Zaid bin Amr was amongst the few monotheist of Makkah who refused to bow to the stones. He travelled widely in search of monotheist groups.

Zaid said, “After wandering in the four big cities, I returned back to Sham. I wandered in the city in search of someone who could talk and inform me about pure Monotheism till I reached Balkan where I spotted a church. I went close and saw a monk coming out. He inquired about me and I informed him that I was in search of the religion of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) but could not find anywhere. He responded, “You will not find a teacher of the pure monotheism because each of them have died one after another. I do not know anyone who is upon the true religion. I have a suggestion that a man, born in your own city Makkah, whose name is Muhammad (peace be upon him) will revive the religion of Ibrahim so you better return to Makkah and meet him”.

A glad tiding from the Prophet ﷺ about Zaid

Once, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked, “What do you say about Zaid bin Amr bin Nufail?” He replied, “My Lord has informed me that Zaid had been wandering all around the world in search of the religion of Ibrahim and he was told to return to Makkah to meet me. Therefore, when Allah sends a prophet,  the people of the place to whom he is sent is called Ummah. Allah is pleased with Zaid, so he would arise (on the Day of Judgement) as an entire Ummah in himself”. This is a huge honour that Zaid would be among those people who would be arising not as a person, but as an Ummah. Scholars have explained the meaning of this; After the demise of Jesus and before the arrival of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon them), this man had been adhering to the religion of Ibrahim, against all odds, so he would be counted as a Muslim and honoured as an Ummah in himself.