And the Most High said: “So as for the orphan, do not oppress him; and as for the petitioner, do not repel him” (al-Duḥā 93:9–10).

Explanation
The author—may Allah have mercy on him—has, in this chapter on compassion toward the poor, the orphans, the needy, and their like, cited the noble verses in which Allah the Exalted says: “Did He not find you an orphan and shelter you? And He found you lost and guided you. And He found you in need and enriched you. So as for the orphan, do not subjugate him; and as for the beggar, do not drive him away; and proclaim the favor of your Lord” (al-Duḥā 93:6–11).

The addressee in the phrase “Did He not find you…?” is the Prophet ﷺ. In these verses Allah affirms that the Messenger ﷺ was an orphan: he lived without either parent. His grandfather ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib became his guardian, but died when the Prophet ﷺ was eight years old; after that, his uncle Abū Ṭālib assumed his care.

Thus he ﷺ was an orphan, and he used to herd sheep for the people of Mecca for a few qirāṭs—that is, for a small wage in silver coins—for every prophet whom Allah has sent herded sheep. All the prophets began their mission as shepherds so that they might perspire and train themselves in caretaking and sound leadership. Allah chose sheep for their charges because a shepherd of sheep must be calm, gentle, and merciful; he tends weak animals, unlike those who herd camels.

Camel herders are, for the most part, rough and harsh, for camels themselves are tough, strong, and stubborn.

So the Prophet ﷺ grew up an orphan. Allah—glorified is He—then honored him by facilitating for him a righteous wife, the Mother of the Believers Khadījah—may Allah be pleased with her. He married her when he was twenty-five years old and she was forty; she was wise, intelligent, and devout. Allah granted him