The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 608
CH. 7 AL-A'RĀF PT. 9 early period in his life" (Commentary therefore, remained illiterate in his of the Quran, ii. 326). The above constitutes the gist of Wherry's criticism of the generally accepted view that the Holy Prophet was or illiterate. But this contention seems to possess no substance. It is indeed a poor argument to say that because the Prophet "had been trained in the same house with ‘Alī, who knew both how to read and write", therefore he should also have learnt reading and writing. It only betrays ignorance of elementary facts of the Holy Prophet's life on the part of the reverend gentleman. Even a desultory acquaintance with the life history of the Holy Prophet should make one know that 'Ali and the Holy Prophet could not be brought up together. There was a great difference between the ages of the two. The Prophet was no less than 29 years older than ‘Alī; therefore, it was impossible for the two to be trained and brought up together. house. But 'Ali was brought up in the house of the Holy Prophet himself, whose marriage with Khadijah, a wealthy lady of great repute, had placed ample means at his disposal. The Prophet also fully realized how priceless a thing good education was. So under his benign care and ennobling influence, ‘Alī, judged by the standards of that time, naturally grew up to be a young man of good education. Wherry's second objection is that if the Holy Prophet had been illiterate and did not know how to read and write, he could not have proved such a successful business man as he actually was. This objection is born of the mistaken concept of a good and successful Arab business man of the Prophet's time. Judging by the present European standards of a successful business man, Wherry thought that lack of education and success in business could not go Those whom prejudice against the together. He would not have made Holy Prophet has not blinded to the this objection if he had known that in patent facts of history know that, let Asia even in the present twentieth alone the Prophet being educated and century, highly successful business trained together with 'Alī, which the men are to be found who have not great disparity in their ages evidently received even elementary education. obviated, it was ‘Ali who got his In Mecca, in the Holy Prophet's training in the house and under the time, education was not much in fostering care of the Holy Prophet favour. There were very few persons (Hishām). Abū Ṭālib in whose house there who could read and write, the Holy Prophet was brought up was though hundreds carried on most a man of very meagre means. He did successful and flourishing business. not know the value of learning and Education was not at that time knowledge nor was their possession regarded in Arabia as the sine qua regarded as an asset and acquisition non of a good business man. in his time. The Holy Prophet, Moreover, the fact that Khadijah had 1048