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Fatwa CenterAadam herded sheep, based on the generality of the Hadeeth
Question
assalam alikum I just heard from a hadith that all the prophets were sheperds so I was just thinking if adam came yets say 50 thousand years ago bc when modern humans came about could of adam been a shepherd that long ago because there weren't really sheperds that long ago so then if you make the timeline shorter yets say 15 thousand bc that would be too short for humans and that would go agaisnst science so like I said could of adam been a shepherded that long ago like 50 thousand bc I would really appreshate if you could get back to me on this because this is really confusing jazzakkallah :)
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Allaah never sent any Prophet but he tended sheep.” His Companions said: Even you? He said: “Yes. I used to tend them in return for some carats for the people of Makkah.” [Al-Bukhari]
The general indication of the Hadeeth suggests that this applies to all Prophets of Allaah and that all of them actually tended sheep. We could not find any scholars stating that this was specific to some apart from others. This means that the Hadeeth applies to Prophet Aadam (Adam), 
as well. This, accordingly, means that sheep existed at the time of Aadam and that he tended them. This is also supported by the interpretation of scholars of Tafseer in their commentary on the reasons of revelation of the verse that reads (what means): {And recite to them the story of Adam’s two sons, in truth, when they both offered a sacrifice [to Allaah], and it was accepted from one of them but was not accepted from the other. Said [the latter], “I will surely kill you.” Said [the former], “Indeed, Allaah only accepts from the righteous [who fear Him].”} [Quran 5:27]
At-Tabari 
reported on the authority of ‘Atiyyah that “one of the sons of Aadam was called Qaabeel (Cain) and the other Haabeel (Abel); one was a shepherd and the other was a farmer.”
Moreover, the Quran tells us that the crow existed as well at that time. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means): {Then Allaah sent a crow searching in the ground to show him how to hide the disgrace of his brother. He said, “O woe to me! Have I failed to be like this crow and hide the body of my brother?” And he became of the regretful.} [Quran 5:31]
Since the crow existed at that time, why would it be unlikely that sheep existed? In fact, the considerations you suggest in the question are rather groundless.
Lastly, we would like to highlight two points:
First, Muslims should not be deceived by what are claimed to be “scientific facts”; they are often mere assumptions and theories under investigation and study. The presenters of such theories may claim them right but later turn out to be wrong and affirm the exact opposite. There are no absolute scientific facts that contradict the explicit texts of the divine revelation.
Second, instead of preoccupying oneself with such issues, a Muslim should preoccupy himself with pursuing what benefits him in this world and the Hereafter. This would be better for him. One’s time is too precious to be wasted seeking things that, if one knows them, are not useful and, if one is ignorant of them, are not harmful.
Allaah Knows best.
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