What is the proper method for slaughtering camels?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Hunting and Slaughter
Primary text
The majority of scholars, including 'Ata, Al-Zuhri, Qatadah, Malik, Al-Laith, Ath-Thawri, Abu Hanifa, Ash-Shafi'i, Ishaq, and Abu Thawr, hold that the general rules of slaughter apply. However, a view attributed to Dawud states that only camels are permissible via 'Nahr' (stabbing the chest cavity) and others via 'Dhabh' (slitting the throat), based on the Quranic injunction to slaughter a cow (Quran 2:67) and to stand and perform Nahr (Quran 108:2), following the Prophet's practice of sacrificing camels via Nahr and sheep via Dhabh.
Supporting text
Malik is reported to have restricted the method for camels to Nahr only, reasoning that slaughtering them would cause prolonged suffering due to their long necks. However, Ibn al-Mundhir stated that this was merely disliked, not prohibited. The authoritative position permits any method that causes blood to flow, supported by the hadith, 'Shed blood however you wish,' and the account of Asma who stated they slaughtered a horse during the Prophet's time and ate it in Medina, and 'A'isha's report that the Prophet performed Nahr on a cow during the Farewell Pilgrimage. Since it is a slaughter performed at the proper site, consumption is permissible, like other animals.