The Young Shepherd

This is the story of prophet Muhammed S.W.In the rocky hills outside Makkah, under the scorching Arabian sun, young Muhammad (ﷺ) watched over his flock of sheep. Only eight years old, he had already faced many hardships in his young life. Born an orphan — his father Abdullah had passed away before his birth — and losing his mother Aminah when he was just six, Muhammad (ﷺ) was now under the care of his grandfather Abdul Muttalib, who deeply loved the young boy. The elderly man often proudly brought Muhammad (ﷺ) to the shade of the Ka’bah, where Makkan elders would gather.

One hot afternoon, while tending the sheep for some Makkan families, Muhammad (ﷺ) noticed one of his young companions preparing to attend a wedding celebration in the city. “Would you watch my sheep for a little while?” Muhammad (ﷺ) asked his friend. “I would like to see the celebration too.”

His friend agreed, and Muhammad (ﷺ) eagerly headed toward Makkah. As he approached the house filled with music and festivities, a remarkable thing happened. Suddenly, he felt extremely tired. Finding a comfortable spot, he sat down and immediately fell into a deep sleep.

He didn’t wake until dawn, having missed the entire celebration.When he returned to his friend, the young boy asked, “What did you see at the wedding?”

Muhammad (ﷺ) replied honestly, “I saw nothing. Allah protected me from witnessing the idle celebrations that might have exposed me to inappropriate things.”

Even in his childhood, Allah was preparing Muhammad (ﷺ) for his future role as the final messenger. Unlike many children in Makkah, he never participated in idol worship or the many improper activities common in those days of ignorance
His uncle Abu Talib, who later became his guardian after his grandfather’s passing, once remarked: “Muhammad has never told a lie, never hurt anyone, and never engaged in foolish behavior. There is something special about this boy.”

The people of Makkah noticed his exceptional honesty and character even as a child, never seeing him participate in vain talk or harmful activities. Years later, they would come to call him “Al-Amin” (The Trustworthy) and “As-Sadiq” (The Truthful) — titles he earned from his earliest days as a young shepherd in the hills of Makkah.

This story teaches us that Allah was preparing Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) from his childhood, protecting him from negative influences and nurturing the exceptional character that would one day help him guide humanity to the straight path.
The stories of prophets serve as timeless beacons of guidance for our children, offering profound lessons in patience, perseverance, and unwavering faith.