The recent discovery of the remains of a previously unknown giant camel species found in central Syria thought to be 100,000 years old has sparked a lot of interest by classical scholars in the Muslim world.

Professor Jean-Marie Le Tensorer of the University of Basel has said; “This is a big discovery, a revolution in science, it was not known that the dromedary was present in the Middle East more than 10,000 years ago.

The picture shows the bones of camel toes, the left being the ancient one, and the right being a modern day camel toe, notice the size difference?

Can you imagine, the camel’s shoulders stood three metres high and it was around four metres tall, as big as a giraffe or an elephant. Nobody knew that such a species had existed.”

Professor Tensorer was in charge of the excavation at the desert site in Kowm since 1999. Apparently the first large bones were found some years ago but were only confirmed as belonging to a camel after more bones from several parts of the same animal were recently discovered. “We found the first traces of a big animal in 2003, but we were not sure it was a giant camel,” he said.

A group of humans apparently killed the camel while it was drinking from a spring, said Tensorer, adding that 100,000-year-old human remains were also discovered nearby at the once water-rich site in the desert. The human bones were transported to Switzerland, where they underwent anthropological analysis.

“The bone is that of a homo sapien, or modern man, but the tooth is extremely archaic, similar to that of a Neanderthal. We expect to find more bones that would help determine what kind of man it was. Man has been present in what is now modern Syria for 1.5 million years. The area played a key role in the migration of the first human beings towards Asia and Europe”, he said.

Kowm, the site where the remains were discovered along with flint and stone weapons, is a 20km gap between two mountain ranges that had a number of springs. The researchers suggested that their find indicated that a group of humans killed the large animal when it was drinking from a spring.

So why has this story raised so much interest? The discovery of these bones and the manner in which the animal died fits in with the description of the she-camel of the people of Thamud referred to in the Quran.

The Quran describes that after the destruction of the people of Ad, the tribe of Thamud succeeded them in power wealth and glory. They also fell to idol-worshipping and as their material wealth increased so, too, did their evil ways. Like the people of Ad, they erected huge buildings on the plains and created beautiful homes out of the hills some of which can still be seen in Syria.

Tyranny and oppression became prevalent as evil men ruled the land. So Allah sent unto them His Prophet Salih (PBUH), a man from among them. Salih was known for his wisdom, purity and goodness and had been greatly respected by his people before Allah’s revelation came to him. As a challenge to prove his prophethood, the people of Thamud set him a challenge by asking him to perform a miracle. Pointing at the mountains, they demanded: “Ask your Lord to make a she-camel, which must be 10 months pregnant, tall and attractive, from the rock for us.”

Prophet Salih (PBUH) replied: “If Allah sends you what you have requested, just as you have described, will you believe in that which I have come to you with and have faith in the message I have been sent with?” They answered: “Yes.” So he took a vow from them on this, then prayed to Allah the Almighty to grant their request.

Allah ordered the distant rock to split apart, bringing forth a great 10 month pregnant she-camel. When they set their eyes on it, they were amazed. A number of people thereafter believed in the message. There are a number of ancient accounts of this camel and its miraculous nature. Other accounts said that the she-camel used to drink all the water in the wells in one day, and no other animals could approach the water.

It is interesting to note that although this region of Syria is now dry and desert like, the archeaologists have confirmed that thousands of years ago, the same area contained many water springs. At first, the people of Thamud were greatly surprised when the she-camel came out from the mountain. It was a blessed camel, and its milk sufficient for thousands of men, women and children. It lived among prophet Salih’s people, but while some of whom believed in Allah the majority continued in their obstinacy and disbelief.

Their hatred of the prophet Salih turned towards the blessed she-camel and became centered on it. A conspiracy started against the camel by the disbelievers, and they secretly plotted against it. Salih feared that they might kill the camel and for awhile, Salih’s people let the camel graze and drink freely, but in their hearts they hated it.

The disbelievers began complaining that this huge she camel with its unusual qualities drank most of the water and frightened their cattle. They laid a plot to kill the camel, and several men from amongst the tribe watched the camel closely, observing all its movements and as the she-camel came to drink at the well, it was shot it in the leg with an arrow. It tried to escape but was struck with a sword in the other leg. As it fell to the ground, it was pierced with a sword.

Prophet Salih gave the people a three day warning to repent and change their ways before a punishment from Allah descended upon them. Most chose to ignore the prophet and he left with his followers. Sure enough, three days after the warning, thunderbolts filled the air, followed by severe earthquakes which destroyed the entire tribe and its homeland. The land was violently shaken, destroying all living creatures in it.

There was one terrific cry which had hardly ended when the disbelievers of Salih’s people were struck dead, one and all, at the same time. Neither their strong buildings nor their rock hewn homes could protect them.

Some may call this story from the Quran and the recent discoveries as pure coincidences, but as the Quran has proven time and time again, the more coincidences that occur the more people accept it as the truth. So is this giant camel in Syria the same one from the Quran? As we find out more, we will keep you posted in the next issue of Islamic Times.