Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me, Abu Marthad and Az-Zubair, and all of us were riding horses, and said, "Go till you reach Raudat-Khakh where there is a pagan woman carrying a letter from Hatib bin Abi Balta' a to the pagans of Mecca." So we found her riding her camel at the place which Messenger of Allah ﷺ had mentioned. We said (to her),"(Give us) the letter." She said, "I have no letter." Then we made her camel kneel down and we searched her, but we found no letter. Then we said, "Messenger of Allah ﷺ had not told us a lie, certainly. Take out the letter, otherwise we will strip you naked." When she saw that we were determined, she put her hand below her waist belt, for she had tied her cloak round her waist, and she took out the letter, and we brought her to Messenger of Allah ﷺ Then ʿUmar said, "O Allah's Apostle! (This Hatib) has betrayed Allah, His Apostle and the believers! Let me cut off his neck!" The Prophet asked Hatib, "What made you do this?" Hatib said, "By Allah, I did not intend to give up my belief in Allah and His Apostle but I wanted to have some influence among the (Mecca) people so that through it, Allah might protect my family and property. There is none of your companions but has some of his relatives there through whom Allah protects his family and property." The Prophet ﷺ said, "He has spoken the truth; do no say to him but good." ʿUmar said, "He as betrayed Allah, His Apostle and the faithful believers. Let me cut off his neck!" The Prophet ﷺ said, "Is he not one of the Badr warriors? May be Allah looked at the Badr warriors and said, 'Do whatever you like, as I have granted Paradise to you, or said, 'I have forgiven you."' On this, tears came out of ʿUmar's eyes, and he said, "Allah and His Apostle know better."  

بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَأَبَا مَرْثَدٍ وَالزُّبَيْرَ وَكُلُّنَا فَارِسٌ قَالَ انْطَلِقُوا حَتَّى تَأْتُوا رَوْضَةَ خَاخٍ فَإِنَّ بِهَا امْرَأَةً مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ مَعَهَا كِتَابٌ مِنْ حَاطِبِ بْنِ أَبِي بَلْتَعَةَ إِلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ فَأَدْرَكْنَاهَا تَسِيرُ عَلَى بَعِيرٍ لَهَا حَيْثُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُلْنَا الْكِتَابُ فَقَالَتْ مَا مَعَنَا كِتَابٌ فَأَنَخْنَاهَا فَالْتَمَسْنَا فَلَمْ نَرَ كِتَابًا فَقُلْنَا مَا كَذَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَتُخْرِجِنَّ الْكِتَابَ أَوْ لَنُجَرِّدَنَّكِ فَلَمَّا رَأَتِ الْجِدَّ أَهْوَتْ إِلَى حُجْزَتِهَا وَهْىَ مُحْتَجِزَةٌ بِكِسَاءٍ فَأَخْرَجَتْهُ فَانْطَلَقْنَا بِهَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَدْ خَانَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَدَعْنِي فَلأَضْرِبْ عُنُقَهُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مَا حَمَلَكَ عَلَى مَا صَنَعْتَ قَالَ حَاطِبٌ وَاللَّهِ مَا بِي أَنْ لاَ أَكُونَ مُؤْمِنًا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ﷺ أَرَدْتُ أَنْ يَكُونَ لِي عِنْدَ الْقَوْمِ يَدٌ يَدْفَعُ اللَّهُ بِهَا عَنْ أَهْلِي وَمَالِي وَلَيْسَ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِكَ إِلاَّ لَهُ هُنَاكَ مِنْ عَشِيرَتِهِ مَنْ يَدْفَعُ اللَّهُ بِهِ عَنْ أَهْلِهِ وَمَالِهِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ صَدَقَ وَلاَ تَقُولُوا لَهُ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا فَقَالَ عُمَرُ إِنَّهُ قَدْ خَانَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَدَعْنِي فَلأَضْرِبَ عُنُقَهُ فَقَالَ أَلَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ فَقَالَ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ اطَّلَعَ إِلَى أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ فَقَالَ اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ فَقَدْ وَجَبَتْ لَكُمُ الْجَنَّةُ أَوْ فَقَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَكُمْ فَدَمَعَتْ عَيْنَا عُمَرَ وَقَالَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ  

I heard ʿAli saying, "Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me, Az-Zubair and Al-Miqdad somewhere saying, 'Proceed till you reach Rawdat Khakh. There you will find a lady with a letter. Take the letter from her.' " So, we set out and our horses ran at full pace till we got at Ar-Rawda where we found the lady and said (to her). "Take out the letter." She replied, "I have no letter with me." We said, "Either you take out the letter or else we will take off your clothes." So, she took it out of her braid. We brought the letter to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and it contained a statement from Hatib bin Abi Balta a to some of the Meccan pagans informing them of some of the intentions of Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Then Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "O Hatib! What is this?" Hatib replied, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Don't hasten to give your judgment about me. I was a man closely connected with the Quraish, but I did not belong to this tribe, while the other emigrants with you, had their relatives in Mecca who would protect their dependents and property . So, I wanted to recompense for my lacking blood relation to them by doing them a favor so that they might protect my dependents. I did this neither because of disbelief not apostasy nor out of preferring Kufr (disbelief) to Islam." Messenger of Allah ﷺ, said, "Hatib has told you the truth." ʿUmar said, O Allah's Apostle! Allow me to chop off the head of this hypocrite." Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Hatib participated in the battle of Badr, and who knows, perhaps Allah has already looked at the Badr warriors and said, 'Do whatever you like, for I have forgiven you."  

