The Sad Camel
Ibil the camel is starved and beaten by his master until the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ meets him in Madinah, in an audiobook for children aged 4 to 6.
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What is The Sad Camel about?
The Sad Camel is an Islamic audiobook for children aged 4 to 6, inspired by a hadith, about a camel who is treated cruelly by his master until the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ meets him in Madinah.
Everyone in Madinah calls Ibil the Sad Camel. His master, Yusuf the farmer, never says a kind word to him. He gives him too little food, lets him sleep in dirty straw, never washes him and beats him with a stick, and the children run away because he smells. His only friend is Faisal, the camel next door. One day, tied up in the hot sun while Yusuf sits in a shady garden with the other farmers, Ibil hears his master say he will sell him to the butchers.
Then the garden falls quiet. The Prophet ﷺ walks up to Ibil, does not turn away from the dirt and the smell, strokes his face and wipes away his tears. He asks whose camel it is, and tells Yusuf that he must feed his camel well, and that Allah expects us to treat all His creatures with kindness and respect. Yusuf is ashamed, asks forgiveness and promises to change.
From the next day, Yusuf gives Ibil fresh dates, a rest and a long bath, and under the dirt Ibil's coat turns out to be white. The children bring him flowers and sugar lumps, and Ibil becomes a happy camel.
Read by Sandy Walsh in two parts, the story lasts about 14 minutes and is a Miraj original. It shows children that animals have feelings, and that caring for them is part of our faith.
What your child will learn
- Allah expects us to treat all His creatures with kindness and respect.
- The Prophet ﷺ cared for animals and spoke up for them.
- Animals feel hunger, thirst and sadness, and we must look after the animals in our care.
- When we have done wrong, we can say sorry, ask forgiveness and change.
Chapters
- Part 1
- Part 2
Where this audiobook comes from
- Sunan Abi Dawud 2549: A camel wept when it saw the Prophet ﷺ in a garden in Madinah. He wiped its head and told its owner to fear Allah, because the camel had complained that he starved it and worked it too hard.
Talk about it afterwards
- Why was Ibil called the Sad Camel?
- What did the Prophet ﷺ do when he saw Ibil crying?
- How did Yusuf change after he met the Prophet ﷺ?
- How can we look after animals, like pets or the birds in the garden?
Words to know
- Rasulullah
- The Messenger of Allah, a title of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Frequently asked questions
What age is The Sad Camel suitable for?
Children aged 4 to 6. At the start Ibil is beaten and his master talks of selling him to the butchers, so sensitive children may like to listen with a parent, but the story ends happily.
Is The Sad Camel based on a hadith?
Yes. It is inspired by the hadith, reported in Sunan Abi Dawud, of the camel that wept when it saw the Prophet ﷺ and complained that its owner starved it and worked it too hard.
How long is The Sad Camel?
About 14 minutes, in two parts.
