Zayd Ibn Harithah – “Beloved of the Prophet”

Zayd Ibn Harithah (RA) was an Arab but not from Makkah. One day when he was with his mother visiting a family, their tribe was attacked and Zayd (RA) was captured and taken as a captive and sold as a slave. It was said that he was sold twice, before being bought by Hakim ibn Huzam, the nephew of Khadijah, he gave Zayd (RA) to his aunt as a gift and this was before Islam came in and before she married Prophet Mohammad (pbuh)

When Khadijah (RA) got married to Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), she presented Zayd (RA) to him as a slave . The Prophet (pbuh) took this young boy and treated him like family instead of slave. The two remained close and never parted ways since that day.

Meanwhile Zayd’s father Harithah ever since on the lookout for his lost son. Once it so happened that some people from his tribe returned from a pilgrimage to Makkah. They happened to see Zayd (RA) there and recogonized him , back home they told Harithah about this.

Harithah, along with his brother (uncle of Zayd) immediately left on a journey to free his son and bring him back.

Upon his arrival in Makkah he went to see Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) (who was not a prophet at that time). He requested Prophet (pbuh) to set his son free and offered a reasonable ransom amount. Prophet (pbuh) said “let’s leave it to Zayd to decide”

When Zayd (RA) was called, he recognized his father and uncle and was happy to see them. They told him the reason of their visit and asked him to return home with them. But Zayd looked at Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) and said “I would never leave Mohammad (pbuh) for anything in this world”

Hearing his son’s reponse Harithah was surprised as well as shocked to know that his son preferred to stay as a slave and not go back to his family as a free man.

It was then that Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) took Zayd (RA) by his hand to Kaabah and announced he had adopted Zayd as his son.He was then called Zayd Ibn Mohammad.

Harithah was pleased that his son was in a household of an honorable family, and he was a free man, so he returned back to his home a happy man.

Zayd (RA) continued to be in the service of the Prophet (pbuh) who treated him like a son. When the divine revelation came to the Prophet (pbuh) Zayd (RA) was the first to accept Islam among men and became a Muslim.

The Prophet (pbuh) got Zayd (RA) married to his cousing Zainab bint Jash. But the marriage did not last ending up in a divorce.  The Prophet was then instructed by Allah SWT to marry Zainab (RA). A revelation was sent down by Allah SWT which abrogated the Arabic custom of adoption by the pagan Arabs.

….Nor has He made your adopted sons your real sons. That is but your saying with your mouths. But Allah says the truth and He guides to the (right) way. Call them (adopted sons) by the name of their real father’s, that is more just with Allah (Quran Al Ahzab 33:4-5)

Zayd (RA) from then on was known by his real name Zayd Ibn Harithah.