سُوْرَةُ الْحَجِّ
Surah Al-Hajj (22) — Ayah 36
وَٱلْبُدْنَ جَعَلْنَـٰهَا لَكُم مِّن شَعَـٰٓئِرِ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ ۖ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا صَوَآفَّ ۖ فَإِذَا وَجَبَتْ جُنُوبُهَا فَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا۟ ٱلْقَانِعَ وَٱلْمُعْتَرَّ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرْنَـٰهَا لَكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿36﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And the Budn (cows, oxen, or camels driven to be offered as sacrifices by the pilgrims at the sanctuary of Makkah) We have made them for you as among the Symbols of Allâh, wherein you have much good. So mention the Name of Allâh over them when they are drawn up in lines (for sacrifice). Then, when they are down on their sides (after slaughter), eat thereof, and feed the poor who does not ask (men), and the beggar who asks (men). Thus have We made them subject to you that you may be grateful.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَٱلْبُدْنَ
wal-bud'na
And the camels and cattle
جَعَلْنَـٰهَا
jaʿalnāhā
We have made them
لَكُم
lakum
for you
مِّن
min
among
شَعَـٰٓئِرِ
shaʿāiri
(the) Symbols
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
لَكُمْ
lakum
for you
فِيهَا
fīhā
therein
خَيْرٌۭ ۖ
khayrun
(is) good
فَٱذْكُرُوا۟
fa-udh'kurū
So mention
ٱسْمَ
is'ma
(the) name
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
عَلَيْهَا
ʿalayhā
over them
صَوَآفَّ ۖ
ṣawāffa
(when) lined up
فَإِذَا
fa-idhā
and when
وَجَبَتْ
wajabat
are down
جُنُوبُهَا
junūbuhā
their sides
فَكُلُوا۟
fakulū
then eat
مِنْهَا
min'hā
from them
وَأَطْعِمُوا۟
wa-aṭʿimū
and feed
ٱلْقَانِعَ
l-qāniʿa
the needy who do not ask
وَٱلْمُعْتَرَّ ۚ
wal-muʿ'tara
and the needy who ask
كَذَٰلِكَ
kadhālika
Thus
سَخَّرْنَـٰهَا
sakharnāhā
We have subjected them
لَكُمْ
lakum
to you
لَعَلَّكُمْ
laʿallakum
so that you may
تَشْكُرُونَ
tashkurūna
be grateful
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
36. And the sacrificial camels [56]—We have made them among the symbols of Allah for you; in them is much good for you. So mention the name of Allah over them as they are lined up [57], and when they have fallen on their sides [58], then eat from them and feed the contented [59] and the beggar. Thus We have subjected them to you so that you may be grateful [60] to Allah.
[56]
The Literal Meaning of ﴿بُدن﴾:
The word ﴿بُدن﴾ can literally be applied to any large-bodied animal. However, in Arabia, this word became specifically used for camels. Previously, there was a general mention of the symbols of Allah. Now it is mentioned that sacrificial camels are also among the symbols of Allah, and there are many benefits and blessings for you in them. You ride on them, use them for carrying loads, obtain milk, wool, and offspring from them. Even from their skins and bones, various kinds of benefits are derived. And since sacrificial camels are worthy of respect, therefore, at the time of slaughter, provide them with every possible ease.
[57] The word "صواف" is being used in two meanings. One is clear from the translation, that is, if there are many sacrificial camels, first line them up in rows, then slaughter them one by one. The second meaning is that they should be slaughtered while standing; they should not be made to sit down for slaughter. As is clear from Hadith number 13 mentioned under verse 29 of this Surah. And the method is that first, the front right or left leg of the camel is tied with a rope, then a spear, lance, or sharp instrument is thrust into its neck or front part, so that its blood flows while it is standing.
[58] The necessary result of the blood flowing will be that the camel will fall by itself on either its right or left side. Its skin should not be removed at that time, until it stops struggling or there remains any sign of life in it.
