His upbringing ﷺ

He ﷺ grew up an orphan; his father died while he was in the womb, and his grandfather Abd al‑Muttalib cared for him for two years. When he ﷺ reached six years of age, his mother Amina died at al‑Abwa' between Makkah and al‑Madinah. Then his grandfather died when he ﷺ was eight years old, so his uncle Abu Talib took charge of him by his grandfather's will. He tended sheep in his youth, worked in trade, and was known before the Prophethood for his truthfulness and trustworthiness.

His state ﷺ before the Prophethood

Before the mission ﷺ he was devout and religiously observant, hating idols and avoiding what is forbidden. He occupied himself with tending sheep and with trade. He would not eat what was slaughtered on the idolatrous altars, and he was truthful in speech and trustworthy, so his people nicknamed him before the mission 'al‑Amin' (the Trustworthy).

His tending of sheep ﷺ

He ﷺ tended sheep on the qirāriṭ belonging to the people of Makkah. He ﷺ said: 'Allah did not send a prophet except that he tended sheep.' It was asked, 'And you?' He said, 'Yes.' — [al‑Bukhari]. In his tending of sheep there was a divine training in patience, mercy, and leadership of people.

• He tended sheep on the qirāriṭ of the people of Makkah in his youth.
• He ﷺ said: 'Allah did not send a prophet except that he tended sheep.' — [al‑Bukhari]
• There is divine wisdom in shepherding: it trains one in patience, forbearance, and leadership of the community.

His trade ﷺ and his trustworthiness

He ﷺ engaged in trade, and as‑Sa'ib ibn Abi as‑Sa'ib was his partner; so much so that on the Day of Conquest he said to him, 'Welcome, my brother and partner; he neither flattered nor argued.' He ﷺ traveled on Khadijah raḍiyallāhu 'anha's commercial caravan to ash‑Sham and returned with an unexpected large profit. That was one reason for his subsequent marriage to her.

• He ﷺ partnered with as‑Sa'ib ibn Abi as‑Sa'ib in trade and was known for his trustworthiness.
• He ﷺ traveled on Khadijah raḍiyallāhu 'anha's trade caravan to ash‑Sham (Syria).
• He ﷺ was nicknamed 'al‑Amin' because of his intense truthfulness and trustworthiness before the Prophethood.