سَمِعْتُ عَلِيًّا ؓ يَقُولُ بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَا وَالزُّبَيْرَ وَالْمِقْدَادَ بْنَ الأَسْوَدِ قَالَ انْطَلِقُوا حَتَّى تَأْتُوا رَوْضَةَ خَاخٍ فَإِنَّ بِهَا ظَعِينَةً وَمَعَهَا كِتَابٌ فَخُذُوهُ مِنْهَا فَانْطَلَقْنَا تَعَادَى بِنَا خَيْلُنَا حَتَّى انْتَهَيْنَا إِلَى الرَّوْضَةِ فَإِذَا نَحْنُ بِالظَّعِينَةِ فَقُلْنَا أَخْرِجِي الْكِتَابَ فَقَالَتْ مَا مَعِي مِنْ كِتَابٍ فَقُلْنَا لَتُخْرِجِنَّ الْكِتَابَ أَوْ لَنُلْقِيَنَّ الثِّيَابَ فَأَخْرَجَتْهُ مِنْ عِقَاصِهَا فَأَتَيْنَا بِهِ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَإِذَا فِيهِ مِنْ حَاطِبِ بْنِ أَبِي بَلْتَعَةَ إِلَى أُنَاسٍ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ مِنْ أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ يُخْبِرُهُمْ بِبَعْضِ أَمْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا حَاطِبُ مَا هَذَا قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لاَ تَعْجَلْ عَلَىَّ إِنِّي كُنْتُ امْرَأً مُلْصَقًا فِي قُرَيْشٍ وَلَمْ أَكُنْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهَا وَكَانَ مَنْ مَعَكَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ لَهُمْ قَرَابَاتٌ بِمَكَّةَ يَحْمُونَ بِهَا أَهْلِيهِمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ فَأَحْبَبْتُ إِذْ فَاتَنِي ذَلِكَ مِنَ النَّسَبِ فِيهِمْ أَنْ أَتَّخِذَ عِنْدَهُمْ يَدًا يَحْمُونَ بِهَا قَرَابَتِي وَمَا فَعَلْتُ كُفْرًا وَلاَ ارْتِدَادًا وَلاَ رِضًا بِالْكُفْرِ بَعْدَ الإِسْلاَمِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَقَدْ صَدَقَكُمْ قَالَ عُمَرُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ دَعْنِي أَضْرِبْ عُنُقَ هَذَا الْمُنَافِقِ قَالَ إِنَّهُ قَدْ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدِ اطَّلَعَ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ فَقَالَ اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ فَقَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَكُمْ قَالَ سُفْيَانُ وَأَىُّ إِسْنَادٍ هَذَا  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me along with AzZubair and Al-Miqdad and said, "Proceed till you reach a place called Raudat-Khakh where there is a lady travelling in a howda on a camel. She has a letter. Take the letter from her." So we set out, and our horses ran at full pace till we reached Raudat Khakh, and behold, we saw the lady and said (to her), "Take out the letter!" She said, "I have no letter with me." We said, "Either you take out the letter or we will strip you of your clothes." So she took the letter out of her hair braid. We brought the letter to the Prophet ﷺ and behold, it was addressed by Hatib bin Abi Balta'a to some pagans at Mecca, informing them of some of the affairs of the Prophet. The Prophet ﷺ said, "What is this, O Hatib?" Hatib replied, "Do not be hasty with me, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! I am an Ansari man and do not belong to them (Quraish infidels) while the emigrants who were with you had their relatives who used to protect their families and properties at Mecca. So, to compensate for not having blood relation with them.' I intended to do them some favor so that they might protect my relatives (at Mecca), and I did not do this out of disbelief or an inclination to desert my religion." The Prophet then said (to his companions), "He (Hatib) has told you the truth." ʿUmar said, "O Allah's Apostle! Allow me to chop his head off?" The Apostle said, "He is one of those who witnessed (fought in) the Battle of Badr, and what do you know, perhaps Allah looked upon the people of Badr (Badr warriors) and said, 'Do what you want as I have forgiven you.' " (ʿAmr, a sub-narrator, said,: This Verse was revealed about him (Hatib): 'O you who believe! Take not My enemies and your enemies as friends or protectors.' (60.1) Narrated ʿAli: Sufyan was asked whether (the Verse): 'Take not My enemies and your enemies...' was revealed in connection with Hatib. Sufyan replied, "This occurs only in the narration of the people. I memorized the Hadith from ʿAmr, not overlooking even a single letter thereof, and I do not know of anybody who remembered it by heart other than myself."  

بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَا وَالزُّبَيْرَ وَالْمِقْدَادَ فَقَالَ انْطَلِقُوا حَتَّى تَأْتُوا رَوْضَةَ خَاخٍ فَإِنَّ بِهَا ظَعِينَةً مَعَهَا كِتَابٌ فَخُذُوهُ مِنْهَا فَذَهَبْنَا تَعَادَى بِنَا خَيْلُنَا حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا الرَّوْضَةَ فَإِذَا نَحْنُ بِالظَّعِينَةِ فَقُلْنَا أَخْرِجِي الْكِتَابَ فَقَالَتْ مَا مَعِي مِنْ كِتَابٍ فَقُلْنَا لَتُخْرِجِنَّ الْكِتَابَ أَوْ لَنُلْقِيَنَّ الثِّيَابَ فَأَخْرَجَتْهُ مِنْ عِقَاصِهَا فَأَتَيْنَا بِهِ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَإِذَا فِيهِ مِنْ حَاطِبِ بْنِ أَبِي بَلْتَعَةَ إِلَى أُنَاسٍ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ مِمَّنْ بِمَكَّةَ يُخْبِرُهُمْ بِبَعْضِ أَمْرِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مَا هَذَا يَا حَاطِبُ قَالَ لاَ تَعْجَلْ عَلَىَّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي كُنْتُ امْرَأً مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ وَلَمْ أَكُنْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَكَانَ مَنْ مَعَكَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ لَهُمْ قَرَابَاتٌ يَحْمُونَ بِهَا أَهْلِيهِمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ بِمَكَّةَ فَأَحْبَبْتُ إِذْ فَاتَنِي مِنَ النَّسَبِ فِيهِمْ أَنْ أَصْطَنِعَ إِلَيْهِمْ يَدًا يَحْمُونَ قَرَابَتِي وَمَا فَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ كُفْرًا وَلاَ ارْتِدَادًا عَنْ دِينِي فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِنَّهُ قَدْ صَدَقَكُمْ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ دَعْنِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَأَضْرِبَ عُنُقَهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ ﷻ اطَّلَعَ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ فَقَالَ اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ فَقَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَكُمْ قَالَ عَمْرٌو وَنَزَلَتْ فِيهِ {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لاَ تَتَّخِذُوا عَدُوِّي وَعَدُوَّكُمْ} قَالَ لاَ أَدْرِي الآيَةَ فِي الْحَدِيثِ أَوْ قَوْلُ عَمْرٍو حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيٌّ قِيلَ لِسُفْيَانَ فِي هَذَا فَنَزَلَتْ {لاَ تَتَّخِذُوا عَدُوِّي} قَالَ سُفْيَانُ هَذَا فِي حَدِيثِ النَّاسِ حَفِظْتُهُ مِنْ عَمْرٍو وَمَا تَرَكْتُ مِنْهُ حَرْفًا وَمَا أُرَى أَحَدًا حَفِظَهُ غَيْرِي  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me, Az-Zubair and Al-Miqdad saying, "Proceed till you reach Rawdat Khakh where there is a lady carrying a letter, and take that (letter) from her." So we proceeded on our way with our horses galloping till we reached the Rawda, and there we found the lady and said to her, "Take out the letter." She said, "I have no letter." We said, "Take out the letter, or else we will take off your clothes." So she took it out of her braid, and we brought the letter to Messenger of Allah ﷺ . The letter was addressed from Hatib, bin Abi Balta'a to some pagans of Mecca, telling them about what Allah's Apostle intended to do. Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "O Hatib! What is this?" Hatib replied, "O Allah's Apostle! Do not make a hasty decision about me. I was a person not belonging to Quraish but I was an ally to them from outside and had no blood relation with them, and all the Emigrants who were with you, have got their kinsmen (in Mecca) who can protect their families and properties. So I liked to do them a favor so that they might protect my relatives as I have no blood relation with them. I did not do this to renegade from my religion (i.e. Islam) nor did I do it to choose Heathenism after Islam." Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to his companions." As regards him, he (i.e. Hatib) has told you the truth." ʿUmar said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Allow me to chop off the head of this hypocrite!" The Prophet ﷺ said, "He (i.e. Hatib) has witnessed the Badr battle (i.e. fought in it) and what could tell you, perhaps Allah looked at those who witnessed Badr and said, "O the people of Badr (i.e. Badr Muslim warriors), do what you like, for I have forgiven you. "Then Allah revealed the Sura:-- "O you who believe! Take not my enemies And your enemies as friends offering them (Your) love even though they have disbelieved in that Truth (i.e. Allah, Prophet Muhammad and this Qur'an) which has come to you ....(to the end of Verse)....(And whosoever of you (Muslims) does that, then indeed he has gone (far) astray (away) from the Straight Path." (60.1  

