ذِكْرُ حَاطِبِ بْنِ أَبِي بَلْتَعَةَ حَلِيفِ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ

Abu ʿAbdur-Rahman as-Sulami and Hibban bin ʿAtiyyah had a dispute. ʿAbdur-Rahman said to Hibban: I know what made your companion - meaning ʿAli ؓ - audacious. He said: What is it, may you be bereft of your father? He said. Something I heard ʿAli ؓ say. He said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me, az-Zubair and Abu Marthad on a mission, and we were all horsemen. He said: ʿGo to Rawdat Khakh, for there you will find a woman who has a letter with her from Hatib bin Abi Baltaʿah to the mushrikeen; bring it to me.ʿ So we went on our horses until we caught up with her where the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had told us, travelling on a camel of hers. He [Hatib] had written to the people of Makkah, telling them about the march of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. We said to her. Where is the letter you have with you? She said: I do not have any letter. We made her camel kneel down and searched her luggage for it, but we did not find anything. My two companions said: We do not see any letter with her, I said: You know that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not tell a lie. Then I swore: By the One by whom oaths are sworn, you will give us the letter or we will remove your clothes. She stretched out her hand to her girdle, which was wrapped around her, and brought out the letter. I brought it to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and they said: O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, he has betrayed Allah and His Messenger and the believers; let me strike his neck. He said: ʿO Hatib, what made you do what you did?ʿ He said: O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, by Allah, it is not that I do not believe in Allah and His Messenger, but I wanted to do a favour for the people by means of which Allah might protect my family and my property, for every one of your Companions has some of his people there through whom Allah will protect his family and his property. He said: You have spoken the truth, do not say anything to him but good.ʿ ʻUmar said: O, Messenger of Allah, he betrayed Allah and His Messenger and the believers, let me strike his neck. He said. ʿls he not one of the people of Badr? How do you know? Perhaps Allah looked upon them and said. “Do what you like, for Paradise is guaranteed for you.ʻʼ ʻUmarʻs eyes filled with tears and he said: Allah, may He be exalted, and His Messenger know best. (Using translation from Aḥmad 827)   

سَمِعْتُ عَلِيًّا يَقُولُ وَهُوَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ بَعَثَنِي النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَأَبَا مَرْثَدٍ السُّلَمِيَّ وَكِلَانَا فَارِسٌ قَالَ «انْطَلِقُوا حَتَّى تَأْتُوا رَوْضَةَ خَاخٍ فَإِنَّ بِهَا امْرَأَةً وَمَعَهَا صَحِيفَةٌ مِنْ حَاطِبِ بْنِ أَبِي بَلْتَعَةَ إِلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ فَأْتُونِي بِهَا فَأَدْرَكْنَاهَا وَهِيَ عَلَى بَعِيرٍ لَهَا حَيْثُ قَالَ لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ أَيْنَ الْكِتَابُ الَّذِي مَعَكِ؟ فَقَالَتْ مَا مَعِي كِتَابٌ قَالَ فَأَنَخْنَا بَعِيرَهَا وَفَتَّشْنَا رَحْلَهَا فَقَالَ صَاحِبِي مَا نَرَى مَعَهَا شَيْئًا فَقُلْتُ لَهُ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا كَذِبَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالَّذِي يُحْلَفُ بِهِ لَتُخْرِجِنَّهُ أَوْ لَأَجُزَّنَّكِ بِالسَّيْفِ فَلَمَّا رَأَتِ الْجِدَّ أَهْوَتْ إِلَى حُجْزَتِهَا وَعَلَيْهَا إِزَارٌ مِنْ صُوفٍ فَأَخْرَجَتِ الْكِتَابَ فَأَتَيْنَا بِهِ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ » يَا حَاطِبُ مَا حَمَلَكَ عَلَى الَّذِي صَنَعْتَ؟ «فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا بِي أَنْ لَا أَكُونَ مُؤْمِنًا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَلَكِنِّي أَرَدْتُ أَنْ يَكُونَ لِي عِنْدَ الْقَوْمِ يَدٌ يَدْفَعُ اللَّهُ بِهَا عَنْ أَهْلِي وَمَالِي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ » صَدَقَ لَا تَقُولُوا لَهُ إِلَّا خَيْرًا « فَقَالَ عُمَرُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ قَدْ خَانَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَدَعْنِي حَتَّى أَضْرِبَ عُنُقَهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ » أَوَ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ؟ مَا يُدْرِيكَ يَا عُمَرُ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ اطَّلَعَ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ « فَقَالَ » اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ فَقَدْ وَجَبَتْ لَكُمُ الْجَنَّةُ « فَدَمَعَتْ عَيْنُ عُمَرَ وَقَالَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ  

