He was the son of al-Khattab ibn Nufayl, a member of the Adi clan of the Quraysh tribe in Mecca, and of Asma bint Wahb of the Asad tribe.[1] He was older than his brother Umar.[1][2] He is described as "a very tall dark man".[1]
He gave his brother Umar a chance to go with Quraysh's trade caravan and trade with Syria's traders and always showed kindness and love to him.[citation needed]
He became a Muslim sometime before August 616.[1][2] He joined the general emigration to Medina in 622 and was made the brother in Islam of Ma'n ibn Adi.[1]
His wife Habibah (Jamilah) bint Abi 'Amir was from the 'Amr clan of the Aws tribe in Medina; they had a daughter, Asma, but the marriage probably ended in divorce.[1][3]:235 Habibah's niece Jamila was briefly married to Zayd's brother Umar.[3]:236 Zayd's marriage to his cousin, 'Atikah bint Zayd, was childless and also ended in divorce.[4] In Medina he married Lubabah, the daughter of Abu Lubaba ibn Abd al-Mundhir, also from the 'Amr clan of Aws, who was the mother of his son 'Abdulrahman.[1][3]:236
He fought at the Battle of Badr, the Battle of Uhud, the Battle of the Ditch and "all the battles with Allah's Messenger".[1] At Uhud Umar urged Zayd to borrow his armour. Zayd put it on but then he took it off again, saying, "I want what you want for yourself."[5]
At the Battle of Yamama on December 632, Zayd carried the Muslims' standard.[1][2] When Muslim baggage was exposed to plunder by the enemy, Zayd said, "As for the baggage, there is no baggage! As for the men, there are no men!" Then he shouted, "O Allah, I apologise for the flight of my companions! I am not guilty before Thee of what Musaylimah and Muhakkam have done!"[6] Zayd continued to hold the standard while fighting with his sword and he did not drop it until he was killed.[6][2] His killer was Abu Maryam al-Hanafi, who claimed: "Allah honoured him at my hand and did not weaken me at his hand."[6] He was martyred shortly after his second cousins, Abdullah ibn Suhail and Abu Hudhayfa ibn 'Utba, and adopted distant relative (possibly nephew), Salim Mawla Abu Hudhayfa.[citation needed]
123456789Muhammad ibn Saad. Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir. Translated by Bewley, A. (2013). The Companions of Badr, p. 294. London: Ta-Ha Publishers.
1234Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari. Tarikh al-Rusul wa'l-Muluk. Translated by Landau-Tasseron, E. (1998). Volume 39: Biographies of the Prophet's Companions and Their Successors, p. 117.
123Muhammad ibn Saad. Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir. Translated by Bewley, A. (1995). The Women of Madina. London: Ta-Ha Publishers.
↑Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani. Al-Isaba fi tamyiz al-Sahaba vol. 8 #11448.
↑Muhammad ibn Saad. Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir. Translated by Bewley, A. (2013). The Companions of Badr, p. 296. London: Ta-Ha Publishers.
123Muhammad ibn Saad. Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir. Translated by Bewley, A. (2013). The Companions of Badr, p. 295. London: Ta-Ha Publishers.
