An Analytical Study of the Means of Livelihood of the Arabs Handicrafts and Shepherding during the Period of Life of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)

رسول اللہﷺ کی حیاتِ مبارکہ میں عربوں کے ذرائع معاش دستکاری اور گلہ بانی کا تجزیاتی مطالعہ

Abstract

Allah Almighty, through the injunctions of Qur'ān o Sunnah, determined all human needs as fair or unfair, allowed or forbidden. Earning money, and spending it are two different manifestations and these two ways will be judged separately. On the day of resurrection, the believer will not be able to stand before the throne of Allah Almighty, unless he gives an account of his wealth. The treasures of Allah's sustenance are unlimited and arranged for each of his creation to deliver its sustenance before time. According to Holy Qur'ān, the sustenance of every creature is the responsibility of Allah. Then, for its distribution, people have adopted different type of livelihood as means. Because of  this distribution of sustenance, we see some people working as trader, some as teachers ,  some are having charge to perform religious roles like Imām, Mu᾽adhin, Khaṭīb and Qur᾽ānic teacher, some are having duty to protect the State like Armed persons, some of having charge of  State's affairs like President of State, Governors,  Ministers, advisors, Judges,  some are cobblers, barber, tailors , carpenter, blacksmith, goldsmith, and like  this some of them are related to human food production like farmer, vegetable seller, fruit seller, aadthi etc. In the topic under consideration, two means of livelihood adopted by the Arabs during the time of Rasūl Ullāh (ﷺ) are being discussed about handicrafts and shepherding. These means of livelihood have been elaborated with help of examples and quotations to understand the way of earning during earlier times.