[59]
The Meat of Sacrifice Can Be Kept for More Than Three Days:
That is, the needy are also of two types. One is those who remain patient and grateful with whatever Allah has given them, and despite being in need, do not extend their hand to anyone, and in some cases, ordinary people do not even realize their need. Truly, such people are the rightful recipients of charity and alms. The second type are those who, compelled by need, begin to ask people. Allah has commanded that both types of people should be fed from the meat of this sacrifice. On the occasion of Eid al-Adha, many needy people from around Medina came to Medina, so the Prophet ﷺ ordered the Companions that no one should keep the meat of sacrifice for more than three days; whatever is extra should all be given in charity. But this command was only due to the arrival of those needy people, and was later abrogated. [مسلم۔ کتاب الاضاحی۔ باب النھی عن اکل لحوم الاضاحی بعد ثلاث و نسخہ]
However, the meaning of such abrogation is only that if today similar circumstances arise, that there are many needy people who themselves are not able to offer sacrifice or happen to gather together, then the original command will apply even today.
[60]
The Instinct of Servitude in Animals for Humans:
That is, your large-bodied animals, which are many times stronger than you in terms of strength, have been made subservient to you in such a way that you derive various benefits from them, and when needed, you even slaughter them, yet they do not dare to object before you. For these blessings of Allah, you should be grateful and obedient to Allah.
[56]
The Literal Meaning of ﴿بُدن﴾:
The word ﴿بُدن﴾ can literally be applied to any large-bodied animal. However, in Arabia, this word became specifically used for camels. Previously, there was a general mention of the symbols of Allah. Now it is mentioned that sacrificial camels are also among the symbols of Allah, and there are many benefits and blessings for you in them. You ride on them, use them for carrying loads, obtain milk, wool, and offspring from them. Even from their skins and bones, various kinds of benefits are derived. And since sacrificial camels are worthy of respect, therefore, at the time of slaughter, provide them with every possible ease.
[57] The word "صواف" is being used in two meanings. One is clear from the translation, that is, if there are many sacrificial camels, first line them up in rows, then slaughter them one by one. The second meaning is that they should be slaughtered while standing; they should not be made to sit down for slaughter. As is clear from Hadith number 13 mentioned under verse 29 of this Surah. And the method is that first, the front right or left leg of the camel is tied with a rope, then a spear, lance, or sharp instrument is thrust into its neck or front part, so that its blood flows while it is standing.
[58] The necessary result of the blood flowing will be that the camel will fall by itself on either its right or left side. Its skin should not be removed at that time, until it stops struggling or there remains any sign of life in it.
[59]
The Meat of Sacrifice Can Be Kept for More Than Three Days:
That is, the needy are also of two types. One is those who remain patient and grateful with whatever Allah has given them, and despite being in need, do not extend their hand to anyone, and in some cases, ordinary people do not even realize their need. Truly, such people are the rightful recipients of charity and alms. The second type are those who, compelled by need, begin to ask people. Allah has commanded that both types of people should be fed from the meat of this sacrifice. On the occasion of Eid al-Adha, many needy people from around Medina came to Medina, so the Prophet ﷺ ordered the Companions that no one should keep the meat of sacrifice for more than three days; whatever is extra should all be given in charity. But this command was only due to the arrival of those needy people, and was later abrogated. [مسلم۔ کتاب الاضاحی۔ باب النھی عن اکل لحوم الاضاحی بعد ثلاث و نسخہ]
However, the meaning of such abrogation is only that if today similar circumstances arise, that there are many needy people who themselves are not able to offer sacrifice or happen to gather together, then the original command will apply even today.
[60]
The Instinct of Servitude in Animals for Humans:
That is, your large-bodied animals, which are many times stronger than you in terms of strength, have been made subservient to you in such a way that you derive various benefits from them, and when needed, you even slaughter them, yet they do not dare to object before you. For these blessings of Allah, you should be grateful and obedient to Allah.
