Islamic Timeline of RevelationOpen in flowchart →
Sahaba / Tabi‘eenPhase 4a · Muhajirun, Ansar, Tabi‘eenMajor figure

Zayd ibn Harithah (RA)

زيد بن حارثة

d. 8 AH (Mu'tah)

The Prophet's freed slave and adopted son, the only companion named in the Quran (33:37). He commanded at Mu'tah, where he was martyred.

Biography

Zayd was given to the Prophet ﷺ by Khadijah; he chose to stay with him rather than return to his father, and the Prophet ﷺ adopted him. When adoption was abolished (33:5; 33:40) he reverted to 'Zayd ibn Harithah' (Sahih Bukhari). He is the only companion named in the Quran (33:37), regarding his marriage to Zaynab bint Jahsh.

He married Umm Ayman, mother of his son Usamah. He led the army at Mu'tah (8 AH) and was martyred (Sahih Bukhari).

Sources & explanation

۞ Qur'an

33:37 33:5 33:40

Links open quran.com.

📜 Hadith verified on sunnah.com

  • Sahih al-Bukhari 4782 Sahih

    We used to call him 'Zayd ibn Muhammad' until 33:5 was revealed ('Call them by their fathers').

  • Sahih al-Bukhari 4261 Sahih

    At Mu'tah the Prophet ﷺ appointed Zayd ibn Harithah commander, then Ja'far if he fell, then 'Abdullah ibn Rawahah.

  • Sahih al-Bukhari 3758 Sahih

    The Prophet ﷺ announced the deaths of Zayd, Ja'far and Ibn Rawahah at Mu'tah, then 'a sword among the swords of Allah (Khalid) took the flag'.

  • Sahih al-Bukhari 3731 Sahih

    Those who criticised Usamah's command had criticised his father's before; 'he was among the most beloved of people to me, and this one (Usamah) is too'.

💬 Explanation Unverified

Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza's perspective

Methodological note (not a direct quote): Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza's widely known approach is to build narratives primarily on the Quran and Sahih Hadith, to set aside Israiliyat (Judeo-Christian lore absorbed into later tafsir) and weak or fabricated narrations, and to avoid sectarian framing. Applied to this node: The Quran (33:37) and Sahih Bukhari.

Empires in their lifetime

Further references

  • Quran 33:37
  • Sahih Bukhari (Zayd ibn Muhammad to Zayd ibn Harithah)
  • Sahih Bukhari (Mu'tah)

Connections

Leads to

Linked with