The correct answer is 63 camels. During the historic Farewell Pilgrimage in 10 AH (632 CE), the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) performed the ritual of Udhiya (sacrifice) in the valley of Mina. Historical accounts from Sahih Muslim and other authentic Hadith... Read More
The correct answer is 63 camels. During the historic Farewell Pilgrimage in 10 AH (632 CE), the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) performed the ritual of Udhiya (sacrifice) in the valley of Mina. Historical accounts from Sahih Muslim and other authentic Hadith narrations provide a very specific detail: the Prophet (PBUH) personally sacrificed 63 camels with his own hands. This number is widely regarded by Islamic scholars and historians as deeply symbolic, as it matched the number of years of his life at the time of his passing shortly after the pilgrimage.
The sacrifice took place on the 10th of Zulhajj, also known as Yawm al-Nahr (The Day of Sacrifice). After performing the stoning of the Jamarat al-Aqaba, the Prophet (PBUH) proceeded to the place of slaughter in Mina. A large number of camels had been brought from Medina for this purpose. The scene was one of immense devotion, where the Prophet (PBUH) demonstrated the proper method of Nahr—the specific way of sacrificing a camel while it stands on three legs with one foreleg tied.
The total number of animals intended for sacrifice that year was one hundred. While the Prophet (PBUH) handled the first 63 camels, he then handed the knife to his cousin and son-in-law, Hazrat Ali (RA), who completed the sacrifice for the remaining 37 camels to reach the total of one hundred. This act of sharing the duty with Hazrat Ali (RA) showcased the close bond and the delegation of religious responsibility within the prophetic household.
Following the sacrifice, the Prophet (PBUH) gave specific instructions regarding the meat. Unlike many pagan traditions of the time where meat was often wasted or left for idols, the Prophet (PBUH) ordered that a piece of meat from every camel be cooked in a single pot. He and Hazrat Ali (RA) both ate from the meat and drank some of the broth, symbolizing the communal blessing of the sacrifice. The remainder of the meat, including the hides and even the coverings of the camels, was distributed among the poor and the needy.
Historians note that the Prophet (PBUH) strictly forbade giving any part of the sacrifice to the butcher as a "wage" for his work; instead, the butcher was to be paid separately so that the sacrifice remained 100% for the sake of Allah and the social welfare of the community.
The sacrifice of 63 camels serves as a powerful historical marker. Even at the pinnacle of his leadership, the Prophet (PBUH) chose to perform the physical labor of the sacrifice himself rather than merely supervising it. This event also solidified the rules of Qurbani for all future generations, establishing that the sacrifice is an act of gratitude.
For those studying the life of the Prophet (PBUH), the number 63 remains one of the most poignant "coincidences" in history—aligning the number of his sacrifices with the years of his life, marking the completion of his earthly mission and his final gift to the pilgrims gathered in the holy lands.
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