سَمِعْتُ عَلِيًّا ؓ يَقُولُ بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَا وَالزُّبَيْرَ وَالْمِقْدَادَ فَقَالَ انْطَلِقُوا حَتَّى تَأْتُوا رَوْضَةَ خَاخٍ فَإِنَّ بِهَا ظَعِينَةً مَعَهَا كِتَابٌ فَخُذُوا مِنْهَا قَالَ فَانْطَلَقْنَا تَعَادَى بِنَا خَيْلُنَا حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا الرَّوْضَةَ فَإِذَا نَحْنُ بِالظَّعِينَةِ قُلْنَا لَهَا أَخْرِجِي الْكِتَابَ قَالَتْ مَا مَعِي كِتَابٌ فَقُلْنَا لَتُخْرِجِنَّ الْكِتَابَ أَوْ لَنُلْقِيَنَّ الثِّيَابَ قَالَ فَأَخْرَجَتْهُ مِنْ عِقَاصِهَا فَأَتَيْنَا بِهِ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَإِذَا فِيهِ مِنْ حَاطِبِ بْنِ أَبِي بَلْتَعَةَ إِلَى نَاسٍ بِمَكَّةَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ يُخْبِرُهُمْ بِبَعْضِ أَمْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا حَاطِبُ مَا هَذَا قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لاَ تَعْجَلْ عَلَىَّ إِنِّي كُنْتُ امْرَأً مُلْصَقًا فِي قُرَيْشٍ يَقُولُ كُنْتُ حَلِيفًا وَلَمْ أَكُنْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهَا وَكَانَ مَنْ مَعَكَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ مَنْ لَهُمْ قَرَابَاتٌ يَحْمُونَ أَهْلِيهِمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ فَأَحْبَبْتُ إِذْ فَاتَنِي ذَلِكَ مِنَ النَّسَبِ فِيهِمْ أَنْ أَتَّخِذَ عِنْدَهُمْ يَدًا يَحْمُونَ قَرَابَتِي وَلَمْ أَفْعَلْهُ ارْتِدَادًا عَنْ دِينِي وَلاَ رِضًا بِالْكُفْرِ بَعْدَ الإِسْلاَمِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَمَا إِنَّهُ قَدْ صَدَقَكُمْ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ دَعْنِي أَضْرِبْ عُنُقَ هَذَا الْمُنَافِقِ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ قَدْ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ اطَّلَعَ عَلَى مَنْ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا قَالَ اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ فَقَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَكُمْ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ السُّورَةَ {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لاَ تَتَّخِذُوا عَدُوِّي وَعَدُوَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَ تُلْقُونَ إِلَيْهِمْ بِالْمَوَدَّةِ} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {فَقَدْ ضَلَّ سَوَاءَ السَّبِيلِ }  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me, Az-Zubair bin Al-Awwam and Abu Marthad Al-Ghanawi, and all of us were horsemen, and he said, "Proceed till you reach Rawdat Khakh, where there is a woman from the pagans carrying a letter sent by Hatib bin Abi Balta'a to the pagans (of Mecca)." So we overtook her while she was proceeding on her camel at the same place as Messenger of Allah ﷺ told us. We said (to her) "Where is the letter which is with you?" She said, "I have no letter with me." So we made her camel kneel down and searched her mount (baggage etc) but could not find anything. My two companions said, "We do not see any letter." I said, "I know that Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not tell a lie. By Allah, if you (the lady) do not bring out the letter, I will strip you of your clothes' When she noticed that I was serious, she put her hand into the knot of her waist sheet, for she was tying a sheet round herself, and brought out the letter. So we proceeded to Messenger of Allah ﷺ with the letter. The Prophet ﷺ said (to Habib), "What made you o what you have done, O Hatib?" Hatib replied, "I have done nothing except that I believe in Allah and His Apostle, and I have not changed or altered (my religion). But I wanted to do the favor to the people (pagans of Mecca) through which Allah might protect my family and my property, as there is none among your companions but has someone in Mecca through whom Allah protects his property (against harm). The Prophet ﷺ said, "Habib has told you the truth, so do not say to him (anything) but good." ʿUmar bin Al-Khattab said, "Verily he has betrayed Allah, His Apostle, and the believers! Allow me to chop his neck off!" The Prophet ﷺ said, "O ʿUmar! What do you know; perhaps Allah looked upon the Badr warriors and said, 'Do whatever you like, for I have ordained that you will be in Paradise.'" On that ʿUmar wept and said, "Allah and His Apostle know best."  

بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالزُّبَيْرَ بْنَ الْعَوَّامِ وَأَبَا مَرْثَدٍ الْغَنَوِيَّ وَكُلُّنَا فَارِسٌ فَقَالَ انْطَلِقُوا حَتَّى تَأْتُوا رَوْضَةَ خَاخٍ فَإِنَّ بِهَا امْرَأَةً مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ مَعَهَا صَحِيفَةٌ مِنْ حَاطِبِ بْنِ أَبِي بَلْتَعَةَ إِلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ قَالَ فَأَدْرَكْنَاهَا تَسِيرُ عَلَى جَمَلٍ لَهَا حَيْثُ قَالَ لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ قُلْنَا أَيْنَ الْكِتَابُ الَّذِي مَعَكِ قَالَتْ مَا مَعِي كِتَابٌ فَأَنَخْنَا بِهَا فَابْتَغَيْنَا فِي رَحْلِهَا فَمَا وَجَدْنَا شَيْئًا قَالَ صَاحِبَاىَ مَا نَرَى كِتَابًا قَالَ قُلْتُ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ مَا كَذَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالَّذِي يُحْلَفُ بِهِ لَتُخْرِجِنَّ الْكِتَابَ أَوْ لأُجَرِّدَنَّكِ قَالَ فَلَمَّا رَأَتِ الْجِدَّ مِنِّي أَهْوَتْ بِيَدِهَا إِلَى حُجْزَتِهَا وَهْىَ مُحْتَجِزَةٌ بِكِسَاءٍ فَأَخْرَجَتِ الْكِتَابَ قَالَ فَانْطَلَقْنَا بِهِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ مَا حَمَلَكَ يَا حَاطِبُ عَلَى مَا صَنَعْتَ قَالَ مَا بِي إِلاَّ أَنْ أَكُونَ مُؤْمِنًا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَمَا غَيَّرْتُ وَلاَ بَدَّلْتُ أَرَدْتُ أَنْ تَكُونَ لِي عِنْدَ الْقَوْمِ يَدٌ يَدْفَعُ اللَّهُ بِهَا عَنْ أَهْلِي وَمَالِي وَلَيْسَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِكَ هُنَاكَ إِلاَّ وَلَهُ مَنْ يَدْفَعُ اللَّهُ بِهِ عَنْ أَهْلِهِ وَمَالِهِ قَالَ صَدَقَ فَلاَ تَقُولُوا لَهُ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا قَالَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ إِنَّهُ قَدْ خَانَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَدَعْنِي فَأَضْرِبَ عُنُقَهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ يَا عُمَرُ وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ قَدِ اطَّلَعَ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ فَقَالَ اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ فَقَدْ وَجَبَتْ لَكُمُ الْجَنَّةُ قَالَ فَدَمَعَتْ عَيْنَا عُمَرَ وَقَالَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ  

