The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 142
Seal of the Prophets - Volume I 142 part of an everlasting and universal law. 2. In light of the future requirements of the various nations of the world, it possesses a permanent teaching which enables one to fulfill Ḥuqūqul-‘Ibād 1 and Ḥuqūqullāh 2. It possesses the teachings necessary for the success and progression in every aspect of one’s moral and spiritual life until the day of judgement. In any case, the notion that the Holy Qur’ān or the prophethood of the Holy Prophet sa was a result of the teachings of Christianity or another faith is absolutely erroneous and vain. A statement of this nature can be made only by one who has absolutely no knowledge of Islāmic history and teachings. Particularly, to attribute Islāmic teachings to the encounter with Baḥīrā the Monk as mentioned above, is a ridiculous statement which cannot be uttered by any wise individual. Pasturing of Goats by Muḥammad sa After he returned from his journey to Syria, Muḥammad sa continued to reside with Abū Ṭālib. It was a custom among the Arabs, that children were given the responsibility of tending the cattle. Hence the young Muḥammad sa also undertook the task of pasturing goats and performed this task on various occasions. In the time of his prophethood, the Holy Prophet sa would say that: “The pasturing of goats is the tradition of the prophets 3 and I too have pastured goats. ” On one occasion, while travelling, the companions of the Holy Prophet sa were gathering some fruit upon which the Prophet sa said, “Search for this particular fruit in darker colour, for when I used to tend to the goats, I have found through experience, that the darker its shade of black, the finer it proves to be. ” 4 God’s Protection from Evil There is an instance that on one night during the childhood of 1 The Rights of Mankind (Publishers) 2 The Rights of God (Publishers) 3 From this it can be concluded that the work of prophets, in a way, is like that of a Shepherd. Therefore, by assigning prophets the work of a Shepherd in their young age, God indicates through depicted foreshadowing that they should soon prepare themselves to tend to the flocks of humanity. (Author) 4 Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Kitābu Aḥādīthil-Anbīyā’, Bābu Ya‘kifūna ‘alā Aṣnāmin lahum, Ḥadīth No. 3406