Camel from the Hebrew gamal, to repay or requite, as the camel does the care of its master. There are two distinct species of camels, having, however, the common characteristics of being ruminants without horns, without muzzle, with nostrils forming oblique slits, the upper lip divided and separately movable and extensile, the soles of the feet horny, with two toes covered by claws, the limbs long, the abdomen drawn up, while the neck, long and slender, is bent up and down, the reverse of that of a horse, which is arched. (1.) The Bactrian camel is distinguished by two humps. It is a native of the high table-lands of Central Asia. (2.) The Arabian camel or dromedary, from the Greek dromos, a runner (Isa 60:6; Jer 2:23), has but one hump, and is a native of Western Asia or Africa. The camel was early used both for riding and as a beast of burden (Ge 24:64; 37:25), and in war (1Sa 30:17; Isa 21:7). Mention is made of the camel among the cattle given by Pharaoh to Abraham (Ge 12:16). Its flesh was not to be eaten, as it was ranked among unclean animals (Le 11:4; De 14:7). Abrahams servant rode on a camel when he went to fetch a wife for Isaac (Ge 24:10,11). Jacob had camels as a portion of his wealth (Ge 30:43), as Abraham also had (Ge 24:35). He sent a present of thirty milch camels to his brother Esau (Ge 32:15). It appears to have been little in use among the Jews after the conquest. It is, however, mentioned in the history of David (1Ch 27:30), and after the Exile (Ezr 2:67; Ne 7:69). Camels were much in use among other nations in the East. The queen of Sheba came with a caravan of camels when she came to see the wisdom of Solomon (1Ki 10:2; 2Ch 9:1). Benhadad of Damascus also sent a present to Elisha, forty camels burden (2Ki 8:9). To show the difficulty in the way of a rich mans entering into the kingdom, our Lord uses the proverbial expression that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle (Mt 19:24). To strain at (rather, out) a gnat and swallow a camel was also a proverbial expression (Mt 23:24), used with reference to those who were careful to avoid small faults, and yet did not hesitate to commit the greatest sins. The Jews carefully filtered their wine before drinking it, for fear of swallowing along with it some insect forbidden in the law as unclean, and yet they omitted openly the weightier matters of the law. The raiment worn by John the Baptist was made of camels hair (Mt 3:4; Mr 1:6), by which he was distinguished from those who resided in royal palaces and wore soft raiment. This was also the case with Elijah (2Ki 1:8), who is called a hairy man, from his wearing such raiment. This is one of the most admirable materials for clothing; it keeps out the heat, cold, and rain. The sackcloth so often alluded to (2Ki 1:8; Isa 15:3; Zec 13:4, etc.) was probably made of camels hair. IS CAMEL A CLEAN ANIMAL FOR SACRIFICES TO YHWH? AND, IS CAMEL A blasphemous sacrifice to God? Hag 2:14 Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean. Tit 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. Lu 11:39-41; Ro 14:14,20,23; 1Co 6:12; 10:23,25; 1Ti 4:3-4 Abraham, Isaac, Jacob Abraham was a man of faith who pleased the All Mighty. He had many camels. Yet, it is striking to notice that he never sacrificed a camel. Likewise, when we read the life histories of the Old Testament prophets, there is not a single instance where one of them sacrificed a camel to God. It would have been easy and convenient for Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob to sacrifice a camel, because they had them in considerable numbers. He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels. Genesis 12:16 He [Isaac]went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. Gen 24:63 Then Jacob put his children and his wives on camels, Gen 31:17 All the faithful prophets of the Old Testament sacrificed animals that were designated by God as clean animals. None of them sacrificed a camel or a swine. God instructed Moses that the people of Israel were not to eat nor to touch the dead carcass of a camel or a swine. These animals were ceremonially unclean animals. In addition, they could not offer them to God in sacrifice. Only a clean, domesticated animal, such as a sheep, goat, or a cow, would be a suitable sacrifice to God. However, of those that chew the cud or that have a split hoof completely divided you may not eat the camel, the rabbit or the coney. Although they chew the cud, they do not have a split hoof; they are ceremonially