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, 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 }  

Abu ʿAbdur-Rahman and Hibban bin 'Atiyya had a dispute. Abu ʿAbdur-Rahman said to Hibban, "You know what made your companions (i.e. ʿAli) dare to shed blood." Hibban said, "Come on! What is that?" ʿAbdur-Rahman said, "Something I heard him saying." The other said, "What was it?" ʿAbdurRahman said, "ʿAli said, Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent for me, Az-Zubair and Abu Marthad, and all of us were cavalry men, and said, 'Proceed to Raudat-Hajj (Abu Salama said that Abu 'Awana called it like this, i.e., Hajj where there is a woman carrying a letter from Hatib bin Abi Balta'a to the pagans (of Mecca). So bring that letter to me.' So we proceeded riding on our horses till we overtook her at the same place of which Messenger of Allah ﷺ had told us. She was traveling on her camel. In that letter Hatib had written to the Meccans about the proposed attached of Messenger of Allah ﷺ against them. We asked her, "Where is the letter which is with you?' She replied, 'I haven't got any letter.' So we made her camel kneel down and searched her luggage, but we did not find anything. My two companions said, 'We do not think that she has got a letter.' I said, 'We know that Messenger of Allah ﷺ has not told a lie.'" Then ʿAli took an oath saying, "By Him by Whom one should swear! You shall either bring out the letter or we shall strip off your clothes." She then stretched out her hand for her girdle (round her waist) and brought out the paper (letter). They took the letter to Messenger of Allah ﷺ. ʿUmar said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! (Hatib) has betrayed Allah, His Apostle and the believers; let me chop off his neck!" Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "O Hatib! What obliged you to do what you have done?" Hatib replied, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Why (for what reason) should I not believe in Allah and His Apostle? But I intended to do the (Mecca) people a favor by virtue of which my family and property may be protected as there is none of your companions but has some of his people (relatives) whom Allah urges to protect his family and property." The Prophet ﷺ said, "He has said the truth; therefore, do not say anything to him except good." ʿUmar again said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! He has betrayed Allah, His Apostle and the believers; let me chop his neck off!" The Prophet ﷺ said, "Isn't he from those who fought the battle of Badr? And what do you know, Allah might have looked at them (Badr warriors) and said (to them), 'Do what you like, for I have granted you Paradise?' " On that, ʿUmar's eyes became flooded with tears and he said, "Allah and His Apostle know best."  

أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ لِحِبَّانَ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ الَّذِي جَرَّأَ صَاحِبَكَ عَلَى الدِّمَاءِ يَعْنِي عَلِيًّا قَالَ مَا هُوَ لاَ أَبَا لَكَ قَالَ شَىْءٌ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُهُ قَالَ مَا هُوَ قَالَ بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالزُّبَيْرَ وَأَبَا مَرْثَدٍ وَكُلُّنَا فَارِسٌ قَالَ انْطَلِقُوا حَتَّى تَأْتُوا رَوْضَةَ حَاجٍ قَالَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ هَكَذَا قَالَ أَبُو عَوَانَةَ حَاجٍ فَإِنَّ فِيهَا امْرَأَةً مَعَهَا صَحِيفَةٌ مِنْ حَاطِبِ بْنِ أَبِي بَلْتَعَةَ إِلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ فَأْتُونِي بِهَا فَانْطَلَقْنَا عَلَى أَفْرَاسِنَا حَتَّى أَدْرَكْنَاهَا حَيْثُ قَالَ لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ تَسِيرُ عَلَى بَعِيرٍ لَهَا وَكَانَ كَتَبَ إِلَى أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ بِمَسِيرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِلَيْهِمْ فَقُلْنَا أَيْنَ الْكِتَابُ الَّذِي مَعَكِ قَالَتْ مَا مَعِي كِتَابٌ فَأَنَخْنَا بِهَا بَعِيرَهَا فَابْتَغَيْنَا فِي رَحْلِهَا فَمَا وَجَدْنَا شَيْئًا فَقَالَ صَاحِبِي مَا نَرَى مَعَهَا كِتَابًا قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا مَا كَذَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ ثُمَّ حَلَفَ عَلِيٌّ وَالَّذِي يُحْلَفُ بِهِ لَتُخْرِجِنَّ الْكِتَابَ أَوْ لأُجَرِّدَنَّكِ فَأَهْوَتْ إِلَى حُجْزَتِهَا وَهْىَ مُحْتَجِزَةٌ بِكِسَاءٍ فَأَخْرَجَتِ الصَّحِيفَةَ فَأَتَوْا بِهَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَدْ خَانَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ دَعْنِي فَأَضْرِبَ عُنُقَهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا حَاطِبُ مَا حَمَلَكَ عَلَى مَا صَنَعْتَ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَالِي أَنْ لاَ أَكُونَ مُؤْمِنًا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَلَكِنِّي أَرَدْتُ أَنْ يَكُونَ لِي عِنْدَ الْقَوْمِ يَدٌ يُدْفَعُ بِهَا عَنْ أَهْلِي وَمَالِي وَلَيْسَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِكَ أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ لَهُ هُنَالِكَ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ مَنْ يَدْفَعُ اللَّهُ بِهِ عَنْ أَهْلِهِ وَمَالِهِ قَالَ صَدَقَ لاَ تَقُولُوا لَهُ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا قَالَ فَعَادَ عُمَرُ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ قَدْ خَانَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ دَعْنِي فَلأَضْرِبَ عُنُقَهُ قَالَ أَوَلَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ اطَّلَعَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ فَقَدْ أَوْجَبْتُ لَكُمُ الْجَنَّةَ فَاغْرَوْرَقَتْ عَيْنَاهُ فَقَالَ 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  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ , passed away, and Abu Bakr was appointed as his successor. Those Arabs who had disbelieved continued to do so. Umar ibn Al-Khattab said to Abu Bakr, "How can you fight the people when the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ , said, 'I have been commanded to fight the people until they say, "There is no god but Allah," and whoever says, "There is no god but Allah," his wealth and his life will be protected except for what is justified and his reckoning is with Allah?'" Abu Bakr replied, "By Allah, I will fight whoever separates prayer and zakat, for indeed, zakat is the right of wealth. By Allah, if they withheld from me a small cord that they used to give to the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ , I would fight them for withholding it." Umar ibn Al-Khattab said, "By Allah, this is only because I saw Allah had expanded the chest of Abu Bakr for fighting, so I knew it was the truth." Qutaybah narrated to us, Abu Sa'eed ibn Abi 'Amr told us, Abu Al-Abbas Al-Asamm narrated to us, Rabee'ah said, "Ash-Shafi'i, may Allah have mercy on him, said, 'This is like the two hadiths before it, which were general regarding the polytheists. However, what is intended in them, and Allah knows best, is the polytheistic people of the idols. There was no one from the people of the Book, apart from the Jews in Al-Madinah, who were allies of the Ansar. The Ansar were the first to gather as Muslims without any enmity toward the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ . They bid farewell to the Jews, without showing hostility in words or actions. Until the Battle of Badr, they did not speak openly against the Prophet or incite against him. So the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ , killed some of them. In the Hijaz, I only knew of the Jews and a few Christians in Najran who were adversaries. The Magians were in Hajar, Barbary lands, and Fars, far removed from the Hijaz. Apart from them, the polytheistic people of the idols were numerous.'"  

تُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَاسْتُخْلِفَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ بَعْدَهُ وَكَفَرَ مَنْ كَفَرَ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ قَالَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ لِأَبِي بَكْرٍ ؓ كَيْفَ تُقَاتِلُ النَّاسَ وَقَدْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُقَاتِلَ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَقُولُوا لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ فَمَنْ قَالَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ عَصَمَ مِنِّي مَالَهُ وَنَفْسَهُ إِلَّا بِحَقِّهِ وَحِسَابُهُ عَلَى اللهِ ؟ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ وَاللهِ لَأُقَاتِلَنَّ مَنْ فَرَّقَ بَيْنَ الصَّلَاةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ فَإِنَّ الزَّكَاةَ حَقُّ الْمَالِ وَاللهِ لَوْ مَنَعُونِي عِقَالًا كَانُوا يُؤَدُّونَهُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ لَقَاتَلْتُهُمْ عَلَى مَنْعِهِ قَالَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ ؓ فَوَاللهِ مَا هُوَ إِلَّا أَنْ رَأَيْتُ اللهَ قَدْ شَرَحَ صَدْرَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ ؓ لِلْقِتَالِ فَعَرَفْتُ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ أَخْرَجَاهُ فِي الصَّحِيحِ عَنْ قُتَيْبَةَ 18627 أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو سَعِيدِ بْنُ أَبِي عَمْرٍو ثنا أَبُو الْعَبَّاسِ الْأَصَمُّ أَنْبَأَ الرَّبِيعُ قَالَ قَالَ الشَّافِعِيُّ رَحِمَهُ اللهُ وَهَذَا مِثْلُ الْحَدِيثَيْنِ قَبْلَهُ فِي الْمُشْرِكِينَ مُطْلَقًا وَإِنَّمَا يُرَادُ بِهِ وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ مُشْرِكُو أَهْلِ الْأَوْثَانِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ بِحَضْرَةِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَلَا قُرْبَهُ أَحَدٌ مِنْ مُشْرِكِي أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ إِلَّا يَهُودُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ وَكَانُوا حُلَفَاءَ الْأَنْصَارِ وَلَمْ تَكُنِ الْأَنْصَارُ اسْتَجْمَعَتْ أَوَّلَ مَا قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِسْلَامًا فَوَادَعَتْ يَهُودُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ وَلَمْ تَخْرُجْ إِلَى شَيْءٍ مِنْ عَدَاوَتِهِ بِقَوْلٍ يَظْهَرُ وَلَا فِعْلٍ حَتَّى كَانَتْ وَقْعَةُ بَدْرٍ فَتَكَلَّمَ بَعْضُهَا بِعَدَاوَتِهِ وَالتَّحْرِيضِ عَلَيْهِ فَقَتَلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فِيهِمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ بِالْحِجَازِ عَلِمْتُهُ إِلَّا يَهُودُ أَوْ نَصَارَى قَلِيلٌ بِنَجْرَانَ وَكَانَتِ الْمَجُوسُ بِهَجَرَ وَبِبِلَادِ الْبَرْبَرِ وَفَارِسَ نَائِينَ عَنِ الْحِجَازِ دُونَهُمْ مُشْرِكُونَ أَهْلُ الْأَوْثَانِ كَثِيرٌ  

