Camel meat and ablution
Question
When I was working in one of the cities of Saudi Arabia I had a discussion with some of its residents on certain religious issues including eating camel while in a state of ablution. Some of the people there are convinced of the prohibition of eating camel neck meat because the Messenger of Allahonce placed his noble feet on a camel's neck. I would like a clarification of the legal ruling for this issue
Answer
Ablution after eating camel meat
There are two scholarly opinions on this matter. Scholars who have maintained that camel meat does not nullify ablution include Al-Thawri, Imam Malik, al-Shafi'i and ahl al-ra`y(1) . They based their opinion on the hadith narrated by Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) who said, "The last of the two commands from the Messenger of Allah [on this matter] was to refrain from making ablution for eating anything cooked over fire" [Recorded by Abu Dawud, al-Nisa`i, at-Tirmdhi and Ibn Majah. Ibn Hibban declared it authentic].
Scholars who have contested this opinion include Hanbali scholars and those who followed their opinion. They maintained that the ablution of a person who eats camel meat, raw or cooked, is nullified regardless of whether he knows what kind of meat it is. They based their opinion on the hadith of Al-Baraa` Ibn 'Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) who said, "The Prophet was asked about camel meat and he said, 'Perform ablution after eating it.' When asked about mutton, he said, 'Do not perform ablution after eating it' [Recorded by Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah. Ibn Khuzaima and Ibn Hibban declared it authentic].
The majority of scholars have maintained that the report of Al-Baraa` and other reports were abrogated by Jabir's.
The ruling
The opinion chosen for fatwa is that eating camel meat does not nullify ablution.
It is lawful to eat camel neck meat. The fact that the Prophet placed his noble feet on it, if proven to be true, does not evidence its prohibition. The Prophet placed his noble hands on many animals and rode many others but their meat is not prohibited for consumption. The prohibition of eating camel neck meat cannot be proven except by explicit textual evidence.
Allah Almighty knows best.
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(1) Scholars, such as Abu Hanifah and his students, who relied heavily on analogical
reasoning and figurative interpretation of texts as sources of law.