Zaid ibn Harithah belonged to the Kalb tribe. When he was only eight years old and a small shepherd, he had gone with his mother to one of their relative’s homes where he was captured as a slave during the raid of another tribe. He was purchased by Hazrat Khadija’s nephew, Hakim, for 400 dirhams at the slave market and was brought to Mecca. 1 Khadija took him from her nephew and sheltered him in her home. During this time, Hazrat Khadija and our Holy Prophet (PBUH) were a married couple.

Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) loved this child. For this reason, he wanted the child to be handed over to him. His venerable wife complied with our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) wish. As soon as he was given to our Holy Prophet (PBUH), the Prophet set him free. 2

As mentioned before, Zaid was a small child. His parents did not know where he was taken and whom he was sold to. The Harithah family cried for their missing child every day. His father, Harithah, could not stay put in his home. He traveled from region to region. He had visited every tribe to ask if they knew the whereabouts of his son and there had been no ground that he had not traveled. He continuously recited poems while he madly searched for his son. It was as if little Zaid had forgotten all about his parents. The bliss of this happy family had embraced his soul with all its power and had virtually made him to become an inseparable part. He was comfortable and had become close with our Holy Prophet (PBUH); he was happy and peaceful under our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) wings of compassion.

1. Tabaqat, 1/497; Usdu'l-Ghaba, 2/224; Isaba, 1/563
2. Sirah, 1/264; Tabaqat, 1/497