I heard 'Ali (Allah be pleased with him) as saying: Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me and Zubair and Miqdad saying: Go to the garden of, Khakh [it is a place between Medina and Mecca at a distance of twelve miles from Medina] and there you will find a woman riding a camel. She would be in possession of a letter, which you must get from her. So we rushed on horses and when we met that woman, we asked her to deliver that letter to us. She said: There is no letter with me. We said: Either bring out that letter or we would take off your clothes. She brought out that letter from (the plaited hair of) her head. We delivered that letter to Messenger of Allah ﷺ in which Hatib b. Abu Balta'a had informed some people amongst the polytheists of Mecca about the affairs of Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Hatib, what is this? He said: Messenger of Allah, do not be hasty in judging my intention. I was a person attached to the Quraish. Sufyan said: He was their ally but had no relationship with them. (Hatib further said): Those who are with you amongst the emigrants have blood-relationship with them (the Quraish) and thus they would protect their families. I wished that when I had no blood-relationship with them I should find some supporters from (amongst them) who would help my family. I have not done this because of any unbelief or apostasy and I have no liking for the unbelief after I have (accepted) Islam. Thereupon Allah's Apostle ﷺ said: You have told the truth. 'Umar said: Messenger of Allah, permit me to strike the neck of this hypocrite. But he (the Holy Prophet) said: He was a participant in Badr and you little know that Allah revealed about the people of Badr: Do what you like for there is forgiveness for you. And Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, said:" O you who believe, do not take My enemy and your enemy for friends" (lx. 1). And there is no mention of this verse in the hadith transmitted on the authority of Abu Bakr and Zubair and Ishaq has in his narration made a mention of the recitation of this verse by Sufyan.  

سَمِعْتُ عَلِيًّا ؓ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ بَعَثَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَا وَالزُّبَيْرَ وَالْمِقْدَادَ فَقَالَ ائْتُوا رَوْضَةَ خَاخٍ فَإِنَّ بِهَا ظَعِينَةً مَعَهَا كِتَابٌ فَخُذُوهُ مِنْهَا فَانْطَلَقْنَا تَعَادَى بِنَا خَيْلُنَا فَإِذَا نَحْنُ بِالْمَرْأَةِ فَقُلْنَا أَخْرِجِي الْكِتَابَ فَقَالَتْ مَا مَعِي كِتَابٌ فَقُلْنَا لَتُخْرِجِنَّ الْكِتَابَ أَوْ لَتُلْقِيَنَّ الثِّيَابَ فَأَخْرَجَتْهُ مِنْ عِقَاصِهَا فَأَتَيْنَا بِهِ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَإِذَا فِيهِ مِنْ حَاطِبِ بْنِ أَبِي بَلْتَعَةَ إِلَى نَاسٍ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ مِنْ أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ يُخْبِرُهُمْ بِبَعْضِ أَمْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا حَاطِبُ مَا هَذَا قَالَ لاَ تَعْجَلْ عَلَىَّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي كُنْتُ امْرَأً مُلْصَقًا فِي قُرَيْشٍ قَالَ سُفْيَانُ كَانَ حَلِيفًا لَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهَا وَكَانَ مِمَّنْ كَانَ مَعَكَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ لَهُمْ قَرَابَاتٌ يَحْمُونَ بِهَا أَهْلِيهِمْ فَأَحْبَبْتُ إِذْ فَاتَنِي ذَلِكَ مِنَ النَّسَبِ فِيهِمْ أَنْ أَتَّخِذَ فِيهِمْ يَدًا يَحْمُونَ بِهَا قَرَابَتِي وَلَمْ أَفْعَلْهُ كُفْرًا وَلاَ ارْتِدَادًا عَنْ دِينِي وَلاَ رِضًا بِالْكُفْرِ بَعْدَ الإِسْلاَمِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ صَدَقَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ دَعْنِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَضْرِبْ عُنُقَ هَذَا الْمُنَافِقِ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ قَدْ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ اطَّلَعَ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ فَقَالَ اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ فَقَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَكُمْ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ ﷻ { يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لاَ تَتَّخِذُوا عَدُوِّي وَعَدُوَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَ} وَلَيْسَ فِي حَدِيثِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَزُهَيْرٍ ذِكْرُ الآيَةِ وَجَعَلَهَا إِسْحَاقُ فِي رِوَايَتِهِ مِنْ تِلاَوَةِ سُفْيَانَ  

‘Ali said “The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ sent me Al Zubair and Al Miqdad and said “Go till you come to the meadow of Khakh for there Is a woman there travelling on a Camel who has a letter which you must take from her. We went off racing one another on our horses till we came to the meadow and when we found the woman, we aid “Bring out the letter. She said “I have no letter”. I said “You must bring out the letter else we strip off your clothes”. She then brought it out from the tresses and we took it to the Prophet ﷺ. It was addressed from Hatib bin Abi Balta’ah to some of the polytheists(in Makkah) giving them some information about the Apostle of Allaah ﷺ. He asked “What is this, Hatib? He replied, Apostle of Allaah ﷺ do not be hasty with me. I have been a man attached as an ally to the Quraish and am not one of them while those of the Quraish (i.e. the emigrants) have relationship with them by which they guarded their family in Makkah. As I did not have that advantage I wanted to give them some help for which they might guard my relations. I swear by Allaah I am not guilty of unbelief or apostasy (from my religion). The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ said “he has told you the truth. ‘Umar said “Let me cut off this hypocrite’s head. The Apostle of Allaah ﷺ said “He was present at Badr and what do you know, perhaps Allaah might look with pity on those who were present at Badr? And said “Do what you wish, I have forgiven you.”  

