Zayd ibn al-Dathinnah

Zayd ibn al-Dathinnah was one of the ten Companions sent to ʿUḍal and al-Qārah as Qurʾān teachers under false pretenses, and one of only three survivors of the ambush at ar-Rajīʿ (Muḥarram 4 AH). Zayd had taken part in the killing of Umayyah ibn Khalaf, Bilāl's former slave-master, at Badr; his purchase and execution in Mecca was arranged by Ṣafwān ibn Umayyah, Umayyah's son, in revenge. Before he was killed, Abū Sufyān asked him directly whether he would not rather have the Prophet (ﷺ) in his place while he himself returned safely to his family. Zayd answered that he would rather die exactly as he was about to than have the Prophet (ﷺ) suffer so much as a thorn's prick in his place. Abū Sufyān later remarked he had never witnessed a leader loved by his followers as much as Muḥammad (ﷺ) was loved by his Companions.