Fatwa #320006 February 2015United States of America
Are we allowed to keep ferrets as a pet?
Question
Are we allowed to keep ferrets as a pet? Is it clean like a cat or najis like a dog? Here is a link to some information about ferrets, including their animal family and diet: http://www.elmwoodparkzoo.org/animal-domestic-ferret.php
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
A ferret is a member of the mustelid family which also includes otters, mink, badgers, weasels, skunks and wolverines. Ferrets are known to have been domesticated for over 2,000 years, long before common house cats, and have been used for rodent control [1]and ferreting (hunting rabbits using ferrets).[2]
There is no prohibition in Shariah for one to keep a ferret as a pet. Therefore, it is permissible for you to keep a ferret as a pet.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Ismail Dawoodjee
Student Darul Iftaa
Zambia
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
References
- http://www.ferretguardian.org/f_facts/whatis/whatis.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbiting