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By Adil Salahi
Long before he started to receive his revelations, Muhammad (peace be
upon him) was known for his noble characteristics. One of the most
important of these was that he always cared for the weaker elements in
society. In Arabia, where a tribal society flourished, the most
vulnerable sections of the society were slaves and women. Muhammad
looked after both, extending to them exemplary treatment. Perhaps the
best example to illustrate this is the way he treated Zayd ibn Harithah,
a young lad who was taken captive in a raid mounted by a tribe hostile
to his tribe. According to the universal custom at the time, captives
became slaves. Zayd was sold as a slave by his captors. He was then
re-sold and brought to Makkah by an uncle of Khadijah, the Prophet's
first wife. On arrival in Makkah her uncle showed her the slaves he
brought with him and told her to choose one as a gift. She took Zayd and
gave him to her husband.
Zayd's family continued to search for him until they learnt that he was
in Makkah. His father and uncle traveled there and met Muhammad,
requesting him to sell Zayd to them and to be kind when naming his
price. Realizing that his interlocutors were Zayd's own family, Muhammad
felt for them. He, however, had a better offer for them. He told them
that he would give Zayd a choice to go with them or to stay with him. If
Zayd chose them, Muhammad would not ask them to pay any price. He would
let them take him free of charge. But if Zayd chose to stay with him, he
would not let anyone take him away, not even his own father. Both were
very satisfied with this offer, feeling that when Zayd would be given
the choice, he would not hesitate to choose to be free.
Zayd was duly called in, and he confirmed that the two men were his own
father and uncle. Muhammad then told him of the offer he made to them,
asking him to choose whether to go with them or to stay with him. Zayd
unhesitatingly chose to remain with Muhammad. Stunned, his father asked
him to explain why he would make such a choice. Zayd said: "I have seen
from this man enough to make me prefer to stay with him to any other
situation."
At this point, Muhammad realized that the two men needed reassurance. He
therefore took them, along with Zayd, to the Kaabah and declared to the
nobles of Makkah gathering there that he had adopted Zayd as his own
son. This was a relief to Zayd's father and uncle who returned home
realizing that Zayd would not come to any harm as long as he stayed with
Muhammad. He was no longer a slave.
In order to appreciate the full significance of the affair, we need to
remember that this took place several years before Muhammad was given
his mission. He did not know that he would become God's prophet and
messenger. Slaves were always maltreated, in all societies. Only under
Islam slaves came to be treated like ordinary human beings, enjoying
clearly defined rights. Prior to Islam, a slave could be tortured and
killed by his master, without anyone even raising a question. To adopt a
slave as one's own son was unheard of. The fact that Zayd chose to stay
with Muhammad, in preference to joining his own family and tribe, tells
us much about the treatment he received from him. It was not surprising,
therefore, that when Muhammad received his message; Zayd was the first
man to declare his belief in Islam.
Source: Arab News, January 2010
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