noble and virtuous task and preferred to earn his livelihood by toiling hard for it even if it
meant living a simple life to the point of austerity.
When the Prophet (r) was around fourteen or fifteen years of age, the sacrilegious war,
known as the Harb-ul-Fijar, broke out between the Quraysh and the tribe of Qays. Mu-
hammed (r) was present at this event such that he picked up the arrows that the enemy
had shot and gave them back to the Qurayshite fighters. This was to mark his first expe-
rience of military operations. (Ibn Hisham, Vol. I, 186)
Now that Muhammed (r) was coming into grips of his own life, he turned his attention to
scouting a means of livelihood. Like other lads of his age, he took a shot at the tendering of
sheep and goats. It was not deemed a disgraceful occupation in those days; rather, it helped
one to be watchful, alert and quick, kind and considerate, besides allowing an opportunity
to inhale the freedom of Arabian air and the power of its sand. More than that, it had been
the convention of all the Prophets of old which complied with his future Prophetic task. The
Prophet (r) after all used to say: “Verily, there has been no Prophet (r) who has not
tended the flocks of goats.” On being asked again whether he had also performed the work
of a shepherd, the Prophet (r) affirmed. “Yes I did.”
Muhammed (r) was not completely new to the job for in his childhood days he used to
accompany his foster-brothers in tending their flocks and herds. The reports in the Saheeh
show that the Prophet (r) used to watch the goats upon the neighboring hills and valleys
for a meager payment from their owners.
MARRIAGE WITH KHADIJAH
Muhammed (r) married Khadijah (t) when he was twenty-five years of age. Khadijah,
daughter of Khuwaylid, was noble and intelligent, wealthy and was respected for the quality
and integrity of her heart. A widow whose age was then forty years, (Ibn Hisham, Vol. I, pp.
189-90) her late husband was Abu Hala. She carried out on their business and like other
merchants of Makkah she also used to hire men to transport her merchandise outside the
country on a profit-sharing scheme. Khadijah was impressed with Muhammed’s truthful-
ness, trustworthiness and honorable character when he traded her merchandise to Syria.
Although Khadijah had turned down several offers for her hand by some of the eminent
chiefs of the Quraysh, she expressed her desire to marry Muhammed (r). Hamza, an uncle
of Muhammed (r), conveyed the message to him for which he readily agreed. Abu Talib
recited the wedding sermon and Muhammed (r), united in wedlock with Khadijah, com-
menced his marital career. All the offspring of the Prophet (r) except Ibrahim who died in
infancy, were born to Khadijah.