A questioner inquires about the noble verse: “And the camels, We have made them for you as among the symbols of Allah; for you is in them good. So mention the name of Allah over them, standing [in rows]. Then when their sides have fallen, eat from them and feed the contented [i.e., the one who does not ask] and the beggar. Thus We have made them subject to you that perhaps you will be grateful.”
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The questioner : This questioner is inquiring about the noble verse: [Al-Hajj 22:36]
The Shaykh : The camels are the plural of badnah, which refers to camels. Allah the Exalted made them among the symbols of His religion, through which the Muslim draws near to his Lord by slaughtering them, eating from them, and distributing them. For this reason, Allah the Exalted commanded us to mention His name over them, which is done at the time of slaughter. They are slaughtered standing on three legs, because the Sunnah regarding camels is that they are slaughtered while standing, with the right hand tied. The slaughterer approaches from the right side and stabs them with a spear in the hollow between the base of the neck and the chest, after which they fall. For this reason, He said:[Al-Hajj 22:36] meaning they have fallen to the ground. [Al-Hajj 22:36] The contented one is the poor person who does not ask, and the beggar is the poor person who asks. This means that such subjugation and taming—Allah Mighty and Majestic subjected them and tamed them. If He had left them to their own nature, we would not be able to handle them because of their large size and strength. But Allah the Exalted tamed them for His servants and subjected them to them. Allah Blessed and Exalted is He said: [Ya-Sin 36:71-72] Allah has tamed them for us so that we may ride them and eat from them. Have you seen the wolf? It is smaller in body and weaker in strength than the camel, yet because it has not been subjected to us, we are unable to benefit from it; rather, it may run at us and harm us. And these camels, despite their strength and large size, are tamed to the extent that a boy can lead them by their reins to the place of slaughter, and they are obedient and submissive.
And camels are used to draw near to Allah the Exalted by slaughtering them as hady or udhiyah. As for the 'aqiqah for a newborn, some scholars said that it is performed with a camel for the newborn, but it is not sufficient except for one sheep.
And some of them said that it is not performed, because the 'aqiqah was only mentioned regarding sheep and goats. However, the stronger position is that there is no harm in a person performing the 'aqiqah for his son with a she-camel, a male camel, a cow, or a bull, but the sheep is better than them. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
And the camels and cattle We have appointed for you as among the symbols of Allah; for you therein is good. So mention the name of Allah upon them when lined up [for sacrifice]; and when they are [lifeless] on their sides, then eat from them and feed the needy and the beggar. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may be grateful.
وَالبُدنَ جَعَلناها لَكُم مِن شَعائِرِ اللَّهِ لَكُم فيها خَيرٌ فَاذكُرُوا اسمَ اللَّهِ عَلَيها صَوافَّ فَإِذا وَجَبَت جُنوبُها فَكُلوا مِنها وَأَطعِمُوا القانِعَ وَالمُعتَرَّ كَذلِكَ سَخَّرناها لَكُم لَعَلَّكُم تَشكُرونَThe Shaykh : The camels are the plural of badnah, which refers to camels. Allah the Exalted made them among the symbols of His religion, through which the Muslim draws near to his Lord by slaughtering them, eating from them, and distributing them. For this reason, Allah the Exalted commanded us to mention His name over them, which is done at the time of slaughter. They are slaughtered standing on three legs, because the Sunnah regarding camels is that they are slaughtered while standing, with the right hand tied. The slaughterer approaches from the right side and stabs them with a spear in the hollow between the base of the neck and the chest, after which they fall. For this reason, He said:
and when they are [lifeless] on their sides
فَإِذا وَجَبَت جُنوبُهاthen eat from them and feed the needy and the beggar
فَكُلوا مِنها وَأَطعِمُوا القانِعَ وَالمُعتَرَّThus We have made them subject to you
كَذلِكَ سَخَّرناها لَكُم(71) Do they not see that We have created for them from what Our hands have made, grazing livestock, and [then] they are their owners? (72) And We have tamed them for them, so some of them they ride, and some of them they eat.
أَوَلَم يَرَوا أَنّا خَلَقنا لَهُم مِمّا عَمِلَت أَيدينا أَنعامًا فَهُم لَها مالِكونَ * وَذَلَّلناها لَهُم فَمِنها رَكوبُهُم وَمِنها يَأكُلونَAnd camels are used to draw near to Allah the Exalted by slaughtering them as hady or udhiyah. As for the 'aqiqah for a newborn, some scholars said that it is performed with a camel for the newborn, but it is not sufficient except for one sheep.
And some of them said that it is not performed, because the 'aqiqah was only mentioned regarding sheep and goats. However, the stronger position is that there is no harm in a person performing the 'aqiqah for his son with a she-camel, a male camel, a cow, or a bull, but the sheep is better than them. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.