Zayd ibn Haritha

Zayd ibn Haritha (born c. 581 CE; died 8 AH / 629 CE) was an Arab of the Kalb tribe (traditionally its Udhra branch, in central Arabia) who, by the traditional account, was captured as a boy and later sold into slavery at the market of 'Ukaz near Mecca. He came into the household of Muhammad through Muhammad's wife Khadija, to whom he was reportedly given after her nephew Hakim ibn Hizam purchased him. When Zayd's father later came to ransom him, the boy is reported to have chosen to remain; Muhammad then freed him and publicly adopted him, so that he was for a time known as "Zayd ibn Muhammad" ("son of Muhammad"). He is generally counted among the earliest converts to Islam, with some reports ranking him as the fourth.

Zayd is the only one of the Prophet's Companions (sahaba, his contemporaries and followers) mentioned by name in the Qur'an, in Surat al-Ahzab (33:37). That verse, together with related passages (33:5, 33:40), is traditionally understood to have ended the pre-Islamic custom of treating an adopted son as a blood son; afterward Zayd was again called by his birth father's name, "ibn Haritha."

He became a trusted commander, leading several expeditions. Reports hold the Prophet appointed him to lead the army sent toward Mu'ta (in present-day Jordan, near al-Karak) in 8 AH, naming Ja'far ibn Abi Talib and then 'Abd Allah ibn Rawaha as successors should he fall. All three were killed; Zayd is said to have died holding the standard. This outline is shared in both Sunni and Shia tradition. His birth year is unsettled in the sources (c. 581 vs c. 576 CE), so it is given as approximate; his death at Mu'ta in 8 AH is well attested.