سَمِعْتُ عَلِيًّا عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ يَقُولُ بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَا وَالزُّبَيْرَ وَالْمِقْدَادَ فَقَالَ انْطَلِقُوا حَتَّى تَأْتُوا رَوْضَةَ خَاخٍ فَإِنَّ بِهَا ظَعِينَةً مَعَهَا كِتَابٌ فَخُذُوهُ مِنْهَا فَانْطَلَقْنَا تَتَعَادَى بِنَا خَيْلُنَا حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا الرَّوْضَةَ فَإِذَا نَحْنُ بِالظَّعِينَةِ فَقُلْنَا هَلُمِّي الْكِتَابَ فَقَالَتْ مَا عِنْدِي مِنْ كِتَابٍ فَقُلْتُ لَتُخْرِجِنَّ الْكِتَابَ أَوْ لَنُلْقِيَنَّ الثِّيَابَ فَأَخْرَجَتْهُ مِنْ عِقَاصِهَا فَأَتَيْنَا بِهِ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَإِذَا هُوَ مِنْ حَاطِبِ بْنِ أَبِي بَلْتَعَةَ إِلَى نَاسٍ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ يُخْبِرُهُمْ بِبَعْضِ أَمْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ مَا هَذَا يَا حَاطِبُ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لاَ تَعْجَلْ عَلَىَّ فَإِنِّي كُنْتُ امْرَأً مُلْصَقًا فِي قُرَيْشٍ وَلَمْ أَكُنْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهَا وَإِنَّ قُرَيْشًا لَهُمْ بِهَا قَرَابَاتٌ يَحْمُونَ بِهَا أَهْلِيهِمْ بِمَكَّةَ فَأَحْبَبْتُ إِذْ فَاتَنِي ذَلِكَ أَنْ أَتَّخِذَ فِيهِمْ يَدًا يَحْمُونَ قَرَابَتِي بِهَا وَاللَّهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا كَانَ بِي مِنْ كُفْرٍ وَلاَ ارْتِدَادٍ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَدَقَكُمْ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ دَعْنِي أَضْرِبْ عُنُقَ هَذَا الْمُنَافِقِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَدْ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ اطَّلَعَ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ فَقَالَ اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ فَقَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَكُمْ  

“I heard Ali bin Abi Talib saying: “the Messenger of Allah dispatched us – myself, Az-Zubair, and Al-Miqad bin Al- Aswad. He said: “Proceed until you reach Rawdah Khakh, where there is a lady carrying a letter. Take the letter from her and bring it to me.” So we proceeded on our way with our horses galloping until we reached the Rawdah. There we found the lady and said to her: “Give me the letter.” She said: “I have no letter.” We said: “Either you take out the letter, or we shall take off your clothes.’” He said: ‘So she took it out of her braid.’ He said: ‘We brought it to the Messenger of Allah, and it was from Hatib bin Abi Balta’ah, addressed to some of people among the idolaters of Makkah, infrmed them of some matter regarding the Prophet. So he said: “What is this O Hatib?” He said: “Do not be hasty with me O Messenger of Allah! I was a person who is an ally to the Quraish, not being related to them. The Muhajirun who are with you have relatives who can protect their families and their wealth in Makkah. So since I have no lineage among them, I wanted to do them a favor, so they might protect my relatives. I did not do this out of disbelief, nor to renegade from my religion, nor did I do it to chose disbelief [after Islam].” The Prophet said: “He said the truth.” Umar bin Al-Khattab said: “Allow me to chop off the head of this hypocrite!” The Prophet said: “Indeed he participated in (the battle of) Badr. You do not know, perhaps Allah looked at those who attended Badr and said: ‘O people of Badr! Do as you like, for I have forgiven you.’” He said: ‘It was about him, that this Surah was revealed: O you who believe! Do not take My enemies and your enemies as protecting friends showing affection towards them.’”  

بَعَثَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَا وَالزُّبَيْرَ وَالْمِقْدَادَ بْنَ الأَسْوَدِ فَقَالَ انْطَلِقُوا حَتَّى تَأْتُوا رَوْضَةَ خَاخٍ فَإِنَّ بِهَا ظَعِينَةً مَعَهَا كِتَابٌ فَخُذُوهُ مِنْهَا فَائْتُونِي بِهِ فَخَرَجْنَا تَتَعَادَى بِنَا خَيْلُنَا حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا الرَّوْضَةَ فَإِذَا نَحْنُ بِالظَّعِينَةِ فَقُلْنَا أَخْرِجِي الْكِتَابَ فَقَالَتْ مَا مَعِي مِنْ كِتَابٍ فَقُلْنَا لَتُخْرِجِنَّ الْكِتَابَ أَوْ لَتُلْقِيَنَّ الثِّيَابَ قَالَ فَأَخْرَجَتْهُ مِنْ عِقَاصِهَا قَالَ فَأَتَيْنَا بِهِ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَإِذَا هُوَ مِنْ حَاطِبِ بْنِ أَبِي بَلْتَعَةَ إِلَى نَاسٍ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ بِمَكَّةَ يُخْبِرُهُمْ بِبَعْضِ أَمْرِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ مَا هَذَا يَا حَاطِبُ قَالَ لاَ تَعْجَلْ عَلَىَّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي كُنْتُ امْرَأً مُلْصَقًا فِي قُرَيْشٍ وَلَمْ أَكُنْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهَا وَكَانَ مَنْ مَعَكَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ لَهُمْ قَرَابَاتٌ يَحْمُونَ بِهَا أَهْلِيهِمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ بِمَكَّةَ فَأَحْبَبْتُ إِذْ فَاتَنِي ذَلِكَ مِنْ نَسَبٍ فِيهِمْ أَنْ أَتَّخِذَ فِيهِمْ يَدًا يَحْمُونَ بِهَا قَرَابَتِي وَمَا فَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ كُفْرًا وَلاَ ارْتِدَادًا عَنْ دِينِي وَلاَ رِضًا بِالْكُفْرِ بَعْدَ الإِسْلاَمِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ صَدَقَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ ؓ دَعْنِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَضْرِبْ عُنُقَ هَذَا الْمُنَافِقِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِنَّهُ قَدْ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا فَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ اطَّلَعَ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ فَقَالَ اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ فَقَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَكُمْ قَالَ وَفِيهِ أُنْزِلَتْ هَذِهِ السُّورَةُ (يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لاَ تَتَّخِذُوا عَدُوِّي وَعَدُوَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَ ) السُّورَةَ قَالَ عَمْرُو وَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ ابْنَ أَبِي رَافِعٍ وَكَانَ كَاتِبًا لِعَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ  

