Is it obligatory to wash the game that a dog’s saliva has touched?

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : We sent the dog to hunt, and it caught a bird? Yes. Some of what is usually a dog’s saliva fell on it. Saliva.

The Shaykh : Yes, and you were ordered to wash it. Yes. You were ordered to wash it seven times, one of them with soil. That is, what the dog’s mouth touched, not the whole bird. What its mouth touched. But if you say that soil affects the meat and spoils it, we tell you to use soap. Use soap.

The questioner : From outside, O Shaykh? Yes, from outside, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : In the open, you find soil in the open.

The questioner : A sound was heard.

The Shaykh : Wash it with soil, then wash it afterwards with water. Yes.

The questioner : Whatever you desire.

The Shaykh : You do not desire it unless it becomes a good bird that you desire. Well, in any case, this is the school of thought, but Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said that it is not obligatory to wash what the dog’s mouth touched in the game. He gave two reasons for this. The first reason is that the apparent meaning of the texts is that washing is not required. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to 'Adi ibn Hatim, "Eat it," and they did not order washing. If washing had been obligatory, this would have been something that the means of transmitting it would be abundant, because everyone hunts. The second aspect, or the second reason, is that there is difficulty and hardship in this, and Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has removed difficulty and hardship from this Ummah. Did you understand? And this is the stronger position, so this is an exception due to the difficulty and hardship.