Why does the Quran ask humans to look at camels and see that as proof of Allah-Quran (88:17)? According to the Quran, horses and donkeys were created for humans to ride and use for show Quran (16:8)? Do such verses show that the Quran is man-made?

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐡-𝐐𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧 (𝟖𝟖:𝟏𝟕)? 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧, 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐲𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐐𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧 (𝟏𝟔:𝟖)? 𝐃𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐧-𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞?

Mohamad Mostafa Nassar
Twitter:@NassarMohamadMR

Allah gives examples of the creation so that people ponder on them and reach the only rational conclusion from their creation i.e. existence of a Creator. Humans do not have the faculties to directly see the Creator but Allah gave humans intellect and by the use of this intellect anyone can conclusively believe in the existence of Allah, the Creator.

Now coming to the why Camels are specifically mentioned by Allah as a proof of His existence. Allah says:

Do they not ever reflect on camels—how they were ˹masterfully˺ created” Quran (88:17)

Camel is a very special creation of Allah. No evolutionist can ever come up with an explanation as to why this animal is the only one with so many special characteristics and there is no other animal which could evolve like it.

Some of its characteristics are as follows:

Camels live and thrive in deserts where most large creatures cannot survive.
Camels can travel up to 160 km per day (in 16 hours) in hot desert environment. And they can do it day after day after day. No other animal can even come anywhere near this performance. They can maintain a speed of 25 kph for a long time and have a top speed of 67 kph.
Camels can survive dehydration of up to 40% of their body weight. Humans would die if we loose more than 12% of our body weight due to dehydration.
Camels can drink huge amounts of water in one go i.e. up to 25% of their body weight without any ill effects. No other animal can drink this much water in one go as it causes intolerable dilution of blood and water toxicity.
Camels can drink fresh, brackish and saltish water without any ill effects.
When camels dehydrate, it does not thicken their blood, unlike other animals. This saves the camel’s heart from working hard to pump viscous blood.
Camels do not waste water in urine and feces. Their urine is twice as concentrated with salt as sea water. Their feces are so dry that it can be used to light fire.
Camels don’t breathe through mouth, nor pant even in high temperature or thirst. By this feature, they avoid water loss.
Most of the fat is stored in the camel’s hump. If this fat had been distributed all over the body, it would have acted as insulation and overheated the animal in hot desert climate.
Camel hump also acts as a shield against the hot summer sun and conserves evaporation of water through perspiration.
Camels hump releases water and fat in 1:1 ratio during time of need.
Camels are herbivores. They can eat vegetable, leaves, thorns and literally anything which grows. They have specially designed mouths with 34 sharp teeth to easily chew thorny plants and projecting lips which can be used to pluck soft grass.
Camels can reduce their body temperature to 34 deg. C at nights to reduce loss of energy through higher metabolism. They can increase their body temperatures up to 40.4 deg. C in the day to avoid perspiration yet be fully active.
Camels sweat only when their body temperature rises above 40.4 deg. C thereby conserving water.
Camels have strong muscles in their nose with which they can close their nostrils during sand storms. They also have double row of large eye lashes and three eyelids to protect the eyes from sand.
Camels feet, with two broad spreadable toes, are perfectly designed to travel on soft sand.
Camel’s ears are covered with hair and they can curve backward and stick to the head if sandy wind is blowing.
Camel has thick pads of callus-like dry skin on its knees and stomach which allows it to sit on hot desert sand.
Camel’s legs and joints are designed in such a way that they are able to sit down and stand up with full load on their back. No other animal can stand up while fully loaded. Even while sitting they do not feel the load on their bodies as they spread their weight all over the stomach which rests against the ground while sitting.
Camel can carry a load of 272 kg (600 lbs) comfortably, with upper limit of up to 450 Kg (900 lbs).
Female camels can be milked 2 times a day for one year on average. The daily average production of milk is about 5-10 kg, with anti-diabetic characteristics.
Camel can defend itself against predators by biting and kicking (a single kick can be fatal). It can also spit liquid regurgitated from its stomach which has particularly nasty smell, up to a distance of 37m (120 ft), to ward off any potential predators.
Camels can be easily domesticated and even a small boy can herd many camels all by himself.

This is just a glimpse of the miracle that a camel is, and that is why Allah mentioned it specifically for the people to ponder upon regarding how it has been created.

Allah Exalted he Says in the Glorious Quran:

Have you not seen that Allah has subjected for you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, and has lavished His favours upon you, both seen and unseen? ˹Still˺ there are some who dispute about Allah without knowledge, or guidance, or an enlightening scripture.” Quran (31:20)