How an adopted son's marriage changed Islamic law and ended a traditional custom

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Zayd ibn Haritha was once so close to the Prophet Muhammad that he was legally known as his son. Yet, a complex series of events involving his marriage to Zaynab bint Jahsh ultimately led to the abolition of traditional adoption in Islam, fundamentally reshaping social and legal structures for future generations.

Born into the Udhra branch of the Kalb tribe, Zayd was kidnapped as a child and sold into slavery at the Ukaz market. Eventually gifted to Muhammad by his wife Khadija, Zayd became a deeply trusted companion, earning the title al-Habib, or the Beloved. When his father and uncle arrived in Mecca to ransom him, Zayd famously chose to remain with Muhammad, who then formally adopted him before the Kaaba, granting him the status of a son with mutual rights of inheritance.

The social standing of Zayd shifted significantly when Muhammad arranged his marriage to his cousin, Zaynab bint Jahsh. While some interpretations suggest this union aimed to challenge social hierarchies by prioritizing piety over ancestry, the marriage eventually dissolved in 626. Following the divorce, Muhammad married Zaynab, an act that drew criticism from contemporaries who viewed it as a violation of the prohibited degrees of marriage due to Zayd's status as an adopted son.

This controversy prompted a series of Qur'anic revelations that fundamentally altered Islamic practice. The revelations clarified that Muhammad was not the father of any man, effectively ending the traditional Arab custom of legal adoption. Consequently, Zayd reverted to his original name, Zayd ibn Harithah, and the practice was replaced by kafala. Historians note that later narratives depicting Muhammad as lovestruck by Zaynab were likely fabrications, as the marriage served a specific legal purpose: to establish that believers could marry the former wives of their adopted sons.

Zayd remained a pivotal figure in the early Muslim community, serving as a commander in seven military expeditions and acting as governor of Medina during the raid on Al-Muraysi. He was a renowned archer who fought at major battles including Uhud, Trench, and Khaybar. His life ended in 629 at the Battle of Mu'tah, where he led a raid against the Byzantine city of Bosra.

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