The Companions of Prophet Muhammad

Zaid Bin Haritha

The story of Zaid Bin Harith is one that truly captures the imagination of Muslims. His stature is of such magnitude, that he is the only Sahaba whose name is directly mentioned in the Quran. 

When Zaid was just eight years old, he was forcibly taken from the hands of his mother by a group of bandits. The bandits sold Zaid for a sum to a local chief that traded in slavery. The young Zaid became part of this slave traders offering. The chief travelled to Makkah where he had intended to profit from the servitude his collection would offer.

Khadijah RA was a noble woman who had great standing in the city of Makkah. She also happened to be the aunt of the slave trader that was about to arrive in Makkah. On hearing the news, she left her home and went to the market place to greet him. They exchanged pleasantries, before he proceeded to offer her a slave of her choosing. Her eye was caught by Zaid, the young boy that exuded a special quality she was not able to comprehend at the time.

A short time later, Khadija would go on to marry Muhammad. Though she was 15 years his senior, their marriage would prove to be fruitful, loving and loyal till she passed away. As a gift to her husband, Khadija introduced Zaid in to their home.

Zaid’s parents were still grieving at their loss. They prayed on a daily basis that their beloved son be returned to them. When members of Zaid’s extended family visited Makkah to perform the pilgrimage of the Kaba, they spotted Zaid in the vicinity and rushed towards him in great relief. The family members returned to Zaid’s father who hurriedly loaded a camel and gold and proceeded to Makkah where he intended to repurchase his boy.

When Zaid’s father located Muhammed, a conversation ensued:

“Who is the person whose release you are demanding?”

“Your slave, Zaid bin Haritha”

“Shall I show you a method that will be better than paying a price for him?”

In surprise he responded, “What is this method?”

“I will call him here in front of you. If he wishes to go with you then he is free to do so. You can take him gladly. I will not take any compensation for him. But on the other hand if he prefers to stay with me then I will not force him to go with you.”

Muhammad summoned Zaid and told him about the choice he was about to make,

Zaid responded, “I will stay with you” upon which his father said “This is very sad. Would you rather be a slave than stay with your parents?”

“Father, I am deeply moved by the praiseworthy qualities of the characters of this man and by the way he treats me with love and affection. I just cannot leave him and live anywhere else”

Upon hearing this, Muhammad’s heart swelled. He led Zaid to the centre of the town where he raised his hand and proclaimed loudly

“O family of the Quraish, be witness that this is my son and heir, and I am his heir”

As a result, Zaid bin Haritha was renamed Zaid bin Muhammed, until a verse from the Quran was revealed that proclaimed adopted children should retain the names of their biological parents.

Even so, Muhammed considered Zaid a true son and elevated him in his eyes as such. A few years later, the Prophet Muhammed was endowed with the verses of the Quran and became a prophet for humanity. As Zaid was raised in the household of the prophet, he attained the distinguished honour of being the third person to accept Islam after Khadijah and Ali RA.

Aisha narrates: When Zaid bin Harithah returned to Medina after a journey, the Prophet happened to be in my house. When he knocked on the door, the prophet quickly got up to answer. He found that it was Zaid at the door, he was overjoyed and hugged him warmly, kissed his forehead. By Allah! I had never seen him so excited in welcoming any other companion.

As Zaid grew older, he began his own family, marrying a woman by the name of Baraka who bore him a son named Usama. A few years later, the Prophet Muhammad asked his cousin Zainab if she wished to marry Zaid. Zainab was perplexed by this request stating that he was not a nobleman of the Quraysh and that her status was above that of a “slave”. It is believed that it was for this very reason that the Prophet Muhammad wished this marriage to proceed and that he intended to demonstrate to his people that lineage would be no barrier in marriage.

Zaid also became a fearsome warrior amongst the Muslim ranks. He participated in each of the major battles during his time in Medina including Badr and Uhud.

He gained a reputation for having a tactical nous that served him well and led to a number of victories for the armies he led.

In 629AD, Zaid was placed in command of an army to avenge an ambush on a missionary who was returning on a peaceful trip from Basrah. Zaid led 3000 men and was told that should he fall in battle, Jafar bin Abi Talib be placed in charge and that should even he fall to the sword then Abdullah bin Rawahah be placed in command.

Zaid led his men to Motah, where unbeknown to them, the Byzantine empire had constructed an army of 100,000 men to form with another 100,000 Arabs that conspired to eliminate the small muslim army. Zaid and his companions wondered if they should send word for reinforcements, but decided to continue on to their eventual fate.

Each soldier fought valiantly. Zaid wreaked havoc in the ranks of the enemy until he was struck down by a barrage of spears in to his body. His two deputies met the same fate. It was only when the newly converted Khalid bin Waleed take command that he managed to lead the rest of the muslims to safety.

Khalid describes the battle

On the day of Mu'tah, nine swords were broken in my hand and only a Yemenite sword of mine remained in my hand

When news reached the Prophet of the death of his beloved son, he visited the household of Zaid and his eyes filled with tears and he wept openly in front of the other Muslims. On this, another companion asked him “O Prophet of God, are you also weeping?”

He replied “These are the tears of a beloved, for a beloved”.