Zayd ibn Harithah

Zayd bin Harithah ( _ar. زيد بن حارثة, "Zayd bin Muhammad" or "Zaid mawla Muhammad") (c. 588-630 CE) was a prominent figure in the early Islamic community and the only one of sahaba whose name is spelled directly in Quran. As an adopted son of Muhammad, he was an early convert to Islam and later, a military leader. He died c. 630 CE at the Battle of Mu'tah.

Early life

He was the natural son of a man named Harithah -- "not" the Harith of the Banu Hashim, Harith ibn Abd al-Muttalib. Little is known of Zayd's natural father. Some sources say that Harithah was descended from the Arab poet Imri'el-Qays. One or more of his ancestors may have been of African descent, as he is said to have had very dark skin [ [http://www.islamanswers.net/moreAbout/racism.htm Islam and racism ] ] (Other prominent African early Muslims include Bilal ibn Ribah).

Zayd is said to have been captured in an inter-tribal war and sold as a slave. He was given as a present to Muhammad's wife Khadijah. The couple freed him and treated him as a son; he was then known as Zayd bin Muhammad, Zayd the son of Muhammad. He lived with Muhammad and Khadijah in their household in the city of Mecca, in the Hijaz region of western Arabia. Zayd's father and uncle came to take him back home from the prophet Muhammad, but he favored living with the prophet.Fact|date=February 2007

Conversion to Islam

When Muhammad reported that he had received a revelation from the angel Gabriel, his wife Khadijah believed and thus became the first convert to Islam. While the identity of the first male convert is disputed, Zayd is a strong possibility, as are, Ali ibn Abu Talib and Abu Bakr. See Identity of first male Muslim for further discussion.

Regardless, Zayd was clearly among the first Muslims. As Muhammad's adopted son he quickly became an important figure in the small community of pre-Hijra Meccan Muslims.

The Hijra

In 622, Zayd emigrated to the oasis of Yathrib (Later called Medina) with the rest of the small Muslim community. After Muhammad made the decision to initiate missionary expeditions to Mecca, he became a warrior and leader of Islamic missionary expeditions.

Martyrdom

Zayd took part in an expedition in 630 CE. A Muslim force of 3000 men set out to raid the Byzantine city of Busra. They were intercepted at a place called Muta'h. The Battle of Mu'tah was a rare reverse for the Muslims. Zayd was martyred as he held the standard, as were two other leaders, Jafar bin Abu Talib and Abdullah bin Rawahhah. He was the first Muslim to be martyred on foreign soil.

Legacy

Zaid was the father of Usama bin Zayd bin Harithah, whom one time commanded over Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman. [ [http://www.al-islam.org/restatement/39.htm] [http://www.islamanswers.net/moreAbout/racism.htm] ]

ee also

*Sahaba
*Identity of first male Muslim
*Islamic adoption

References

also:
* Watt, Montgomery, "Muhammad at Mecca", Oxford University Press, 1953
* Watt, Montgomery, "Muhammad at Medina", Oxford University Press, 1956