FOR THE LOVE OF RASULULLAH
 |
| Zaid bin Harithah RA |
Before Islam, Zaid was
once traveling in a caravan with his mother, going to her father's
town, when the caravan was attacked by the Qais. They took Zaid as a
slave and sold him in Makkah Mukarramah. Hakim bin Hazam bought him
for his aunt Khadijah , who offered him as a present to Nabi SAW at
the time of her marriage with him. Zaid's father was in great grief
at the loss of his son.
He roamed about in search
of him, mourning his separation in the following heart-breaking
verses: "I weep in memory of Zaid, while I know not whether he
is alive (to be hoped for) or finished by death." "O! Zaid,
By Allah, I have no knowledge, whether you are killed on soft soil or
on a rock."
"Ah, I wish I knew
whether you would ever come back to me, for that is the only desire I
am living for." "I remember Zaid when the sun rises in the
East. I remember him when the rain comes from the clouds." "The
blowing wind makes stronger the fire of his memory. Alas, my grief
and suffering are very long."
"I shall run my
swift camels in search of him. I shall search for him around the
universe." "The camels may get tired, but I shall not rest,
till I die, for death is the end of every hope." "I shall
still command my sons and such and such people, to keep searching for
Zaid even after my death."
 |
| The many battles of Zaid bin Harithah RA |
Some people of his family
happened to meet Zaid during their journey to Makkah Mukarramah. They
told him the story of his father's grief and pain and read to him the
poems which he sang for Zaid. Zaid sent a letter to his father
through these people. The letter consisted of three poems addressed
to his father telling him that he was quite well and happy with his
noble master. When the people went back, they informed his father of
his location and delivered Zaid's message to him.
On receiving the letter,
his father and his uncle left for Makkah Mukarramah with sufficient
money to buy Zaid . When they came to Nabi SAW they said: "O,
son of Haashim and the chief of Quraish. You are living in the Haram
and the neighbour of Allah . You are known for freeing the prisoners
and feeding the hungry. We have come to you requesting for our son.
Accept the ransom money
for Zaid and set him free. We are willing to pay even more than the
ransom money. Please, show mercy and be kind to us." Nabi SAW
asked: "What do you wish to do with Zaid?" Zaid's father
replied: "We want to take him back home with us."
"Is that all?"
asked Nabi SAW "All right, then call Zaid and ask him. If he
wishes to go with you, I shall let him go without taking any money,
but I shall not send him if he doesn’t want to go." Zaid's
father replied: "You have shown us more favour than we deserve.
We most gladly agree to what you say.'' Zaid was sent for. When he
came, Nabi SAW said to Zaid: "Do you know these men?
Zaid replied: "Yes,
I know them. This is my father and that is my uncle."Nabi SAW
then said: "And you know me too. They have come to take you back
to your home. You have my full permission to go with them. If, on the
other hand, you chose to stay on with me, you may do so."
Zaid replied: "How
can I prefer anybody else to you? You are everybody for me, including
my father and my uncle." Zaid's father and uncle were surprised
and said: "O, Zaid! Do you prefer to be a slave? How can you
leave your own father, uncle and other members of your family, and
remain a slave?"
Zaid replied: "Verily,
I have seen something in my master that makes me prefer him to
everybody else in the world." On this, Nabi SAW took Zaidin his
lap and said: "From today, I adopt Zaid as my son." The
father and uncle were quite satisfied with the situation and gladly
left Zaid with Nabi SAW and returned without him. Zaid was only a
child at that time. His preferring to remain a slave and refusing to
go with his own father giving up his home and family shows his great
love for Nabi SAW