I heard ‘Ali ؓ say: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me, az-Zubair and al-Miqdad, and he said: “Go to the garden of Khakh, where you will find a woman riding a camel with whom there is a letter, and take it from her.” We set out with our horses galloping, until we reached that garden, and there we found the woman. We said: Give us the letter. She said: I do not have any letter. We said: Either you give us the letter or we will remove your clothes. So she brought it out from her braided hair, and we took it and brought it to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and in it (was written): From Hatib bin Abi Baltaʿah to some of the mushrikeen of Makkah, telling them about some of the plans of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ʿO Hatib, what is this?ʿ He said: Do not be hasty in judging me, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ. I am a man who was attached to Quraish but I was one of them. The Muhajireen who are with you have relatives who will protect their families in Makkah, and I wanted, as i have no blood ties among them, to do them a favour so that they would protect my family. I did not do it out of kufr or because I apostatized from my religion, or because I approved of Kufr after becoming Muslim. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ʿHe has told you the truth.ʿ ʿUmar ؓ said: O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, let me strike the neck of this hypocrite. He said: “He was present at Badr, and you do not know, perhaps Allah looked upon the people of Badr and said: ʿDo what you wish, for I have forgiven you.ʿ  

أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَلِيًّا يَقُولُ بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَنَا وَالزُّبَيْرَ وَالْمِقْدَادَ فَقَالَ انْطَلِقُوا حَتَّى تَأْتُوا رَوْضَةَ خَاخٍ فَإِنَّ بِهَا ظَعِينَةً مَعَهَا كِتَابٌ فَخُذُوهُ مِنْهَا فَانْطَلَقْنَا تَعَادَى بِنَا خَيْلُنَا حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا الرَّوْضَةَ فَإِذَا نَحْنُ بِالظَّعِينَةِ قُلْنَا أَخْرِجِي الْكِتَابَ قَالَتْ مَا مَعِي مِنْ كِتَابٍ قُلْنَا لَتُخْرِجِنَّ الْكِتَابَ أَوْ لَنَقْلِبَنَّ الثِّيَابَ قَالَ فَأَخْرَجَتِ الْكِتَابَ مِنْ عِقَاصِهَا فَأَخَذْنَا الْكِتَابَ فَأَتَيْنَا بِهِ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَإِذَا فِيهِ مِنْ حَاطِبِ بْنِ أَبِي بَلْتَعَةَ إِلَى نَاسٍ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ بِمَكَّةَ يُخْبِرُهُمْ بِبَعْضِ أَمْرِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَا حَاطِبُ مَا هَذَا؟ قَالَ لَا تَعْجَلْ عَلَيَّ إِنِّي كُنْتُ امْرَأً مُلْصَقًا فِي قُرَيْشٍ وَلَمْ أَكُنْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهَا وَكَانَ مَنْ كَانَ مَعَكَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ لَهُمْ قَرَابَاتٌ يَحْمُونَ أَهْلِيهِمْ بِمَكَّةَ فَأَحْبَبْتُ إِذْ فَاتَنِي ذَلِكَ مِنَ النَّسَبِ فِيهِمْ أَنْ أَتَّخِذَ فِيهِمْ يَدًا يَحْمُونَ بِهَا قَرَابَتِي وَمَا فَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ كُفْرًا وَلا ارْتِدَادًا عَنْ دِينِي وَلا رِضًا بِالْكُفْرِ بَعْدَ الْإِسْلامِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِنَّهُ قَدْ صَدَقَكُمْ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ دَعْنِيأَضْرِبْ عُنُقَ هَذَا الْمُنَافِقِ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ قَدْ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ اللهَ قَدِ اطَّلَعَ إِلَى أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ فَقَالَ اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ فَقَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَكُمْ  

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.  

أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ لِحِبَّانَ قَدْ عَلِمْتُ مَا الَّذِي جَرَّأَ صَاحِبَكَ يَعْنِي عَلِيًّا قَالَ فَمَا هُوَ لَا أَبَا لَكَ؟ قَالَ قَوْلٌ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُهُ قَالَ بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَالزُّبَيْرَ وَأَبَا مَرْثَدٍ وَكُلُّنَا فَارِسٌ قَالَ انْطَلِقُوا حَتَّى تَبْلُغُوا رَوْضَةَ خَاخٍ فَإِنَّ فِيهَا امْرَأَةً مَعَهَا صَحِيفَةٌ مِنْ حَاطِبِ بْنِ أَبِي بَلْتَعَةَ إِلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ فَأْتُونِي بِهَا فَانْطَلَقْنَا عَلَى أَفْرَاسِنَا حَتَّى أَدْرَكْنَاهَا حَيْثُ قَالَ لَنَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ تَسِيرُ عَلَى بَعِيرٍ لَهَا قَالَ وَكَانَ كَتَبَ إِلَى أَهْلِ مَكَّةَبِمَسِيرِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَقُلْنَا لَهَا أَيْنَ الْكِتَابُ الَّذِي مَعَكِ؟ قَالَتْ مَا مَعِي كِتَابٌ فَأَنَخْنَا بِهَا بَعِيرَهَا فَابْتَغَيْنَا فِي رَحْلِهَا فَلَمْ نَجِدْ فِيهِ شَيْئًا فَقَالَ صَاحِبَايَ مَا نَرَى مَعَهَا كِتَابًا فَقُلْتُ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمَا مَا كَذَبَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ ثُمَّ حَلَفْتُ وَالَّذِي أَحْلِفُ بِهِ لَئِنْ لَمْ تُخْرِجِي الْكِتَابَ لاجَرِّدَنَّكِ فَأَهْوَتْ إِلَى حُجْزَتِهَا وَهِيَ مُحْتَجِزَةٌ بِكِسَاءٍ فَأَخْرَجَتِ الصَّحِيفَةَ فَأَتَوْا بِهَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ قَدْ خَانَ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ دَعْنِي أَضْرِبْ عُنُقَهُ قَالَ يَا حَاطِبُ مَا حَمَلَكَ عَلَى مَا صَنَعْتَ؟ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ وَاللهِ مَا بِي أَنْ لَا أَكُونَ مُؤْمِنًا بِاللهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَلَكِنِّي أَرَدْتُ أَنْ تَكُونَ لِي عِنْدَ الْقَوْمِ يَدٌ يَدْفَعُ اللهُ بِهَا عَنْ أَهْلِي وَمَالِي وَلَمْ يَكُنْ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِكَ إِلَّا لَهُ هُنَاكَ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ مَنْ يَدْفَعُ اللهُ تَعَالَى بِهِ عَنْ أَهْلِهِ وَمَالِهِ قَالَ صَدَقْتَ فَلا تَقُولُوا لَهُ إِلا خَيْرًا فَقَالَ عُمَرُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّهُ قَدْ خَانَ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ دَعْنِي أَضْرِبْ عُنُقَهُ قَالَ أَوَلَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ؟ وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ اللهَ ﷻ اطَّلَعَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ فَقَدْ وَجَبَتْ لَكُمِ الْجَنَّةُ فَاغْرَوْرَقَتْ عَيْنَا عُمَرَ وَقَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ  

