This is the tomb of Zaid-bin-Haritha (رضي الله عنه), the first amir appointed by the Prophet (ﷺ) to lead the Muslim army in the battle of Mu’ta.
- Zaid (رضي الله عنه) was the first to embrace Islam after Ali (رضي الله عنه). He was the first slave to accept Islam.
- When still a small child he was travelling in a caravan when it was attacked by the tribe of Banu Qais. He was taken as a slave and sold in Makkah to Hakim-bin-Hizam who purchased him for his aunt Khadijah (رضي الله عنه), who offered him as a present to the Prophet (ﷺ) at the time of her marriage to him.
- Zaid’s father was in immense grief at the loss of his son and roamed about in search of him. Zaid met some people of his clan during their pilgrimage to Makkah and sent a letter to his father assuring him that he was quite well and happy with his noble master. Zaid’s father and uncle came to Makkah with sufficient money to ransom Zaid and approached the Prophet (ﷺ) to free him so they could take him back. The Prophet (ﷺ) gave Zaid the free choice to go back with his father but he refused saying, “How can I prefer anybody else to you? You are everybody for me, including my father and uncle.” On this the Prophet (ﷺ) took Zaid in his lap and said, “From today, I adopt Zaid as my son.” Zaid’s father and uncle were quite satisfied with the situation and gladly left Zaid with the Prophet (ﷺ).
- Zaid (رضي الله عنه) is the only companion (Sahabi) of the Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned by name in the Quran which concerned his divorce from Zainab (رضي الله عنها): “When Zaid no longer wanted her, We gave her to you in marriage.” [33:37]
- Zaid (رضي الله عنه) died at the age of 55.
References: Fazail-e-Aamal – Sheikh Zakariyya Kandhalvi, The Holy sites of Jordan – TURAB Publishing, In the Blessed Lands: Jamiatul Ulama KZN
Note that this entry has been shown for information purposes only. On no account should anybody pray to a grave or seek supplication through them as this is tantamount to committing shirk, associating partners with Allah (ﷻ)