What was the occupation of Musa before prophethood?

Before receiving prophethood, Prophet Musa (Moses) worked as a shepherd. After fleeing Egypt following the incident in which he accidentally killed an Egyptian, Musa travelled to the land of Madyan. There he helped two women water their flock at a well, which led him to meet their father, the elderly Prophet Shu'ayb (identified as Jethro in the biblical tradition). Shu'ayb offered Musa employment as a shepherd in exchange for marrying one of his daughters, and Musa tended sheep for eight to ten years (Surah Al-Qasas, 28:25-28).

Shepherding was in fact a common occupation among many prophets. A well-known hadith states that every prophet sent by Allah was a shepherd at some point. The experience of tending and protecting a flock is understood to develop the patience, vigilance, and care needed for the greater responsibility of guiding a community.

The other occupations listed do not apply to Musa. Merchant is more closely associated with Prophet Muhammad before his prophethood. Carpentry is traditionally linked to Prophet Isa (Jesus) through biblical sources, while farming is not specifically tied to Musa in Islamic sources.