The Name of a Companion Mentioned in the Qur’an

Who is the Companion Mentioned in the Qur’an?

Zayd ibn Harithah is the only Companion whose name is explicitly mentioned in the Holy Qur’an. He is mentioned in Surah Al-Ahzab:

(فَلَمَّا قَضَى زَيْدٌ مِنْهَا وَطَراً زَوَّجْنَاكَهَا لِكَيْ لا يَكُونَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ حَرَجٌ فِي أَزْوَاجِ أَدْعِيَائِهِمْ إِذَا قَضَوْا مِنْهُنَّ وَطَراً وَكَانَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ مَفْعُولاً)

“So when Zayd had no longer any need for her, We married her to you so that there would be no difficulty upon the believers concerning the wives of their adopted sons when they no longer have need of them. And the command of Allah must be carried out”.

His Story in the Qur’an

Allah mentioned Zayd ibn Harithah to abolish the pre-Islamic custom of adoption. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had adopted Zayd and married him to his cousin Zaynab bint Jahsh. When Islam later abolished adoption, Allah commanded Zayd to divorce Zaynab so that the Prophet could marry her, establishing that adopted sons do not carry the same legal status as biological sons.

Who Was Zayd ibn Harithah?

Zayd ibn Harithah ibn Sharahil al-Kalbi, also known as Abu Usamah, was dearly loved by the Prophet. He was the first freed slave to believe in Islam. The Prophet made him the brother of Hamzah ibn Abdul-Muttalib. Zayd passed away at the age of 55. The companions continued to call him "Zayd ibn Muhammad" until Allah revealed:

(مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَـكِن رَّسُولَ اللَّـهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ)

“Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but the Messenger of Allah and the last of the prophets”.

Zayd was the first adult male to embrace Islam. He had been a servant of Lady Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her), and when the Prophet saw him, he admired him and later freed and adopted him. His parents wept when he was lost, and upon discovering he was in Mecca, they came to reclaim him. The Prophet gave Zayd the choice, and he chose to remain with the Prophet. He stayed with him until the Prophet’s mission began and was among the earliest believers.

According to Salamah ibn Al-Akwa', he accompanied Zayd on seven military expeditions. The Prophet would appoint Zayd as their leader. When people criticized the appointment of Zayd’s son Usamah as a military leader, the Prophet said:

(إنْ تَطْعَنُوا في إمَارَتِهِ، فقَدْ كُنْتُمْ تَطْعَنُونَ في إمَارَةِ أبِيهِ مِن قَبْلِهِ، وايْمُ اللَّهِ إنْ كانَ لَخَلِيقًا لِلْإِمْرَةِ، وإنْ كانَ لَمِنْ أحَبِّ النَّاسِ إلَيَّ، وإنَّ هذا لَمِنْ أحَبِّ النَّاسِ إلَيَّ بَعْدَهُ)

“If you criticize his leadership, you had already criticized his father’s leadership before him. By Allah, he (Zayd) was worthy of leadership, and he was among the dearest people to me, and this one (Usamah) is among the dearest to me after him”.

Zayd was martyred in the Battle of Mu’tah in Jumada Al-Awwal, year 8 AH. He was one of the three commanders appointed by the Prophet for the battle. He held the Muslim banner until his body was pierced by numerous spears, dying as he was bathed in his own blood.

Virtues of Zayd ibn Harithah

• He was known as the beloved of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
• The first freed slave to accept Islam.
• Deeply loved by the Prophet, who referred to him as "Zayd ibn Muhammad" before adoption was abolished.
• The Prophet said about him:

  (وايْمُ اللَّهِ إنْ كانَ لَخَلِيقًا لِلْإِمْرَةِ، وإنْ كانَ لَمِنْ أحَبِّ النَّاسِ إلَيَّ، وإنَّ هذا لَمِنْ أحَبِّ النَّاسِ إلَيَّ بَعْدَهُ)

  “By Allah, he was indeed worthy of leadership, and he was among the dearest people to me, and this one is among the dearest people to me after him”.