I heard ‘Ali ؓ say: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me, az-Zubair and al-Miqdad, and he said: “Go to the garden of Khakh, where you will find a woman riding a camel with whom there is a letter, and take it from her.” We set out with our horses galloping, until we reached that garden, and there we found the woman. We said: Give us the letter. She said: I do not have any letter. We said: Either you give us the letter or we will remove your clothes. So she brought it out from her braided hair, and we took it and brought it to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and in it (was written): From Hatib bin Abi Baltaʿah to some of the mushrikeen of Makkah, telling them about some of the plans of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ʿO Hatib, what is this?ʿ He said: Do not be hasty in judging me, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ. I am a man who was attached to Quraish but I was one of them. The Muhajireen who are with you have relatives who will protect their families in Makkah, and I wanted, as i have no blood ties among them, to do them a favour so that they would protect my family. I did not do it out of kufr or because I apostatized from my religion, or because I approved of Kufr after becoming Muslim. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ʿHe has told you the truth.ʿ ʿUmar ؓ said: O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, let me strike the neck of this hypocrite. He said: “He was present at Badr, and you do not know, perhaps Allah looked upon the people of Badr and said: ʿDo what you wish, for I have forgiven you.ʿ (Using translation from Aḥmad 600)   

سَمِعْتُ عَلِيًّا يَقُولُ بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالزُّبَيْرَ وَطَلْحَةَ وَالْمِقْدَادَ بْنَ الْأَسْوَدِ فَقَالَ «انْطَلِقُوا حَتَّى تَأْتُوا رَوْضَةَ خَاخٍ فَإِنَّ بِهَا ظَعِينَةً مَعَهَا كِتَابٌ فَخُذُوهُ مِنْهَا» فَانْطَلَقْنَا تَعَادَى بِنَا خَيْلُنَا حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا الرَّوْضَةَ فَإِذَا نَحْنُ بِالظَّعِينَةِ فَقُلْنَا لَهَا أَخْرِجِي الْكِتَابَ فَقَالَتْ مَا مَعِي مِنْ كِتَابٍ فَقُلْنَا آللَّهِ لَتُخْرِجِنَّ الْكِتَابَ أَوْ لَنُلْقِيَنَّ الثِّيَابَ فَأَخْرَجَتْهُ مِنْ عِقَاصِهَا فَأَتَيْنَا بِهِ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَإِذَا فِيهِ مِنْ حَاطِبِ بْنِ أَبِي بَلْتَعَةَ إِلَى نَاسٍ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ مِنْ أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ يُخْبِرُهُمْ بِبَعْضِ أَمْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «يَا حَاطِبُ مَا هَذَا؟ » قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَا تَعْجَلْ عَلَيَّ إِنِّي كُنْتُ امْرَأً مُلْصَقًا فِي قُرَيْشٍ وَلَمْ أَكُنْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَكَانَ مَنْ مَعَكَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينِ لَهُمْ قَرَابَاتٌ بِمَكَّةَ يَحْمُونَ قَرَابَتَهُمْ وَأَهْلِيهِمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لِي قَرَابَةٌ أَحْمِي بِهَا أَهْلِي فَأَحْبَبْتُ إِنْ فَاتَنِي ذَلِكَ مِنَ النَّسَبِ أَنْ أَتَّخِذَ عِنْدَهُمْ يَدًا يَحْمُونَ قَرَابَتِي وَأَهْلِي وَاللَّهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا فَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ ارْتِدَادًا عَنْ دِينِي وَلَا رِضًا بِالْكُفْرِ بَعْدَ الْإِسْلَامِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «إِنَّ هَذَا قَدْ صَدَقَكُمْ» فَقَالَ عُمَرُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ دَعْنِي أَضْرِبْ عُنُقَ هَذَا الْمُنَافِقِ فَقَالَ ﷺ «إِنَّهُ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدِ اطَّلَعَ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ فَقَالَ اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ فَقَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَكُمْ» وَأَنْزَلَ فِيهِ {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا عَدُوِّي وَعَدُوَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَ} الْآيَةَ  

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  

I heard ‘Ali ؓ say: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me, az-Zubair and al-Miqdad, and he said: “Go to the garden of Khakh, where you will find a woman riding a camel with whom there is a letter, and take it from her.” We set out with our horses galloping, until we reached that garden, and there we found the woman. We said: Give us the letter. She said: I do not have any letter. We said: Either you give us the letter or we will remove your clothes. So she brought it out from her braided hair, and we took it and brought it to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and in it (was written): From Hatib bin Abi Baltaʿah to some of the mushrikeen of Makkah, telling them about some of the plans of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ʿO Hatib, what is this?ʿ He said: Do not be hasty in judging me, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ. I am a man who was attached to Quraish but I was one of them. The Muhajireen who are with you have relatives who will protect their families in Makkah, and I wanted, as i have no blood ties among them, to do them a favour so that they would protect my family. I did not do it out of kufr or because I apostatized from my religion, or because I approved of Kufr after becoming Muslim. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ʿHe has told you the truth.ʿ ʿUmar ؓ said: O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, let me strike the neck of this hypocrite. He said: “He was present at Badr, and you do not know, perhaps Allah looked upon the people of Badr and said: ʿDo what you wish, for I have forgiven you.ʿ (Using translation from Aḥmad 600)   

أَخْبَرَهُ قَالَ بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَنَا وَالْمِقْدَادُ وَالزُّبَيْرُ فَقَالَ «انْطَلِقُوا حَتَّى تَأْتُوا رَوْضَةَ خَاخٍ فَإِنَّ بِهَا ظَعِينَةً مَعَهَا كِتَابٌ فَخُذُوا مِنْهَا» فَانْطَلَقْنَا حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا الرَّوْضَةَ فَإِذَا نَحْنُ بِالظَّعِينَةِ فَقُلْنَا أَخْرِجِي الْكِتَابَ فَأَخْرَجَتْهُ مِنْ عِقَاصِهَا فَإِذَا فِيهِ مِنْ حَاطِبِ بْنِ أَبِي بَلْتَعَةَ إِلَى نَاسٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ يُخْبِرُهُمْ بِبَعْضِ أَمْرِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَأَتَيْنَا بِهِ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ «مَا هَذَا يَا حَاطِبُ؟» فَقَالَ لَا تَعْجَلْ عَلَيَّ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنِّي كُنْتُ امْرَأً مُلْصَقًا بِقُرَيْشٍ وَلَمْ أَكُنْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَكَانَ مَنْ مَعَكَ لَهُمْ بِهَا قَرَابَاتٌ يَحْمُونَ بِهَا قَرَابَتَهُمْ فَأَحْبَبْتُ إِذْ فَاتَنِي ذَلِكَ مِنَ النَّسَبِ أَنْ أَتَقَرَّبَ إِلَيْهِمْ بِيَدٍ يَحْمُونَ بِهَا قَرَابَتِي وَمَا فَعَلْتُهُ كُفْرًا وَلَا ارْتِدَادًا عَنْ دِينِي وَلَا رِضًى بِالْكُفْرِ بَعْدَ الْإِسْلَامِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «قَدْ صَدَقَكُمْ» فَقَالَ عُمَرُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ دَعْنِي أَضْرِبْ عُنُقَ يَعْنِي هَذَا فَقَالَ يَا عُمَرُ مَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ اللهَ اطَّلَعَ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ فَقَالَ اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ فَقَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَكُمْ وَاللَّفْظُ لِعُبَيْدِ اللهِ وَزَادَ مُحَمَّدٌ فِي حَدِيثِهِ فَأَنْزَلَ اللهُ ﷻ {لَا تَتَّخِذُوا عَدُوِّي وَعَدُوَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَ} [الممتحنة 1] السُّورَةَ كُلَّهَا  

