The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) valued all his companions recognizing that they were people of honesty, integrity and good judgment. Had they been otherwise, they would not have defied the world around them by accepting Islam. They were the ones who stood by his side, supporting him in all situations. Those who joined his call in its early days earned an even higher position of distinction. The Prophet was very loyal to all his companions, but those who were quick to respond to his call claimed a greater share of his love. One of these was Zayd ibn Harithah.
When he was still a child, Zayd was kidnapped from his tribe’s quarters by some attacking group, and sold as a young slave. He was sold by one master after another, until he was taken by an uncle of Khadeejah, who was to become the Prophet’s first wife. This took place long before he started to receive God’s revelations. Khadeejah was given Zayd as a gift by her uncle, and she gifted him again to her husband, Muhammad, after she married him. Zayd’s father learned of his son’s whereabouts and came to Makkah to buy him back. When he offered this to Muhammad, the Prophet made a counteroffer of giving him Zayd back for free, if Zayd wished to go back with him. But when offered the choice, Zayd opted for staying with his master, Muhammad. His father was amazed, but he told him that he had seen certain qualities of Muhammad that made him unwilling to change his situation with him for any other. Impressed, the Prophet announced his adoption of Zayd as his own son. Zayd’s real father was happy with this arrangement and left Makkah to go back home. Zayd was a favorite of the Prophet, and reciprocated his feelings. Later, when Islamic revelations started, he was, according to some authentic reports, the first man to embrace Islam. He continued to be called as Zayd ibn Muhammad until the prohibition of adoption, at which point he reverted to his original name.
Aishah, the Prophet’s wife, reports: “Zayd ibn Harithah arrived back in Madinah when the Prophet was in my home. He came over and knocked. The Prophet immediately got up to open, putting on his robes, as he was undressed. By God, I never saw him undressed before or after this incident. He embraced Zayd and kissed him.” (Related by al-Tirmidhi and al-Baghawi.)