This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Farooq Rafi Sahib's book Qurbani, Aqiqa, and Ashra Zil-Hijjah.
Slaughtering other animals while they are lying down and slaughtering the camel while standing with its left knee tied is a superior and recommended practice. The evidences are as follows:
① Allah, the Exalted, says:
﴿وَالْبُدْنَ جَعَلْنَاهَا لَكُم مِّن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ لَكُمْ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ ۖ فَاذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا صَوَافَّ﴾
And the large animals of sacrifice, We have made them for you among the symbols of Allah; for you therein is good. So mention the name of Allah upon them when they are lined up [for sacrifice].
Reference: Surah Al-Hajj: 36
Tafsir:
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas رضي الله عنهما states that the interpretation of ﴿صَوَافَّ﴾ is Qiyama (i.e., slaughtering the camels while they are standing).
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Hajj, Chapter: Slaughtering the animal while standing.
② Mujahid رحمه الله states that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas رضي الله عنهما explained the interpretation of ﴿صَوَافَّ﴾ as follows:
معقولة إحدى يديها، قائمة على ثلاث قوائم
"At the time of slaughtering, one (left) leg of the camel should be tied and it should stand on three legs."
Reference: Hasan: Tafsir Tabari: 632/18.
③ Sayyiduna Anas رضي الله عنه states:
ونحر النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم بيده سبع بدن قياما
"The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم personally slaughtered seven camels while they were standing."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Hajj, Chapter: Whoever slaughters the sacrifice with his own hand: 1712. Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Manasik, Chapter on Tying: 1796
④ Ziyad bin Jubair رحمه الله states:
رأيت ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما أتى على رجل قد أناخ بدنته ينحرها، قال: ابعثها قياما مقيدة، سنة محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم
I saw Sayyiduna Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما approach a man who was slaughtering his camel while it was sitting. Sayyiduna Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما said: Make it stand with one knee tied; this is the Sunnah of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم.
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Hajj, Chapter: Slaughtering tied camels: 1713. Sahih Muslim, Book of Hajj, Chapter: Recommendation to slaughter camels standing: 132. Sunan Abi Dawood, Book of Manasik, Chapter: How to slaughter the animal: 1768. Musnad Ahmad: 139/2.
Benefits:
① Imam Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, states that it is recommended to slaughter the camel while it is standing on three legs and with the left knee tied. This is the position held by Shafi'i, Maliki, Ahmad, and the majority of scholars. Abu Hanifa, may Allah have mercy on him, and Sufyan al-Thawri, may Allah have mercy on him, say that slaughtering the camel while standing or sitting is equally virtuous, but the latter method is considered contrary to the Sunnah.
Reference: Sharh al-Nawawi: 69/9-70.
② Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, states that the mentioned characteristic—slaughtering the camel while standing on three legs and with the left knee tied—is preferable, and it is recommended to teach the Sunnah to the ignorant and not remain silent about actions contrary to the Sunnah, although remaining silent about such actions is permissible.
Reference: Fath al-Bari: 699/3
The Sunnah method of slaughtering:
Ibn Qudamah Hanbali, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
والسنة نحر الإبل قائمة معقولة يدها اليسرى، فيضربها بالحربة فى الوهدة التى بين أصل العنق والصدر
"The recommended method of slaughtering a camel is that at the time of slaughter, the camel should be standing and its left foreleg should be tied. Then the one who is slaughtering should thrust the spear into the hollow between its neck and chest. This is the recommended method of slaughter, and Malik, Shafi'i, Ishaq, and the people of Mundhir, may Allah have mercy on them, have considered this method preferable."
Reference: Al-Mughni by Ibn Qudamah: 181/7.
