If the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had been one to conceal anything of the revelation, he would have concealed this verse, "And when you said to the one whom Allah had favored" meaning with Islam, "and whom you had favored" meaning with freedom, for he had set him free, "Keep your wife and fear Allah. And you concealed within yourself what Allah was to make public, and you feared the people, while Allah has more right that you fear Him," up to His words, "and the command of Allah is carried out." [Ahzab 33:37]When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ married her, people said that he had married his son's wife. So Allah Almighty revealed, "Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the seal of the prophets" [Ahzab 33:40].The Messenger of Allah ﷺ had adopted him when he was small, and matters continued until he became a man who was called Zayd bin Muhammad. Then Allah revealed, "Call them after their fathers. That is more just in the sight of Allah. And if you do not know their fathers, then they are your brothers in faith and your freed servants" [Ahzab 33:5]. So it became, so-and-so the freed servant of so-and-so, and so-and-so the brother of so-and-so. "That is more just in the sight of Allah" means more equitable.
حدثنا علي بن حجر أخبرنا داود بن الزبرقان عن داود بن أبي هند عن الشعبي
لو كان رسول الله ﷺ كاتما شيئا من الوحي لكتم هذه الآية {وإذ تقول للذي أنعم الله عليه} يعني بالإسلام {وأنعمت عليه} يعني بالعتق فأعتقته {أمسك عليك زوجك واتق الله وتخفي في نفسك ما الله مبديه وتخشى الناس والله أحق أن تخشاه} إلى قوله {وكان أمر الله مفعولا} وإن رسول الله ﷺ لما تزوجها قالوا تزوج حليلة ابنه فأنزل الله تعالى {ما كان محمد أبا أحد من رجالكم ولكن رسول الله وخاتم النبيين} وكان رسول الله ﷺ تبناه وهو صغير فلبث حتى صار رجلا يقال له زيد بن محمد فأنزل الله {ادعوهم لآبائهم هو أقسط عند الله فإن لم تعلموا آباءهم فإخوانكم في الدين ومواليكم} فلان مولى فلان وفلان أخو فلان {هو أقسط عند الله} يعني أعدل