Surrounded by his peers, you can imagine the conversation about the party that night going something like this...

â€œYo, bro, I hit up a crazy party last night.

â€œYou look really tired.â€

â€œYo, you got no idea what went down!â€



Our beloved Prophet, Muhammad (S), recalls much later in his life that he actually had no desire to indulge in the typical things that other teenage boys wanted to take part in. But peer pressure is a powerful thing, and all his coworkers were pressuring him. At the time, he worked as a shepherd, as was the tradition of all other prophets before him. You see, there were other shepherds around Muhammad (S)'s age as well. They would all socialize while on the job when their flocks would get together. These young shepherds would often tell each other of the stories/events of the night before. And again, you can just imagine how that probably sounded. After sharing their own stories, theyâ€™d ask Muhammad (S) what he did that night. â€œNothing. I just went home and slept.â€ (#rolemodel) The guys invited Muhammad (S) over to a party. They knew that he was a very straight-laced and decent guy, so they would tell him, â€œYou donâ€™t have to do anything. Just swing by. Just check out the party for a bit.â€ (ever hear that before?)



Peer pressure is a big deal during teenage years, so Muhammad (S) ended up making arrangements to have another shepherd cover his shift. He asked one of the other young men to cover his shift so he could check out the party. â€œYeah, man, I got your back. You need to party,â€ replied the other guy. Later in the evening, Muhammad (S) made his way to the party. As he got near the house where the party is held, he could hear loud party noises and obviously drunk, rowdy people. He could also hear women singing. Many times the entertainment for these parties were slave girls who would be rented out to sing for these occasions. Muhammad (S) heard all of this as he was just outside the house; and before he could take another step, he literally just... passes out. He later recalls, â€œI didnâ€™t wake up until I felt the sun on my face." The next day Muhammad (S) goes to work with the other shepherds, who inquire about his absence at the party. Muhammad (S) said, â€œI tried to come, and I just fell asleep.â€ (best excuse ever?) â€œMan, youâ€™re so lame.â€ The guys put more pressure on Muhammad (S) to come to the party. â€œTonight, you've GOT to come to this party.â€ Muhammad (S) replied, â€œIâ€™m working tonight.â€ "Donâ€™t worry, that guy will cover your shift," they reassure him. With another shepherd covering his shift, Muhammad (S) starts making his way to the party again that night. Heâ€™s outside the party house again, and he can hear the loud obnoxious rowdiness of the other party-goers. Before he could take another step forward, Muhammad (S) passes out again and wakes up only when the sun was shining on his face. He (S) goes to work that morning. The other guys say, â€œWhere were you?! You didnâ€™t show up again.â€



Muhammad (S) says later on, â€œI swear by Allah, I had never had desire to go back to something like that.â€ The truth is, Allah protected his Messenger from attending events like that. But while he was protected from attending, he was not sheltered from the reality of these parties. He was cognizant of what was going around him, but he remained pristine by divine decree.



So when the time of Prophethood came many years later, and he (S) started spreading his message, he had a general idea of what was going on in his society, about the parties, the alcohol, etc. This knowledge was relevant to the his method of preaching. He was exposed to things even though he never partook in them due to divine intervention. He had the ability to say, â€œI know exactly what you guys are up to.â€ "And here's how Islam can help you with all of that."