His Entry into the Prophet’s Life
Zayd was captured as a child during a tribal raid and sold into slavery in Mecca. Khadija purchased him and gave him to the Prophet. When Zayd’s father came to ransom him, Zayd chose to stay with the Prophet — one of the earliest demonstrations of the transformation that would become Islam. The Prophet freed him immediately and adopted him, so that he was known as Zayd ibn Muhammad in Mecca.
The Verse That Abolished Adoption
“Muhammad is not the father of any one of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets.” (33:40)
This verse, in its context of Surah al-Ahzab (33:37-40), abolished the pre-Islamic practice of tabanni — adoption that transferred legal kinship and inheritance rights. When Zayd divorced Zaynab bint Jahsh, the Prophet married her (33:37 names Zayd explicitly: “when Zayd had no longer any need for her”). The marriage abolished the taboo against marrying ex-wives of adopted sons, demonstrating that the Prophet’s adopted son was not his biological son in the legal sense. Zayd was subsequently identified by his biological father’s name: Zayd ibn Haritha.
Mu’ta (629 CE) and His Death
The Prophet sent an army to the northern region of Mu’ta (modern Jordan) to respond to the killing of his emissary. He named three commanders in sequence should the first fall: Zayd first, then Ja’far ibn Abi Talib, then Abdullah ibn Rawaha. All three were killed. Khalid ibn al-Walid assumed command and led the army back.
The Prophet announced Zayd’s death in the mosque before the news arrived through conventional means — then wept: “Take comfort, eyes of mine.”
See also: Sahaba, Seerah Zaynab, Quran Sciences, Tafsir Overview, Seerah Ali Early, Seerah Bilal