Santri: Journal of Pesantren and Fiqh Sosial
Vol 7 No 1 (2026): June 2026

Reinterpreting Ritual Purity in the City: Fiqh Sosial Perspectives on Pet Dog Ownership among Shafi‘i Communities in Contemporary Egypt

Sukataman Sukataman (Institut Agama Islam Nadhdlatul Ulama Kebumen)
Agung Nugroho Reformis Santono (Universitas Terbuka)
Idlofi Idlofi (University of California Riverside)
Umar Chamdan (University of Vienna)
Muchamad Amien (Al-Azhar University)
Muhammad Agus Salim (Institut Agama Islam Nadhdlatul Ulama Kebumen)



Article Info

Publish Date
20 Jun 2026

Abstract

Urbanization and modern lifestyles in Cairo, Egypt, have transformed the interaction between Muslims, predominantly Shafi'i adherents, and dogs, which are traditionally considered strictly impure (najāsah mughallaẓah). This study explores this social shift using a socio-legal approach and the Fiqh Sosial (Social Fiqh) perspective of KH. M.A. Sahal Mahfudh. Data were collected through field observations in Cairo and an analysis of contemporary fatwas issued by Dār al-Iftāʾal-Miṣriyyah. The results show that the dense urban spatial reality and ecological metabolism of the metropolis create an unavoidable situation (ʿumūm al-balwā). Consequently, Shafi'i adherents pragmatically negotiate this hardship by adopting the Maliki school's view, which regards living dogs as pure. This practice of inter-madzhab concession (rukhṣah) is institutionally legitimized by Dār al-Iftāʾ, which formally allows dog ownership for specific needs and suggests the Maliki ruling to relieve public anxiety (waswas). The study concludes that Islamic law in contemporary Egypt functions not as rigid orthodoxy, but as a flexible, problem-solving instrument that accommodates cultural dynamics and public interest (maṣlahah), fostering an inclusive ecological harmony in public spaces.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

santri

Publisher

Subject

Religion Humanities Social Sciences

Description

The scope of the pesantren includes PesantrenTraditions Development, Systems of Pesantren Pesantren Values, Manuscripts Developing in the Pesantren, The study about Kiai and Santri, Pesantrens Relationship with the Community. Whereas the study of fiqh sosial covers Fiqh Sosial Faces Peoples Problems ...