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

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

[Machine] Umar ibn Al-Khattab wrote a letter to Hattib ibn Abi Balta'ah to deliver it to the people of Makkah. Allah, the Most High, revealed to His Prophet ﷺ what had happened. So the Prophet sent Ali and Zubayr to chase after them. They caught up with a woman riding a camel and they took the letter she had concealed in one of the humps. They brought it to the Prophet ﷺ who read it and then sent for Hattib. The Prophet asked him, "O Hattib, did you write this letter?" Hattib replied, "Yes, O Messenger of Allah." The Prophet asked him, "What prompted you to do this?" Hattib replied, "O Messenger of Allah, by Allah, I am loyal to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, but I was a stranger among the people of Makkah and my family was still there. So I feared for their safety and wrote a letter that would not harm Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. Perhaps it will be of benefit to my family." Umar said, "I drew my sword and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, allow me to strike his neck, for he has committed disbelief.' The Prophet ﷺ said, 'O Ibn Al-Khattab, what makes you think that Allah has not seen the people of this group from the Battle of Badr? Do as you please, for I have forgiven you all.'"

عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ كَتَبَ حَاطِبُ بْنُ أَبِي بَلْتَعَةَ إِلَى أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ فَأَطْلَعَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ نَبِيَّهُ ﷺ فَبَعَثَ عَلِيًّا وَالزُّبَيْرَ فِي أَثَرِ الْكِتَابِ فَأَدْرَكَا امْرَأَةً عَلَى بَعِيرٍ فَاسْتَخْرَجَاهُ مِنْ قَرْنٍ مِنْ قُرُونِهَا فَأَتَيَا بِهِ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقُرِئَ عَلَيْهِ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى حَاطِبٍ فَقَالَ «يَا حَاطِبُ إِنَّكَ كَتَبْتُ هَذَا الْكِتَابَ؟» قَالَ نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَمَا حَمَلَكَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ لَنَاصِحٌ لِلَّهِ وَلِرَسُولِهِ ﷺ وَلَكِنِّي كُنْتُ غَرِيبًا فِي أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ وَكَانَ أَهْلِي بَيْنَ ظَهْرَانَيْهِمْ فَخَشِيتُ عَلَيْهِمْ فَكَتَبْتُ كِتَابًا لَا يَضُرُّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ شَيْئًا وَعَسَى أَنْ يَكُونَ فِيهِ مَنْفَعَةٌ لِأَهْلِي قَالَ عُمَرُ فَاخْتَرَطْتُ سَيْفِي وَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَمْكِنِّي مِنْهُ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ كَفَرَ فَأَضْرِبْ عُنُقَهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا ابْنَ الْخَطَّابِ وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ قَدِ اطَّلَعَ عَلَى أَهْلِ هَذِهِ الْعِصَابَةِ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ فَقَالَ اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ فَإِنِّي قَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَكُمْ

[Machine] He narrated that his father wrote a letter to the disbelievers of Quraish while he was with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , who had witnessed the Battle of Badr. So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called Ali and Zubair and said, "Go and catch a woman who has a book and bring it to me." So they went until they reached her and said, "Give us the book that you have and inform her that we will not leave until we remove every garment from her." So she said, "Are you two Muslim men?" They replied, "Yes, but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ has informed us that you have a book." When she was sure that they were not deceiving her, she untied the book from her head and handed it to them. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ called for a scribe and asked him to read from the book. He said, "Do you recognize this book?" He replied, "Yes." He asked, "What prompted you to do this?" He answered, "I had my child and relatives with me, and I was a Bedouin among the people of Quraish." Umar asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for permission to kill Hattib, but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "No, for he has witnessed the Battle of Badr, and you do not know, perhaps Allah has looked favorably upon the people of Badr." Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Do as you please, for I have forgiven you." Al-Dhahabi did not mention this incident in his summary.

أَنَّهُ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ أَبَاهُ كَتَبَ إِلَى كُفَّارِ قُرَيْشٍ كِتَابًا وَهُوَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَدْ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا فَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلِيًّا وَالزُّبَيْرَ فَقَالَ «انْطَلِقَا حَتَّى تُدْرِكَا امْرَأَةً وَمَعَهَا كِتَابُ فَأَتَيَانِي بِهِ» فَانْطَلَقَا حَتَّى أَتَيَاهَا فَقَالَا أَعْطِينَا الْكِتَابَ الَّذِي مَعَكِ وَأَخْبَرَاهَا أَنَّهُمَا غَيْرُ مُنْصَرِفِينَ حَتَّى يَنْزِعَا كُلَّ ثَوْبٍ عَلَيْهَا فَقَالَتْ أَلَسْتُمَا رَجُلَيْنِ مُسْلِمَيْنِ قَالَا بَلَى وَلَكِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَدَّثَنَا أَنَّ مَعَكِ كِتَابًا فَلَمَّا أَيْقَنَتْ أَنَّهَا غَيْرُ مُنْفَلِتَةٍ مِنْهُمَا حَلَّتِ الْكِتَابَ مِنْ رَأْسِهَا فَدَفَعْتُهُ إِلَيْهِمَا فَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَاطِبًا حَتَّى قَرَأَ عَلَيْهِ الْكِتَابَ قَالَ «أَتَعْرِفُ هَذَا الْكِتَابَ؟» قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ «فَمَا حَمَلَكَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ؟» قَالَ كَانَ هُنَاكَ وَلَدِي وَذُو قَرَابَتِي وَكُنْتُ امْرَأً أَعْرَابِيًّا فِيكُمْ مَعْشَرَ قُرَيْشٍ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ ائْذَنْ لِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فِي قَتْلِ حَاطِبٍ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ لَا إِنَّهُ قَدْ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا وَأَنَّكَ لَا تَدْرِي لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ قَدِ اطَّلَعَ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ فَقَالَ «اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ فَإِنِّي غَافِرٌ لَكُمْ» سكت عنه الذهبي في التلخيص

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

"عن عمر قال: كَتَبَ حَاطبُ بْنُ (أَبِى) بلتعَة إلى أهل مكةَ بكتابٍ، فأَطْلَعَ الله عليهِ نبيَّهُ، فبعثَ عليًا والزبير في (أَثَرِ) الكتابِ، فأدركا المرأةَ على بعيرٍ فاستخرجاهُ من قرنهَا، فأتيَا بِه النبىَّ ﷺ فأرسلَ إلَى حاطبٍ قالَ: يا حاطبُ: أنت كتبتَ هذَا الكتاب؟ قال: نعم، (قال: ) فَما حمَلكَ على ذلكَ؟ قال: يَا رسول الله: أما والله إِنَّى لنا صحٌ لله ولرسولهِ، لكن كنتُ غريبًا في أهل مكة، وكان أهلى فيهم فخشيتُ أن يضْرِبُوا عليهم، فقلت اكتبُ كتابًا لا يضُرُّ الله ولا رسولَه شيئًا وعسى أن يكون منفعةً لأهلِى، فاخترطتُ سيفِى فقلتُ: أضربُ عنقهُ يا رسولَ الله؟ (لقد كفر) (*) فقال: وما يدريكَ يَا بْنَ الخطابِ أن يكونَ الله اطلعَ على هذِه العصابةِ من أهل بدر فقال: اعملوا ما شِئتم فقد غفرت لكم؟ ! ".