This excerpt is taken from Professor Dr. Fazl Elahi's book Issues of Sacrifice.
By the grace of Allah, three points are presented below regarding this matter:
➊ The method of slaughtering a camel established by the Quran and Sunnah is to slaughter it while it is standing. Allah Almighty said:
﴿وَالْبُدْنَ جَعَلْنَاهَا لَكُم مِّن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ لَكُمْ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ ۖ فَاذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا صَوَافَّ ۖ﴾
"And the camels We have appointed for you as among the symbols of Allah; for you therein is good. So mention the name of Allah upon them when they are standing [for sacrifice]."
Reference: (22-Al-Hajj:36)
In the tafsir of [صواف], Imam Bukhari narrated from Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) that he said: ”قياما“ meaning in the standing position.
Reference: See: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Hajj, Chapter on Slaughtering the Camel Standing, 5543
➋ Additionally, the camel’s left leg should be tied. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to slaughter their camels in this manner at the time of sacrifice.
Imam Abu Dawood narrated from Hazrat Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said:
”أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم وأصحابه كانوا ينحرون البدن معقولة اليسرى قائمة على ما بقي من قوائمها“
"Indeed, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to slaughter the camel in such a state that its left leg was tied and it stood on the remaining three legs."
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawood, Book of Manasik, Chapter: How to Slaughter the Camel? Hadith number 1764, 128/5 - 129. Imam Nawawi and Sheikh Albani have declared it authentic. (See: Sharh al-Nawawi 69/9 and Sahih Sunan Abi Dawood (331/1).
➌ Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) saw a person who had made the camel sit for slaughter, so he forbade him from doing so and ordered to slaughter according to the Sunnah. Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim narrated from Ziyad bin Jubair that he said: "I saw Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) come to a person who had made his she-camel sit for slaughter, and he said:
ابعثها قياما مقيدة سنة محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم
"Tie it while it is standing. This is the Sunnah of Muhammad (peace be upon him)."
Reference: Agreed upon: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Hajj, Chapter on Slaughtering the Camel Tied, Hadith number 1713, 553/3 and Sahih Muslim, Book of Hajj, Chapter on Slaughtering the Camel Standing Tied, Hadith number 358 (1320) 956/2.
The wording of the hadith is from Sahih Bukhari.Hafiz Ibn Hajar writes in the commentary of the hadith: وفي هذا الحديث استحباب نحر الإبل على الصفة المذكورة
This hadith indicates the recommendation of slaughtering the camel in the manner mentioned above.
Reference: Fath al-Bari 553/3; also see: Sharh al-Nawawi 69/9.
Warning:
Some people believe that there is no difference in virtue between slaughtering a camel while it is standing or sitting, but this opinion is not correct in the light of the above-mentioned evidences from the Quran and Sunnah.
