Zayd, the Slave Boy

There was a boy named Zayd. He was about eight years old. He was crying his heart out
because when he had gone with his mother to his Uncle’s house, bandits raided the house and
kidnapped him. They were going to try to sell him as a slave. Poor Zayd, he was sad and
worried. Who knew what would happen, what kind of cruel man was going to use him as a
servant? The more he thought about it, the more he would cry. The bandits took him to the
slave market and sold him. The person who bought him as a slave returned to Makkah with him.

This was none other than Hakim, Khadijah’s nephew. From then on, Zayd would be a slave in a
house totally strange to him. One day, a guest came to the house. This guest was Khadijah.
Zayd liked her very much, and Khadijah liked him a lot, too. Hakim gave Zayd to Khadijah as a
gift. Good-hearted Khadijah brought Zayd home with her. Zayd then saw a shining light which
he couldn’t understand. It was as if the entire house was lit with something from above. It was
coming from someone with a big smile and kind words. He was different from all the men he
had ever known. The man softly patted Zayd’s head. This was none other than Muhammad
(SAW).

Muhammad liked Zayd immediately. He accepted him as an adopted son rather than a slave.
Zayd from then on was in a warm home. He was comfortable now because Muhammad became
his father, and Khadijah became his mother.