Introduction to the Study of The Holy Quran — Page 106
106 he was not rich enough to do so. The visitor suggested whether he would agree, if a rich and respectable woman were found whom he could marry. The Prophet asked who this woman could be, and the visitor said she was Khadijah. The Prophet apologized, saying that Khadijah was too highly placed for him. The visitor undertook to deal with all difficulties. In that case, said the Prophet, there was nothing for him to say but to agree. Khadijah then sent a message to the Prophet’s uncle. Marriage between the Prophet and Khadijah was settled and solemnized. A poor man orphaned in childhood had his first peep into prosperity. He became rich. But the use he made of his riches is an object lesson to all mankind. After the marriage Khadijah felt that she was rich and he was poor and that this inequality between them would not make for happiness. So she proposed to make over her property and her slaves to the Prophet. The Prophet, making sure that Khadijah was in earnest, declared that as soon as he had any of Khadijah’s slaves, he would set them free. And he did so. Moreover, the greater part of the property which he received from Khadijah he distributed among the poor. Among the slaves whom he thus set free was one Zayd. He appeared to be more intelligent and more alert than others. He belonged to a respectable family, had been kidnapped as a child and sold from place to place until he reached Mecca. Young Zayd, newly freed, saw at once that it was better to sacrifice freedom for the sake of slavery to the Prophet. When the Prophet set the slaves free, Zayd refused to be freed and asked leave to continue to live with the Prophet. He did so, and as time went on his attachment to the Prophet grew. But in the meantime Zayd’s father and his uncle were on his track and they ultimately heard that he was in Mecca. In Mecca they traced him in the house of the Prophet. Coming to the Prophet, they asked for the liberty of Zayd and offered to pay as much ransom as the Prophet should demand. The Prophet said that Zayd was free and could go with them as he liked. He sent for Zayd and showed him his father and uncle. After the parties had met and dried their tears, Zayd’s father told him that he had been freed by his kind Master and, as his mother was much afflicted by the separation, he had better return home. Zayd replied, "Father! who does not love his parents? My heart is full of love for you and mother. But I love this man Muhammad so much that I cannot think of living elsewhere than with him. I have met you and I am glad. But separation from Muhammad I cannot endure. " Zayd’s father and his uncle did their utmost to persuade Zayd to return home with them but Zayd did not agree. Upon this the Holy Prophet said, "Zayd was a freedman already, but from today he will be my son. " Seeing this affection between Zayd and the Prophet, Zayd’s father and uncle went back and Zayd remained with the Prophet. 122