Does camel meat break ablution?

Egypt's Dar Al-Ifta

Does camel meat break ablution?

Question

Does camel meat break ablution such that one must repeat it before praying?

Answer

There is a scholarly difference regarding this ruling. 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 God be pleased with him) who said, “The last of the two commands from the Messenger of God [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 God 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 others were abrogated by Jabir’s.
God the Almighty knows best.
 

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