Life event · Before the advent of revelation
Freed and adopted by Muhammad ﷺ: now known as Zayd ibn Muhammad ﷺ.
withMuhammad ﷺ
Zayd ibn Harithah, kidnapped as a boy and sold into slavery, had become Khadija bint Khuwaylid RA's servant and was later gifted to Muhammad ﷺ upon their marriage. Years afterward, Zayd's father Harithah and uncle traveled to Makkah and asked Muhammad ﷺ to let them ransom Zayd back. Muhammad ﷺ left the choice to Zayd himself, and Zayd chose to remain with him rather than return with his own father and uncle. Muhammad ﷺ then took Zayd by the hand to the Hijr Ismail and publicly declared him a free man and his adopted son, so that Zayd became known as Zayd ibn Muhammad ﷺ.
A story that speaks volumes about the character of Muhammad ﷺ even before the advent of revelation: his fairness in leaving the decision to Zayd, and the paternal love he had for him. Zayd's choice of Muhammad ﷺ over his own father and uncle is presented as evidence of the extraordinary love a prophet inspires.
Freed and adopted by Muhammad ﷺ: now known as Zayd ibn Muhammad ﷺ.
Ya Muhammad ibn Abdul Muttalib, you are of the most noble lineage, and you are people of trustworthiness, and Allah has given you so much blessings. Ya Muhammad ﷺ, we want to take our son back who was unjustly stolen and kidnapped and sold into slavery. Zayd is our son, and we will give you any ransom you want. But please be generous with us, because we can only afford so much.
Is this what you want: that I send Zayd back with you? It is up to him. I will leave the matter to him. If he chooses you, I will send him back with no ransom. But if he chooses me, I can never turn away from somebody who has turned to me.
O Muhammad ﷺ! You have done marvelous, and you have done much more than we could have asked for!
Do you recognize these men?
Yes, this is my father, and this is my uncle.
They have come requesting that you go back with them. And I have left the matter to you: if you want, you may go with them, or if you want, you may remain with me.
I can never choose anyone over you, for you are to me more than a father and an uncle combined.
Said to the Prophet ﷺ when Zayd's father and uncle came to Makkah to ransom him back, and he chose to remain in the Prophet ﷺ's household rather than return with his own family.
O Zayd, have you gone crazy? You will choose to be a slave in a strange land, and refuse to come with your own father to your own tribe?
I know what I have said. I have seen from this man that which no other man has done.
O people of Makkah, I want you all to testify that from now on, Zayd is a free man, and I have adopted him as my son. So he is now my son, and he will inherit from me, and I from him.