How come specifically shepherds of sheep? Why not camels? or cows?

     Sheep are very weak animals, much weaker than camels or cows, therefore they need more care and protection. Because of this weakness they could easily fall prey. And when Rusool Allah (saw) wanted to warn us from Shaitan, he (saw) brought in his experience and he said, “Stick with the jamaah, because the wolf eats from the stray sheep.” So that was Rusool Allah (saw) learned being a shepherd that the wolf only attacks the sheep that a strayed, it doesn’t attack the flock.

     We are weak as these sheep, when it comes to Shaitan. Shaitan can tempt us and attack us. There is also another important point. That is the fact that we are affected by the environment we live in. Shepherds of sheep are different than shepherds of camels or any other animal. Why? Because they are dealing with a different animal. Sheep tends to be very compassionate, and they are weak. So the shepherd of sheeps learns to become merciful and kind with them. Sheeps are very fragile animals; you cannot be harsh with sheeps.

     So the Anbiya of Allah learnt to be compassionate with their followers. But when it comes to camel for example, camels tend to be arrogant animals, so their shepherds cannot be soft with them, because they then take advantage of you. With the camel you need to meet that arrogance with strength, that makes the shepherds of camel tough and they could be rude. What you do affects you. Teachers for example get fatherly qualities. Doctors lose their ability to write or it could also be said you personality affects your profession, because people with certain characteristics tend to choose their profession accordingly. That profession would then push them further in their traits. As Muslims we need to be careful of what kind of work you do, keeping in mind that your work will affect you.

    

     Ibn Hajar one of the classical scholars who wrote the most prominent commentary on Sahaih Bukhari. He was a scholar in hadith, fiqh and aqidah. There are other commentaries but none of them reached the level of Fath Al-Bari by Ibn Hajar. His commentary on the above mentioned hadith is:

“The wisdom behind having the Prophets as shepherds before Prophet Hood, is that they may become skilled in herding a flock, as they will be responsible for their respective nations in the future. In herding, one attains forbearance and mercy and it endues patience. For when a shepherd is obliged to gather his flock, and heard it from one area to another at once, knowing the traits of all, all the while protecting the flock from predators. He has thus attained the skills necessary to lead a nation and protect it from its enemies both within and abroad. Thus the Prophets learned patience when leading their people and attained an understanding of the different natures of people, they learned to show kindness to the weak and resolve with the dominant.

     The reasons for which Allah (swt) had chosen the sheeps for the Prophets as opposed to the communal cows or camels, is that they are animals that are weak and need extra guidance and attention. Sheep are more difficult to maintain as a flock, because of their potentity to go astray and wander away. This is a kin to human traits within a society and it is the divine wisdom of Allah, to train these prophets accordingly. The prophet (saw) mentioning of this humble traits shared by all prophets, attests to his humility to Allah.”

Another current writer comments on this, Muhammed al- Abdahu, he states,

“This faith excels through the free-thinkers, the courageous, the intelligent, and those who are just and one cannot encompass it except by distancing themselves from lowly character. It is therefore incumbent upon Muslims to take on the pure characteristics embodied in humanity’s natural disposition.

     This was the example that was sought by the early Khalifa Umer bin Khattab (ra), when he pleaded with his people to toughen up and learn how to ride a steed. He feared for his people the longing of this life and adopting the reprehensible characteristics. This does not mean that one must abandon urban living in order to achieve the stated objectives. But it does mean that one should abandon those things in their life that turned them away from the difficulties of this message.”

     Muhammed A-lAbdahu is commenting on Rusool Allah (saw) living as a shepherd in the desert and also Rusool Allah (saw)  was brought up in the desert in the early years of his life. He gave the example of Umer (ra), when he was a khalifa, he could get the best of  what this world could offer, but he still lived a simple life, and he was warning the Muslims, and telling them to  toughen up. This was because this message at times demands, a momin to go through some difficult situations and a momin should be ready for that.

     Da’wah is one aspect. A Da’i cannot be sincere and whole heartedly invbolved in da’wah, if they cannot have patience and be willing to get involved in situations that might be difficult.