The young man who learned what cannot be taught

[islamicgems]

Once upon a time, there lived in Basra an old man whose only occupation was caring for and loving his only son who was a handsome young man. The old man invested all his money on his son’s education. The young man went away for a few years and acquired an education at a well known university under the great scholars of that age.

The day had arrived for the son to return from his studies and the old man waited at the door for his son. When the son came and met his father, the old man looked into his eyes and felt great disappointment. “What have you learnt my son?” he asked, “I have learnt everything there was to be learnt, father”, he said. “But have you learnt what cannot be taught?” asked the father. “Go, my son and learn what cannot be taught”, said the old man.

The young man went back to his master and asked him to teach him what cannot be taught.
“Go away to the mountains with these four hundred sheep and come back when they are one thousand”, said the master.

The young man went to the mountains and became a shepherd. There for the first time he encountered a silence. He had no one to talk to. The sheep did not understand his language. In his desperation, he would talk to them but they would look back at him as if to say he was stupid. Slowly but surely he began to forget all his worldly knowledge, his ego, his pride and he became quiet like the sheep and great wisdom and humility came to him.

At the end of two years when the number of sheep had grown to one thousand, he returned to his master and fell on his feet. “Now you have learnt what cannot be taught,” said the master.

NB. It is interesting to note that the Nabis of Allah Taala (Alayhimus salaam) at some time in their lives, generally before Nubuwwat, tended to sheep, and other such animals.

[Skillganon]

Nice one sis, but is that just a story or is it from some hadith?

[islamicgems]

Asalamu Alaikum,
i believe it is only a story, for more like it go to www.qisas.com
Asalamu Alaikum

p.s,- please forgive me if im not allowed to post links, im still a bit confused about that.

[Al-Mu'min]

Salamu-alaikum.

Yep. Moses and Muhammed, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon them, were sheperds aswell. Jesus(pbuh) was a carpenter.

It seems going away from civilization clears your head and gives you reflection. Muhammad(pbuh) used to go to the mountains aswell thats where he recieved his first revelation.

Salaam.