Guide Dog to be Allowed into UK Mosque for First Time

Thu, 25 Sep 2008

A guide dog will be allowed into a mosque for the very first time in the UK following a decision by the Muslim Law Council UK. Islam views dogs as unclean and thus prevents them from entering mosques, but the council has decided to issue a fatwa which allows guide dogs into mosques, though they must not enter the prayer rooms. The Muslim Council of Britain have worked alongside The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association to help Mohammed Abraar Khatri, who owns a guide dog called Vargo.

A spokesman for the association said, ‘This is a massive step forward for other blind and partially sighted Muslims. It is also hoped that mosque leaders both in the UK and internationally will now make similar adjustments to enable Muslim guide dog owners to enter their mosque’. Mr Khatri, meanwhile, praised the helpful manner of the religious authorities. He said, ‘They were actually very good and they were the ones who were willing to help because they said it is their duty to accommodate. He does just lie down and relax there and sit here. Being a guide dog, their whole manner is to be calm and relaxed and just out of the way’.

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