al-Amin, the Trustworthy (the Prophet's title before his mission)

Al-Amin ("the Trustworthy") was a title that Quraysh gave Muhammad before prophethood, because of the good qualities and praiseworthy traits they found in him. He was the most trustworthy of them, the most truthful in speech, and the most faithful to his word. ^{1 2}

When Quraysh disagreed about who should place the Black Stone during the rebuilding of the Ka'ba, they agreed to let the first person entering through the mosque gate decide. When they saw him enter, they cried out that he was al-Amin, and that they accepted him. ^{3 4} The title was therefore already in use among them before this event and was known to them.

The author lists his qualities before prophethood: the most manly of his people, the finest in character, the most honoured as a neighbour, the greatest in forbearance, the most truthful in speech, the gentlest in disposition, the most chaste of soul, the most generous in goodness, the most dutiful in deeds, the most faithful to his word, and the most trustworthy in what was entrusted to him, until his people called him al-Amin. ^{1 2} He also cites the words of Khadija describing him as one who bears the burdens of others, earns for the destitute, honours the guest, and helps in the calamities of truth. ^{2 5} The author returns to the title in the chapter on his qualities, where he notes that his interlocutors and his enemies acknowledged his trustworthiness; see the section on the perfection of the soul in the entry on Muhammad.

The book does not name the first person to give him this title or say when it was given. What the biographical books report of the deposits the people of Mecca left with him up to the Hijra is treated in its own place.