'I Will Not Choose Anyone Over Him'

Years later, men of Kalb who were searching for Zayd saw him at the pilgrimage and recognised him. His father Harithah and his uncle came to Makkah with a ransom and begged Muhammad ﷺ to return the boy.

The Prophet ﷺ did not argue. He told them to ask Zayd himself: if he wished to go with them, he could go without any payment; if he wished to stay, he would not be sent away. Zayd answered that he would choose no one over the man he knew, who had been to him a father and an uncle.

Then the Prophet ﷺ took him to the Ka'bah and announced before the Quraysh that Zayd was his son, to inherit from him and be inherited from. Harithah went home consoled, because his son was safe and loved.