Zaid-bin-Haritha

This is the tomb of Zaid-bin-Haritha (may Allah be pleased with him), the first amir appointed by the Prophet (ﷺ) to lead the Muslim army in the battle of Mu’ta.

• Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) was the first to embrace Islam after Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).

• When still a small child he was travelling in a caravan when it was attacked by the tribe of Banu Qais. He was taken as a slave and sold in Makkah to Hakim-bin-Hizam who purchased him for his aunt Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with him), who offered him as a present to the Prophet (ﷺ) at the time of her marriage to him.

• Zaid’s father was in immense grief at the loss of his son and roamed about in search of him. Zaid met some people of his clan during their pilgrimage to Makkah and sent a letter to his father assuring him that he was quite well and happy with his noble master. Zaid’s father and uncle came to Makkah with sufficient money to ransom Zaid and approached the Prophet (ﷺ) to free him so they could take him back. The Prophet (ﷺ) gave Zaid the free choice to go back with his father but he refused saying, “How can I prefer anybody else to you? You are everybody for me, including my father and uncle.” On this the Prophet (ﷺ) took Zaid in his lap and said, “From today, I adopt Zaid as my son.” Zaid’s father and uncle were quite satisfied with the situation and gladly left Zaid with the Prophet (ﷺ).

 

33 : 37

37. Wa-ith taqoolu lillathee anAAama Allahu AAalayhi waanAAamta AAalayhi amsik AAalayka zawjaka waittaqi Allaha watukhfee fee nafsika ma Allahu mubdeehi watakhsha alnnasa waAllahu ahaqqu an takhshahu falamma qada zaydun minha wataran zawwajnakaha likay la yakoona AAala almu/mineena harajun fee azwaji adAAiya-ihim itha qadaw minhunna wataran wakana amru Allahi mafAAoolan

When you said to him upon whom Allah has conferred favour and you too have conferred favour : ‘Let your wife stay with you and fear Allah!’ – and you did hide in your heart that which Allah has preferred to be brought out into the open and you feared the reaction of the community whereas it is Allah you should have feared! So when Zaid has complied with the requirements of his divorce, We have given her to you in marriage so that it is no longer a sin for believers to marry wives of adopted sons after the requirements of divorce have been complied with. It is imperative that the commandment of Allah is fulfilled!

 

• Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) is the only companion (Sahabi) of the Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned by name in the Quran which concerned his divorce from Zainab (may Allah be pleased with her): “So when Zaid finished his desire for her, We gave her into your marriage.” [Quran 33:37]
• Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) died at the age of 55.