The Camel’s Complaint
A camel wept before the Prophet ﷺ, who instructed its owner to treat the animal with mercy.
By Kazi Nasrat Ali 5 min read November 20161. The camel in the Ansari garden
Abdullah ibn Ja‘far reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ entered the garden of a man from the Ansar. When a camel saw the Prophet ﷺ, it made a yearning sound and tears flowed from its eyes.
2. The complaint and the Prophet’s response
The Prophet ﷺ approached the camel and gently wiped the sides of its head until it became quiet. He asked for its owner. When a young Ansari man came forward, the Prophet ﷺ said: Do you not fear Allah regarding this animal that Allah has placed in your possession? It has complained to me that you keep it hungry and burden it until it is exhausted.
فَإِذَا جَمَلٌ فَلَمَّا رَأَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَنَّ وَذَرَفَتْ عَيْنَاهُ، فَأَتَاهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَمَسَحَ ذِفْرَاهُ فَسَكَتَ، فَقَالَ مَنْ رَبُّ هَذَا الْجَمَلِ، لِمَنْ هَذَا الْجَمَلُ. فَجَاءَ فَتًى مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فَقَالَ لِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ. فَقَالَ أَفَلاَ تَتَّقِي اللَّهَ فِي هَذِهِ الْبَهِيمَةِ الَّتِي مَلَّكَكَ اللَّهُ إِيَّاهَا، فَإِنَّهُ شَكَى إِلَىَّ أَنَّكَ تُجِيعُهُ وَتُدْئِبُهُ.
Sunan Abi Dawud 2549; authenticated by Al-Albani3. Mercy includes animals
The narration combines a sign of prophethood with an enduring moral command. Ownership is a trust from Allah, and animals must not be starved, overworked, or treated cruelly.
The Prophet’s ﷺ immediate concern was to relieve suffering and call the owner to the fear of Allah.