Zayd ibn Haritha

Zayd ibn Haritha, of the tribe of Kalb, was captured young and enslaved before reaching the Prophet ﷺ, who freed him. Before Islam, the Prophet had taken him as an adopted son — he was called 'Zayd ibn Muhammad' — until the Quran abolished this practice and ordered that children be attributed to their real fathers (33:5). He is the only Companion named in the Quran (33:37). He married Umm Ayman, by whom he had Usama, and was the first commander designated by the Prophet at the Battle of Mu'ta, where he fell as a martyr.

Zayd ibn Haritha ibn Sharahil belonged to the Arab tribe of Kalb. Captured young during a raid and enslaved, he reached the Prophet ﷺ, who freed him — the Quran and tradition designate him as his mawla (freedman).

Before Islam, the Prophet had taken him as an adopted son: he was called only 'Zayd ibn Muhammad,' until the revelation of the verse 'Attribute these children to their real fathers' (33:5). He then became Zayd ibn Haritha again.

The Quran names him explicitly — a unique fact for a Companion — in the account of his marriage to Zaynab bint Jahsh and their separation: 'When Zayd had dissolved his marriage with her, We made her your wife...' (33:37). The verse also recalls the good the Prophet had done him.

He married Umm Ayman, the Prophet's ﷺ foster mother, by whom he had Usama ibn Zayd.

The Prophet placed him at the head of the Muslim army at the Battle of Mu'ta (year 8 H), ordering: 'If Zayd is killed, then Ja'far; if Ja'far is killed, then Abdullah ibn Rawaha.' Zayd fell there as a martyr.

Zayd is the only Companion of the Prophet ﷺ named explicitly in the Quran (33:37). His adoption by the Prophet and the abolition of that practice are established by the Quran (33:4-5 and 33:40) and by Sahih al-Bukhari (no. 4782). His lineage (tribe of Kalb) and his wife Umm Ayman, mother of Usama, are reported by al-Isaba. His command and martyrdom at the Battle of Mu'ta (year 8 H) feature in al-Bidaya.

The story of Zayd shows how Islam reformed a social practice: adoption that erased real filiation. The Quran restored the truth of bonds — attributing each person to their real father — while honouring Zayd: a freedman, close to the Prophet, and the only Companion whom God named in His Book.

Souviens-toi lorsque tu disais à celui qu'Allah a comblé de Ses bienfaits et que tu avais toi-même comblé : « Garde ton épouse et crains Allah ! » Craignant les reproches des gens, tu dissimulais en toi-même ce qu'Allah allait dévoiler, alors qu'Allah est plus en droit d'être redouté. Lorsque Zayd eut mis fin à leur union, Nous en avons fait ton épouse afin que les croyants puissent, sans que cela soit considéré comme un péché, épouser les anciennes femmes de leurs fils adoptifs. L'arrêt d'Allah devait être exécuté.

33:37

Rattachez ces enfants à leurs vrais pères. Voilà qui est plus juste pour Allah. Si vous ignorez leurs véritables pères, alors considérez-les comme vos frères par la foi ou vos alliés. Vous n'aurez pas à répondre des mots qui vous auront échappés, mais seulement de ceux que vous aurez prononcés délibérément. Allah est Très Clément et Très Miséricordieux.

33:5