, their tenderness and responsiveness to handling makes them easy to be cared for which makes them very popular pets. Thus in principle domesticating them as pets will not be considered Harām at all.
But keep in mind that some animal experts have classed them as rodents [even though they are non-violent] because of their messiness and carelessness. They are prone to carelessly urinating and littering anywhere potentially making them unhygienic if not handled well or caged. It is therefore advisable to domesticate them only if they are handled with proper care, fed well and safeguarded from being unhygienic otherwise avoided altogether.
[Allãh Knows Best]
Written by (Mufti) Abdul Waheed
Answer Attested by Shaykh Mufti Saiful Islam
JKN Fatawa Department
[1] Durrul Mukhtār wal Hashiyah Ibn Ābideen as-Shāmi, Kitāb al-Hadhr wal Ibāhat, Bāb al-Istibrā wa Ghairihi, p.575 vol 9
وَأَمَّا لِلِاسْتِئْنَاسِ فَمُبَاحٌ كَشِرَاءِ عَصَافِيرَ لِيُعْتِقَهَا إنْ قَالَ مَنْ أَخَذَهَا فَهِيَ لَهُ وَلَا تَخْرُجُ عَنْ مِلْكِهِ بِإِعْتَاقِهِ، وَقِيلَ يُكْرَهُ لِأَنَّهُ تَضْيِيعُ الْمَالِ جَامِعُ الْفَتَاوَى (قَوْلُهُ وَأَمَّا لِلِاسْتِئْنَاسِ فَمُبَاحٌ) قَالَ فِي الْمُجْتَبَى رَامِزًا: لَا بَأْسَ بِحَبْسِ الطُّيُورِ وَالدَّجَاجِ فِي بَيْتِهِ، وَلَكِنْ يَعْلِفُهَا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ إرْسَالِهَا فِي السِّكَكِ