unclean for you. The pig is also unclean; although it has a split hoof, it does not chew the cud. You are not to eat their meat or touch their carcasses. Deuteronomy 14: 7-8 The Israel’s dietary commands are given in the book of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. The book of Leviticus was written to the Levites who were one of the 12 tribes of Israel. They were dedicated to serve the Lord in the religious life of Israel (Numbers 18:2-6). They served in the wilderness tabernacle and later in the Solomonic temple, under the direction of the Aaronic priesthood. By contrast, the book of Deuteronomy was addressed directly to the common people of Israel. So, each individual Israelite was responsible to observe faithfully the laws of the Lord too. Holiness The reason for the dietary prohibitions given in Leviticus is holiness. God’s people must be holy, because the LORD is holy. As an external, visible symbol of holiness, they could not eat camel or swine meat. I am the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy. These are the regulations concerning animals, birds, every living thing that moves in the water and every creature that moves about on the ground. You must distinguish between the unclean and the clean, between living creatures that may be eaten and those that may not be eaten. Lev 11:45-47 ISLAM Quran: Camel sacrifice The Qur’an specifically mentions camel sacrifice in Al-Hajj 20 and ayah 36. This is shocking because a camel is an unclean animal like a swine. For a divine prophet to offer an unclean animal to God, whether it be a camel or a swine, is blasphemous. It would have made no difference whether Muhammad had offered a swine or a camel, because both are equally unclean. So, in a real sense, Muhammad was like Antiochus Epiphanes who had his subjects sacrifice unclean beasts. According to the Qur’an, the symbolism of the sacrifice is merely bountiful food. The flesh of the sacrifice is divided as follows: the offerer and relatives (1/3), friends and neighbors (1/3) and the poor and needy (1/3). The sacrifice has no meaning or significance regarding sins and forgiveness. The sacrificial camels we have made for you as among the symbols from Allah: in them is (much) good for you: then pronounce the name of Allah over them as they line up (for sacrifice): when they are down on their sides (after slaughter), eat ye thereof, and feed such as (beg not but) live in contentment, and such as beg with due humility: thus have We made animals subject to you, that ye may be grateful. Al-Hajj 22:36 Yusufali’s translation Hadith: Camel sacrifice In addition to the Quran, the written traditions of Muhammad tell us that a sacrificial camel serves up to seven people while a sheep serves only one person. In other words, an unclean camel is worth seven times more than the sacrificial value of a clean animal like a sheep. If the sacrificial value of a camel were so great, why did not the Old Testament prophets and saints sacrifice camels? They obeyed God and had a true sense of evil. They would not offer a blasphemous sacrifice to God. They knew they were sinful. They knew they needed to obey God and offer a ceremonially clean animal. The prophet Isaiah said, All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. Isaiah 64:6 What sacrificial value would an unclean camel possess for an unclean person? It would have absolutely no value. It takes a clean animal to be a substitute for an unclean person. The prophet Isaiah knew this unwavering truth. Offering an unclean camel is blasphemous, and it only increases the guiltiness of the offerer before the Lord of the Universe. It shows utter disrespect for the true prophets and God’s divine truth. This disrespect and rebellion is recorded in the Sunam Abu Dawud, Sahih Bukhari, and Maliks Muwatta. Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah: The Prophet said: A cow serves for seven, and a camel serves for seven. Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah: We sacrificed along with the Apostle of Allah at al-Hudaybiyyah a camel for seven and a cow for seven people. Sunan Abu Dawud, Sacrifice (Kitab Al-Dahaya), Book 15, Number 2802-2803 Narrated Nafi: Abdullah (bin Umar) used to slaughter his sacrifice at the slaughtering place (i.e the slaughtering place of the Prophet ) . Ibn Umar said, Allahs Apostle used to slaughter (camels and sheep, etc.,) as sacrifices at the Musalla. Sahih Bukhari, Al-Adha Festival Sacrifice (Adaahi), Volume 7, Book 68, Number 459: Yahya related to me from Malik from Abuz-Zubayr al-Makki that Jabir ibn Abdullah said, We sacrificed with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in the year of Hudaybiya, a camel between seven people, and a cow between seven people. Maliks Muwatta, Sacrificial Animals, Book 23, Number 23.5.9. Yahya related to me from Malik from Umara ibn Yasar that Ata ibn Yasar told him that Abu Ayyub al-Ansari had told him, We used to sacrifice one sheep, and a man sacrificed for himself and his family. Then later on people began to compete with each other and it became boasting. Malik said, The best that I have heard about a single camel, cow or sheep, is that a man should sacrifice a camel for himself and his family. He sacrifices a cow or sheep which he owns for his family, and shares with them in it. It is disapproved for a group of people to buy a camel, cow or sheep, to share for the ritual and sacrifices, each man giving a share of its price, and taking a share of its meat. We have heard the tradition that people do not share in the ritual. However, it may be that the people of one household can share. Maliks Muwatta, Sacrificial Animals, Book 23, Number 23.5.10. Sacrificed thirty camels Abu Dawud Book 10, Number 1760: Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib: When the Apostle of Allah sacrificed the camels, he sacrificed thirty of them with his own hand, and then commanded me (to sacrifice them), so I sacrificed the rest of them Sacrifice sixty-seven or sixty-six camels Dawud :: Book 10 : Hadith 1793 Then I came to the Prophet He asked (me): How did you do? I replied: I raised my voice in talbiyah, for which the Prophet raised his voice. He said: I have brought the sacrificial animals with me and combined umrah and hajj. He said to me: Sacrifice sixty-seven or sixty-six camels (for me) and withhold for yourself thirty-three or thirty-four, and withhold a piece (of flesh) for me from every camel. Conclusion The sacrifices of Eid al-Adha conflict with Holy Scriptures and all the divine prophets of God. They lack the spiritual significance that is found in the divinely ordained sacrifices. They would be considered blasphemous by God’s prophets, because they are unclean sacrifices. The holy prophets of old would have chosen martyrdom rather than participate in sacrifices of Qurbani. For them an animal sacrifice was more than food, it was an expression of their sinfulness and their faith in God’s grace in accepting a substitutionary sacrifice. Le 19:4 Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God. Ex 20:4; 34:17; Le 26:1; De 27:15; Ps 96:5; 1Co 10:14; 1Jo 5:21 Ac 15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. Le 17:14; Ac 15:20; 21:25; Re 2:14,20 NO MARVEL, Muslims do worship Muhammed in his lifetime [whoever amongst you worshipped Muhammad, then Muhammad is dead, but whoever worshipped Allah] Bukhari Volume 2, Book 23, Number 333: Narrated Aisha : Then Abu Bakr recited the Tashah-hud (i.e. none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is Allahs Apostle) and the people attended to Abu Bakr and left Umar. Abu Bakr said, Amma badu, whoever amongst you worshipped Muhammad, then Muhammad is dead, but whoever worshipped Allah, Allah is alive and will never die. Allah said: Muhammad is no more than an Apostle and indeed (many) Apostles have passed away before him ..(up to the) grateful. (3.144) Bukhari Volume 5, Book 59, Number 733: Narrated Aisha: Abu Bakr said, To proceed, if anyone amongst you used to worship Muhammad , then Muhammad is dead, but if (anyone of) you used to worship Allah, then Allah is Alive and shall never die. Allah said:--Muhammad is no more than an Apostle, and indeed (many) apostles have passed away before him..(till the end of the Verse )......Allah will reward to those who are thankful. (3.144) By Allah, it was as if the people never knew that Allah had revealed this Verse before till Abu Bakr recited it and all the people received it from him, and I heard everybody reciting it (then). Bukhari Volume 5, Book 57, Number 19: Narrated Aisha: Then he went out and said, O oath-taker! Dont be hasty. When Abu Bakr spoke, Umar sat down. Abu Bakr praised and glorified Allah and said, No doubt! Whoever worshipped Muhammad, then Muhammad is dead, but whoever worshipped Allah, then Allah is Alive and shall never die. Then he recited Allahs Statement.:--
Posted on: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 01:15:47 +0000
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