When the delegates of the tribe of Hawazin came to the Prophet ﷺ and they requested him to return their properties and captives. The Prophet ﷺ stood up and said to them, "I have other people with me in this matter (as you see) and the most beloved statement to me is the true one; you may choose either the properties or the prisoners as I have delayed their distribution." The Prophet ﷺ had waited for them for more than ten days since his arrival from Ta'if. So, when it became evident to them that the Prophet ﷺ was not going to return them except one of the two, they said, "We choose our prisoners." The Prophet got up amongst the people and glorified and praised Allah as He deserved and said, "Then after, these brethren of yours have come to us with repentance, and I see it logical to return them the captives. So, whoever amongst you likes to do that as a favor, then he can do it, and whoever of you likes to stick to his share till we recompense him from the very first war booty which Allah will give us, then he can do so (i.e. give up the present captives)." The people unanimously said, "We do that (return the captives) willingly." The Prophet ﷺ said, "We do not know which of you has agreed to it and which have not, so go back and let your leaders forward us your decision." So, all the people then went back and discussed the matter with their leaders who returned and informed the Prophet ﷺ that all the people had willingly given their consent to return the captives. This is what has reached us about the captives of Hawazin. Narrated Anas that ʿAbbas said to the Prophet, "I paid for my ransom and ʿAqil's ransom."
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَامَ حِينَ جَاءَهُ وَفْدُ هَوَازِنَ فَسَأَلُوهُ أَنْ يَرُدَّ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَالَهُمْ وَسَبْيَهُمْ فَقَالَ إِنَّ مَعِي مَنْ تَرَوْنَ وَأَحَبُّ الْحَدِيثِ إِلَىَّ أَصْدَقُهُ فَاخْتَارُوا إِحْدَى الطَّائِفَتَيْنِ إِمَّا الْمَالَ وَإِمَّا السَّبْىَ وَقَدْ كُنْتُ اسْتَأْنَيْتُ بِهِمْ وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ انْتَظَرَهُمْ بِضْعَ عَشْرَةَ لَيْلَةً حِينَ قَفَلَ مِنَ الطَّائِفِ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ غَيْرُ رَادٍّ إِلَيْهِمْ إِلاَّ إِحْدَى الطَّائِفَتَيْنِ قَالُوا فَإِنَّا نَخْتَارُ سَبْيَنَا فَقَامَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فِي النَّاسِ فَأَثْنَى عَلَى اللَّهِ بِمَا هُوَ أَهْلُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّ إِخْوَانَكُمْ جَاءُونَا تَائِبِينَ وَإِنِّي رَأَيْتُ أَنْ أَرُدَّ إِلَيْهِمْ سَبْيَهُمْ فَمَنْ أَحَبَّ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يُطَيِّبَ ذَلِكَ فَلْيَفْعَلْ وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَلَى حَظِّهِ حَتَّى نُعْطِيَهُ إِيَّاهُ مِنْ أَوَّلِ مَا يُفِيءُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا فَلْيَفْعَلْ فَقَالَ النَّاسُ طَيَّبْنَا ذَلِكَ قَالَ إِنَّا لاَ نَدْرِي مَنْ أَذِنَ مِنْكُمْ مِمَّنْ لَمْ يَأْذَنْ فَارْجِعُوا حَتَّى يَرْفَعَ إِلَيْنَا عُرَفَاؤُكُمْ أَمْرَكُمْ فَرَجَعَ النَّاسُ فَكَلَّمَهُمْ عُرَفَاؤُهُمْ ثُمَّ رَجَعُوا إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَأَخْبَرُوهُ أَنَّهُمْ طَيَّبُوا وَأَذِنُوا فَهَذَا الَّذِي بَلَغَنَا عَنْ سَبْىِ هَوَازِنَ وَقَالَ أَنَسٌ قَالَ عَبَّاسٌ لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَادَيْتُ نَفْسِي وَفَادَيْتُ عَقِيلاً