Question
Why is it that you have to make wuduh after eating camel meat?
Answer
The following Hadith is presented to prove that it is necessary for us to perform wudo after eating camel meat.
Al-Barā b. Azib narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked about camel meat. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Perform wudu’ after eating it”. He was asked about mutton and said: “Do not perform wudu’ after eating it”. [Sunan al-Tirmidhî (81) and Sunan Abî Dâwûd (184)]
The majority Muslims scholars do not act upon this narrative. In what follows is the translation of relevant parts of the commentary on the narrative from Tuhfatul Ahwazi, a commentary on the Jaamih al Tirmizi:
Nuwawi said: Scholars have differed on the question whether eating the flesh of camels breaks Wudu or not. The majority holds that wudu is not broken with this. Those who hold this view include the four rightly guided caliphs, (Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali), Ibn E Masood, Ibne Ka’ab, Ibne Abbas, Abu Dardaa, Abu Talhah, Aamir Bin Rabi’ah, Abu Amamah, majority Successors, Imam Malik,Abu Hanifah, al-Shafi’I and their followers. Those who consider that it breaks wudho include Ahmed Bin Hanmab, Ishaaq Bin Rahwaiy, Yahya Bin Yahya, Abu Bakr bin Munzar and Ibn Khazimah. The same is the opinion of Hafiz Abu Bakr al Bayhaqi. Al Hafiz has said in his Takhlees: Bayhaqi says that some of their scholars has reported Shafi’I say, ” If the narrative was authentic I would have also held what it commands.”
Now we see that if it were established that eating camel meat breaks wudu the knowledge of this fact must have reached us through consensus of all the generations of Muslims on the matter. This we can say because camel meat was a common thing in Arabia and people used it all the time. The mere presence of difference of opinion shows that it is not an established practice and ruling. Therefore, the directive mentioned in this Hadith is not considered authentic and applicable.
Answered by: Tariq Mahmood Hashmi
Date: 2015-01-03
