Was the Prophet (sws) Laborer for Mecca and Sayyeda Khadija? - 6

Was the Prophet (sws) Laborer for Mecca and Sayyeda Khadija? - 6

Historians tackled the Prophet's profession before the mission, recalling that he was grazing sheep during boyhood and early youth, and that worked in trade with Sayyeda Khadija (s) at the age of twenty-five. However, this stage of his holy life should be briefly tackled in order to reach the truth.

Had the Prophet (sws) really worked in grazing sheep?

In fact, historians are divided on this topic into two teams. The first team totally denies the idea that the Prophet (sws) had grazed sheep, while the second believed that he had spent part of his life before the mission in grazing sheep in deserts, looking after the herd of his family and that of the people of Mecca, in return for a certain fee.

In this regard, a text narrated by Abu Huraira stated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) had said once: "Every prophet that Allah sent had used to graze sheep." His companions asked him : "And you, O' Messenger of Allah?". He replied: "Yes, I grazed sheep for the people of Mecca in exchange for carats (a few dinars)".

Accordingly, the Prophet (sws) was grazing sheep and was poorly paid for it, but does it seem logic?

We approve that the Prophet might have worked in grazing sheep in favor of his family at the first stage of his noble life, because it was a normal profession at that time. Yet, we doubt that he had grazed sheep as a laborer for the people of Mecca and others. This is due to two reasons.

Firstly, stories about this profession are contradictory between grazing sheep for his family and for the people of Mecca. Such a difference is unacceptable when reported by the same narrator. Secondly, Ya'coubi, the well-known reliable historian, stated that the Prophet (sws) was not a laborer for a anyone at all, i.e. he (sws) was not a laborer, neither for the people of Mecca nor for Sayyeda Khadija even.

Had the Prophet (sws) worked in trade?

The other probability is working in trade. Historians stated that Prophet's second travel had been to the Levant (Sham) at the age of twenty-five. They said that that trade was in favor of Sayyeda Khadija Bint Khuwailid (s) before getting married to her.

According to historians, Abu Talib - the Prophet's uncle - had suggested that his nephew - Prophet Mohammad (sws) - would work in trade with Sayyeda Khadija (s) because of the hard life conditions he was experiencing at the time. The Prophet (sws) agreed upon the proposal, providing that Sayyeda Khadija would offer him to work with her in trade.

Had Sayyeda Khadija Asked the Prophet (sws) to share trade with her?

Having learned about the proposal, Sayyeda Khadija offered to Prophet Mohammad (sws) to work in trade, and gave him double the salary she used to give to others, due to the honorable reputation he had amongst the people of Mecca and for what she knew about his great generosity and morals.

The Prophet (sws) then travelled to the Levant, accompanied by "Maissara", an employee of Sayyeda Khadija (s), and obtained double the profit that other envoys used to gain. It must be noted here that the Prophet's trade with Sayyeda Khadija was a matter of partnership and that he had a percentage of profits.

Therefore, all texts stating that Sayyeda Khadija (s) had hired the Prophet (sws) for trade are not supported by historical evidences, simply due to what the historian Ya'coubi narrated and has been mentioned above.

Edited and Translated by Eslam al-Rihani