" عن على قال: بعثنى رسول الله ﷺ أنا والزبير والمقداد فقال: انطلقوا حتى تأتوا روضة خاخ فإن بها ظعينة معها كتاب فخذوه منها، فانطلقنا تَعَادَى بنا خيلنا حتى أتينا الروضة، فإذا نحن بالظعينة، قلنا: أخرجى الكتاب، قالت: ما معى كتاب، قلنا: لتخرجن الكتاب أو لتلقين الثياب، فأخرجت الكتاب من عقاصها، فأخذنا الكتاب فأتينا به رسول الله ﷺ فإذا فيه: من حاطب بن أبى بلتعة إلى ناس من المشركين بمكة يخبرهم ببعض أمر رسول الله ﷺ فقال رسول الله ﷺ : ما هذا يا حاطب؟ قال: لا تعجل عليَّ إنى كنت امرًا ملصقًا في قريش ولم أكن من أنفَسهم وكان من معك من المهاجرين لهم قرابات يحمون أهلهم بمكة، فأحببت إذا فاتنى ذلك من النسب فيهم أن أتخذ فيهم يدًا يحمون بها قرابتى، وما فعلت ذلك كفرا ولا ارتدادًا عن دينى، ولا أرضى بالكفر بعد الإسلام، فقال رسول الله ﷺ : إنه قد صدقكم، فقال عمر: يا رسول الله! دعنى أضرب عنق هذا المناقق، فقال: إنه شهد بدرا، وما يدريك لعل الله اطَّلع على أهل بدر فقال: اعملوا ما شئتم فقد غفرت لكم، ونزلت فيه: {يأيها الذين آمنو لا تتخذوا عدوى وعدوكم أولياء} الآية (*) ".  

"عَنِ الحَارِثِ، عَنْ عَلِىٍّ قَالَ: لَما أَرَادَ رَسُولُ الله ﷺ أنْ يَأتِىَ مَكَّةَ أسَرَ إِلَى أُنَاسٍ مِنْ أَصْحَاِبهِ أنَّهُ يُرِيدُ مَكَّة، فِيهِمْ حَاطِبُ بْنُ أبِى بَلتَعَةَ، وَفَشَا فِى النَّاسِ أنَّهُ يُرِيدُ حُنَيْنًا، فَكَتَبَ حَاطِبٌ إِلَى أهْلِ مَكَّةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ الله ﷺ يُرِيدُكُمْ، فَأخبِرَ رَسُولُ الله ﷺ فَبعَثَنِى أنَا وَابَا مَرْثَد ولَيْسَ مَعَنَا رَجُل إِلَّا مَعَهُ فَرَسٌ فَقَالَ: ائْتُوا رَوْضَةَ خَاجٍ فَإِنكُمْ سَتَلقَوْنَ بِهَا امْرَأةً وَمَعَهَا كِتَابٌ فَخُذُوهُ مِنْهَا، فَانْطَلقْنَا حَتَّى رَأيْنَاهَا بِالمَكَانِ الَّذِي ذَكَرَ رَسُولُ الله ﷺ فَقُلنَا لَهَا: هَاتِى الكِتَاب، فَقَالَتْ: مَا مَعِى كِتَابٌ، فَوَضَعْنَا مَتَاعَهَا فَفَتَشْنَاهُ فَلَمْ نَجِدْهُ فِى مَتَاعِهَا، فَقَالَ أَبُو مَرْثَد: فَلَعَلَّهُ أَنْ لاَ يَكُونَ مَعهَا كتَابٌ، فقُلنَا: مَا كَذَبَ رَسُولُ الله ﷺ وَلاَ كَذبنَا، فَقُلنَا لَهَا: لَتُخْرِجِنَّهُ أَوْ لَنُعَرِّيَنَّكِ، فَقَالَتْ: أمَا تَتَّقُونَ الله؟ أَمَا أنتمْ مُسْلمُونَ؟ ! فَقُلنَا لَتُخْرِجِنَّهُ أَوْ لَنُعَرِّينَّكِ فَأخْرَجتهُ مِنْ حُجْزَتِها، وَفِى لفْظٍ: مِنْ قُبُلهَا، فَأتَيْنَا النَّبِىَّ ﷺ فَإِذَا الكِتَابُ مِنْ حَاطِبِ بْنِ أبِى بَلتَعَةَ، فَقَامَ عُمَرُ فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ الله: خَانَ الله، وَخَانَ رَسُولَهُ ائْذَنْ لِى فَأضْرِبَ عُنُقَهُ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ الله ﷺ أَلَيْسَ قَدْ شَهِدَ بدْرًا؟ قَالُوا: بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ الله، قَالَ عُمَرُ: بَلَى وَلَكنَّهُ قَدْ نَكَثَ وَظَاهَرَ أَعْداءَكَ عَلَيْكَ، فَقَالَ رسول الله ﷺ : فَلَعَل الله قَدِ اطلَعَ عَلَى أهْلِ بَدْرٍ فَقَالَ: اعْمَلوا مَا شِئتُمْ، فَفَاضَتْ عَيْنَا عُمَرَ، فَقَالَ: الله ورسوله أعلم، وَأرْسَلَ رَسُولُ الله ﷺ إِلَى حَاطِب فَقَالَ: مَا حَمَلَكَ عَلَى مَا صَنَعْتَ؟ فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ الله، كنتُ امْرأً مُلصقًا فِى قُرَيْشٍ وَكَانَ بِهَا أَهْلِى وَمَالِى، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ مِنْ أصْحَابِكَ أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ وَلَهُ بِمَكَّةَ مَنْ يَمْنَعُ أَهْلَهُ وَمَالَهُ، فَكَتَبْتُ إِليْهِمْ بِذَلِكَ، وَالله يَا

رَسُولَ الله إِنِّى لَمؤْمِنٌ بِالله وَرَسولِه، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ الله ﷺ : صَدَقَ حَاطَبٌ فَلاَ تَقُولُوا بحَاطِب إِلاَّ خَيْرًا. فَأنْزَلَ الله {يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا عَدُوِّي وَعَدُوَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَ تُلْقُونَ إِلَيْهِمْ بِالْمَوَدَّةِ} ".