24. Zayd ibn Harisa

Zayd ibn Harisa ibn Sharahil, who was from Yemen, was one of the companions who Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) loved most. His kunya was Abu Usama al Kalbi. He used to be called Zayd ibn Muhammad until the verse "Call them by (the names of) their fathers: that is more just in the sight of Allah" (al Ahzab 33 / 5) was revealed. Zayd was also the first slave to enter Islam. According to one report, he was the very first Muslim after the message came to Prophet Muhammad. Zayd is also the only (former) slave whose name is mentioned in the glorious Qur'an.

Zayd's mother Su'da was a member of the Tayy tribe. One of the versions of the story of how he became a slave is as follows: One day he and his mother were going to visit their relatives. On their way they came across a group of bandits, who killed his mother and captured Zayd. They then took him to Mecca and sold him in the famous Uqaz bazaar. Zayd was still a young child, and the person who bought him, Hakim, was the nephew of Khadija, the wife of Prophet Muhammad. Hakim gave Zayd as a gift to his aunt Khadija, who then gave him to the Prophet, who in turn set Zayd free (Ibn Abdilberr, Istiab, II, p. 543; Ibn al Asîr, Usd al Ghabe, II, p. 129; Ibn Hajar, al Isaba, II, p. 495).

Zayd's brother, Jabala ibn Harisa, tells the story in a different manner: "When our mother died, Zayd and I stayed with our grandfather. After a while, our uncle claimed that he had the right of our custody and took me from my grandfather. Then, some people from the Tihama (tribe) came and took Zayd from our grandfather; later they sold him to Khadija." According to another report, Prophet Muhammad saw Zayd being sold in the bazaar, and asked his wife Khadija to buy him. She then bought him for 700 dirham. The Prophet then told his wife that "If this slave were mine, I would set him free." As a result, Khadija gave Zayd to the Prophet, who then emancipated him immediately (Dhahabi, Siyar, I, p. 223; Ibn Hajar, al Tahzib, III, p. 347).

According to reports, Zayd's father was very sorry to lose his son. As soon as he heard that his son was in Mecca, he went to Mecca together with his brother to ask Prophet Muhammad to return his son. The Prophet then said that he would let Zayd to decide whether to go or stay. Although his father and uncle insisted that Zayd go with them, he refused, saying to the Prophet: "In the name of Allah, I will never prefer anyone over you." His father and uncle were very sorry to hear this; however, when Prophet Muhammad adopted Zayd as his son and declared him to be his heir, they were relieved and felt comfortable about returning back home without their relative (Ibn Abdilberr, Istiab, II, p. 545).

Zayd ibn Harisa was one of the people Prophet Muhammad loved most. The Prophet married Zayd first to Umm Ayman, who was also a former slave emancipated by the Prophet (see above). They had one child, Usama ibn Zayd. Zayd's second marriage was to Zaynab bint Jahsh, who would later marry Prophet Muhammad.

The Prophet appointed Zayd as the first commander of the army in the Battle of Mute (8 AH) (Ibn Hajar, al Isaba, II, p. 496; Dhahabi, Siyar, I, p. 229). He participated in the army in every battle during his life time, starting from the Battle of Badr (2 AH), and was appointed by the Prophet as commander on seven different expeditions.

In the Musnad by Ahmad ibn Hanbal there is only one hadith narrated by  Zayd (Ahmad ibn Hanbal, IV, p. 161).

He was martyred in the Battle of Mute in the 8^th year of the Hijra, in Syria (Ibn Hajar, al Isaba, II, p. 497; Dhahabi, Siyar, I, p. 226).