[Machine] I arrived in Kufa, and I had a companion with me to fetch sandals from there. So, we went to the market, and it hadn't opened yet. So, I said to my companion, "If we entered the mosque, and the mosque was then filled with the people of Tamar, so we entered. Then, a man from the tribe of Qays, called Ibn al-Muntafiq, came and I heard him say that he was described by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he was given a high rank. So, I asked about him in Makkah, and I was told he is in Mina. So, I asked about him in Mina and I was told he is in Arafat. So, I reached him while he was in a group of his companions, and they told me to step aside from the path of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ . So, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'Leave the man. What is wrong with him?' So, I approached him until I took hold of his camel's reins or bridle. So, I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, I ask you about what will save me from the Hellfire and what will bring me to Paradise.' So, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ raised his head towards the sky, then he lowered it, and then he faced me and said, 'If you can focus on this, then you have asked about something great and long. Guard the worship of Allah alone and do not associate anything with Him. Establish the obligatory prayers, pay the prescribed Zakah, fast in Ramadan, and do what you wish for others to do unto you. And refrain from doing what you dislike for others to do to you. Leave people alone in their affairs and let go of any concern for what people say or do to your belongings. Hamzah said, 'As for Hajj, he performed it wherever he was asked."  

قَدِمْتُ الْكُوفَةَ وَصَاحِبٌ لِي لِنَجْلِبَ مِنْهَا نِعَالًا فَغَدَوْنَا إِلَى السُّوقِ وَلَمْ يَقُمْ بَعْدُ فَقُلْتُ لِصَاحِبِي لَوْ دَخَلْنَا الْمَسْجِدَ وَالْمَسْجِدُ يَوْمَئِذٍ فِي أَصْحَابِ التَّمْرِ فَدَخَلْنَا فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ مِنْ قَيْسٍ يُقَالُ لَهُ ابْنُ الْمُنْتَفِقِ فَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ وُصِفَ لِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَجُلِّيَ لِي فَطَلَبْتُهُ بِمَكَّةَ فَقِيلَ لِي هُوَ بِمِنًى وَطَلَبْتُهُ بِمِنًى فَقِيلَ لِي هُوَ بِعَرَفَاتٍ فَانْتَهَيْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَهُوَ فِي رَكِبٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ فَقِيلَ لِي تَنَحَّ عَنْ طَرِيقِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «دَعُوا الرَّجُلَ أَرِبَ مَا لَهُ؟» فَدَنَوْتُ حَتَّى أَخَذْتُ بِزِمَامِ نَاقَتِهِ أَوْ بِخِطَامِهَا فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عَمَّا يُنَجِّينِي مِنَ النَّارِ وَعَمَّا يُبَلِّغُنِي الْجَنَّةَ فَرَفَعَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ رَأْسَهُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ ثُمَّ نَكَسَ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلِيَّ بِوَجْهِهِ فَقَالَ لَئِنْ كُنْتَ أَوْجَزْتَ الْمَسْأَلَةَ لَقَدْ سَأَلْتَ عَنْ عَظِيمٍ طَوِيلٍ فَاحْفَظْ عَنِّي اعْبُدِ اللهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكْ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ الْمَكْتُوبَةَ وَأَدِّ الزَّكَاةَ الْمَفْرُوضَةَ وَصُمْ رَمَضَانَ وَمَا تُحِبُّ أَنْ يَفْعَلَهُ النَّاسُ بِكَ فَافْعَلْهُ بِهِمْ وَمَا تَكْرَهُ أَنْ يَفْعَلَهُ النَّاسُ بِكَ فَذَرِ النَّاسَ مِنْهُ خَلِّ سَبِيلَ النَّاقَةِ أَوِ الرَّاحِلَةِ قَالَ هَمَّامٌ «وَأَمَّا الْحَجُّ فَقَدْ حَجَّ حَيْثُ سَأَلَهُ»  

"عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ عَامِرٍ الْمُنْتَفَق قَالَ: وُصِفَ لِى رَسُولُ الله ﷺ فَطَلَبْتُهُ بِمَكَّةَ، فَقِيلَ: هَوَ بِمِنًى أَوْ بِعَرَفَات، فَانْطَلَقْتُ إِلَيْه فَأَخَذْتُ بِخِطَامِ رَاحِلَتِهِ، فَقُلتُ: شَيْئَان أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْهُمَا: مَا يُنْجِينِى مِنَ النَّارِ وَيُدْخلُنِى الْجَنَّة؟ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَقَالَ: لَئِن كُنْتَ أَوْجَزْتَ الْمَسَأَلَةَ، لَقَدْ أَعْظَمْتَ وَطَوَّلْتَ، اعْبُد الله وَلَا تُشْرِكْ بِهِ شَيْئًا، وَأَقِم الصَّلَاةَ الْمَكْتُوبَةَ، وَأَدِّ الزَّكَاةَ الْمَفْرُوضَةَ، وَصُمْ رَمَضَانَ، وَمَا تُحِبُّ أَنْ يَفْعَلهُ بِكَ النَّاسُ فَافْعَلهُ بِهِمْ، وَمَا تَكْرَهُ أَنْ يَأتِى إِلَيْكَ النَّاسُ فَذَرِ النَّاسَ مِنْهُ. خَلّ سَبِيلَ الرَّاحِلَة".  

" عَنْ أَبِى المُنْتَفِقِ وَيُكْنَى بِأَبِى المُنْتَفِقِ -قَالَ: وُصفَ لِى رَسُولُ الله ﷺ وجُلِّىَ، فَطَلَبْتُهُ بِمَكَّةَ، فَقِيلَ لِى: هُوَ بِمِنًى، فَأَتَيْتُهُ، فَقِيلَ لِى: هُوَ بِعَرَفَاتٍ، فَانْطَلَقْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَزَاحَمْتُ عَلَيْهِ: فَقِيلِ لِى: إِلَيْكَ عَنْ طَرِيقِ رَسُولِ الله ﷺ فَقَالَ: دَعُوا الرَّجُلَ، فَزَاحَمْتُ عَلَيْهِ (حتَّى) خَلَصْتُ إِلَيْهِ، فَأَخَذْتُ بِخطَامِ رَاحِلَتِهِ، أَو قَالَ: زمَامِها حَتَّى الْتَقَتْ أَعْنَاقُ رَاحِلَتِنَا، فَأَوْزَعَنِى رَسُولُ الله ﷺ (قَالَ: قُلتُ) اثْنَتَانِ أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْهُمَا: مَا يُنَجِّينِى مِنَ النَّارِ، وَيُدْخِلُنِى الْجَنَّةَ؟ فَنَظرَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَقَالَ: لأَنْ كُنْتَ أَوْجَزْتَ في الْمَسْألَةِ لَقَدْ أَعْظَمْتَ وَأَطَولْتَ، فَاْعقِلْ عَنِّى، إِذَنْ، تَعْبد الله لَا تُشِركْ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَأَقِم الصَّلَاةَ الْمَكْتُوبَةَ، وَأَدِّ الزَّكَاةَ المَفْرُوضَةَ وَصُمْ رَمَضَانَ، وَحُجَّ الْبَيْتَ وَاعْتَمِرْ، وَمَا تُحِبُّ أَنْ يَفْعَلُهُ بِكَ النَّاسُ فَافْعَلْ بِهِمْ، وَمَا تَكْرَهُ أَنْ يَأتِى إِلَيْكَ النَّاسُ فَذَرِ النَّاسَ مِنْهُ، ثُمَ قَالَ: خَلِّ الرَّاحِلَةَ".