<P> The Islamic texts contain several stories featuring camels . In the story of the people of Thamud, the Prophet Salih miraculously brings forth a naqat (Arabic: نَـاقَـة ‎,' she - camel') out of a rock . After the Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina, he allowed his she - camel to roam there; the location where the camel stopped to rest determined the location where he would build his house in Medina . </P> <P> According to Jewish tradition, camel meat and milk are not kosher . Camels possess only one of the two kosher criteria; although they chew their cud, they do not possess cloven hooves: "But these you shall not eat among those that bring up the cud and those that have a cloven hoof: the camel, because it brings up its cud, but does not have a (completely) cloven hoof; it is unclean for you ." </P> <Ul> <Li> <P> Bowl depicting Bahram Gur and Azada, c. early 13th century, Brooklyn Museum </P> </Li> <Li> <P> Vessel in the form of a recumbent camel with jugs, 250 BC--224 AD, Brooklyn Museum </P> </Li> <Li> <P> Maru Ragini (Dhola and Maru riding on a camel), c. 1750, Brooklyn Museum </P> </Li> <Li> <P> The Magi journeying (Les rois mages en voyage) - James Tissot, c. 1886, Brooklyn Museum </P> </Li> </Ul> <Li> <P> Bowl depicting Bahram Gur and Azada, c. early 13th century, Brooklyn Museum </P> </Li>

When did camels first appear in the middle east