The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 159
V A Glance at the Early Life A Paucity of Narrations Now the first era of the life of the Holy Prophet sa has come to an end. Yet a sense of contentment is missing and the heart does not let the hand stop writing. It appears as if the events of the first 40 years of the life of the Holy Prophet sa are not preserved with such details as were the events of the latter era. This is very natural because the way he was looked upon in the time of his prophethood, was missing in that first period. Still, had early historians exerted more attention on the period of life prior to prophethood and had sought events with greater diligence and effort, many additional details could have been found. However, the information currently present, as compared to other previous prophets, is far greater. This information is sufficient evidence of the magnificent holy and pure life of the Holy Prophet sa prior to his advent. Illiteracy of the Holy Prophet sa Readers have probably noted that in this 40 year lifespan, no allusion has been made to the education of the Holy Prophet sa. In actuality, the level of education in Arabia was very low, and in this regard, there was little difference between the nobles and commoners. As a matter of fact, even influential chieftains were generally as uneducated and illiterate as were the common people. There is no doubt that educated individuals were found here and there throughout the country. Such people were found more in Makkah as compared to other places. However, it is proven that the Holy Prophet sa was completely illiterate and uneducated. 1 It seems as if it was the hand of God in the illiteracy of the Holy Prophet sa , so that the grandeur of his scholarly miracle could be 1 Al-A‘rāf (7:159), Al-‘Ankabūt (29:49)