Zayd (ra) The Prophet’s Scribe
Zayd Ibn Thabit (ra) said; “The Prophet ﷺ ordered me to learn the writing of the Jews (Hebrew). I even wrote letters for the Prophet ﷺ (to the Jews) and also read their letters when they wrote to him. [Bukhari]🌕
Zayd (ra) was 11 years old when the Prophet ﷺ migrated to Madina. He said, “When I was presented before the Prophet (saw), he was told that I had memorised 17 surahs of the Quran. He tested me and asked me to recite some of the verses. I recited Surah Qaf. He rewarded me and praised me.“
Here was a young boy eager to serve the Prophet ﷺ and Islam but at a loss to know how. He was too young to serve like the grown ups; still he didn’t wallow away in self pity. Not giving up he sought to find some means to please the Prophet ﷺ . So Zayd utilised his abilities. He dedicated himself to memorising Quran. After reciting the 17 surahs before the Prophet a path soon opened before him.🌕
The Prophet ﷺ saw in Zayd great talent, intelligence and a boy who could read and write (a truly rare thing for that time). The Prophet ﷺ needed to write letters to tribes; so he soon put young Zayd to the task of learning languages. Zayd said; “I learned Hebrew in fifteen days, after which I took care of all the correspondence between the Prophet ﷺ and the tribes.” According to another narration Zayd also learnt Syriac by the order of the Prophet (in seventeen days only!).🌕
Zayd’s example shows how life doesn’t always unfold in the way that we may expect or hope. Allah has a plan for us and only He knows best. We may have to pull out all our resources (even ones we didn’t know we had) to open the door He wishes for us. Through Zayd’s abilities; one who could read and write, memorise Quran, study Islam deeply, work diligently as a language interpreter and scribe, Zayd rendered an invaluable service to the Prophet ﷺ and the deen in a way some adult Sahaba couldn’t.
Whenever revelation descended Zayd would be called upon to write it down.
After the Prophet ﷺ died, Zayd Ibn Thabit (ra) became a major reference for the study of Quran. He was asked to compile and preserve the Quran into the mushaf that we’ve come to know, read and hold dearly today.🌙
𝑴𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 of 𝗦.𝗡.𝗝𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗹𝗶 ✍🏼 (𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 of 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗯𝗻 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, Islamic chapter books for kids📚)
