Adoption And Issue Of Mahram
Zaid was given freedom by the Prophet. He was no longer a slave. He was the adopted son but the Quran refused to give him the status of the Son of the Prophet, as was the custom in Arab Tribal Jahaliyat(Adopted son was considered as legal son) He was a servant of the Prophet but since he was a free man he was not subservient but rather equal to status of all men. Hence his marriage and subsequent divorce from Zainab, the Prophet’s Cousin was not a Na-Mehram issue. His marriage was to uplift the status of freed slaves in the society. Unfortunately the Marriage didnt work as Zainab liked the Prophet. Later on Zaid Divorced her. and subsequently the Prophet married her.