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)   

بَعَثَنَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَنَا وَالزُّبَيْرَ وَالْمِقْدَادَ فَقَالَ انْطَلِقُوا حَتَّى تَأْتُوا رَوْضَةَ خَاخٍ فَإِنَّ بِهَا ظَعِينَةً مَعَهَا كِتَابٌ فَخَرَجْنَا تَعَادَى بِنَا خَيْلُنَا فَإِذَا نَحْنُ بِظَعِينَةٍ فَقُلْنَا أَخْرِجِي الْكِتَابَ فَقَالَتْ مَا مَعِي كِتَابٌ فَقُلْنَا لَهَا لَتُخْرِجِنَّ الْكِتَابَ أَوْ لَتُلْقِينَّ الثِّيَابَ فَأَخْرَجَتْهُ مِنْ عِقَاصِهَا فَأَتَيْنَا بِهِ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَإِذَا فِيهِ مِنْ حَاطِبِ بْنِ أَبِي بَلْتَعَةَ إِلَى أُنَاسٍ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ مِمَّنْ بِمَكَّةَ يُخْبِرُ بِبَعْضِ أَمْرِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ مَا هَذَا يَا حَاطِبُ ؟ قَالَ لَا تَعْجَلْ عَلَيَّ إِنِّي كُنْتُ امْرَأً مُلْصَقًا فِي قُرَيْشٍ وَلَمْ أَكُنْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهَا وَكَانَ مَنْ مَعَكَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ لَهُمْ قَرَابَاتٌ يَحْمُونَ بِهَا قَرَابَاتِهِمْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لِي بِمَكَّةَ قَرَابَةٌ فَأَحْبَبْتُ إِذْ فَاتَنِي ذَلِكَ أَنْ أَتَّخِذَ عِنْدَهُمْ يَدًا وَاللهِ مَا فَعَلْتُهُ شَكًّا فِي دِينِي وَلَا رِضًا بِالْكُفْرِ بَعْدَ الْإِسْلَامِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِنَّهُ قَدْ صَدَقَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ ؓ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ دَعْنِي أَضْرِبْ عُنُقَ هَذَا الْمُنَافِقِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِنَّهُ قَدْ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ اللهَ اطَّلَعَ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ فَقَالَ اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ فَقَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَكُمْ وَنَزَلَتْ {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا عَدُوِّي وَعَدُوَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَ تُلْقُونَ إِلَيْهِمْ بِالْمَوَدَّةِ} [الممتحنة 1]  

[Machine] Abu Abdurrahman, I heard him saying that Ali said: Hattab ibn Abi Balta'ah wrote to Mecca, saying: "Indeed, Muhammad intends to attack you with his companions, so be cautious." He sent his letter to a woman known as Sara, who placed it in her garment or in one of its folds, and then she set off. Allah informed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about that. Ali said: "So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me with Zubair ibn Al-Awam and Abu Marthad Al-Ghanawi, and all of us were horsemen. He said: Set out, as you will meet her in Rawdah, such and such, so search her, as she carries a letter to the people of Mecca from Hattab." So we set out and met her. We said: Hand over the letter you have to the people of Mecca. She replied: I don't have any letter with me. I said: By Allah, neither did I lie nor forge it. Either she would produce it or I would strip her. When she knew that I was serious, she brought out the letter. So we took it and set off with it to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , who opened it and read it. It contained the letter of Hattab to the people of Mecca saying: "After this, Muhammad intends to attack you, so be cautious and prepared." When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ finished reading the letter, he sent for Hattab and asked him: "Did you write this letter?" He replied: "Yes." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked: "What prompted you to do so?" He said: "By Allah, I have never disbelieved since I embraced Islam. I believe in Allah and His Messenger. I only did this because there is no one among your companions in Mecca who protects his family and property, while I have no one there who protects my family and property, so I wanted to have someone to rely on among the people. Indeed, I know that Allah will support His Messenger." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ believed him and accepted his statement. Umar ibn Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) got up and said: "O Messenger of Allah! Let me kill him, for he has betrayed Allah and the believers." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied: "O Umar! He is from the people of Badr, and who knows, perhaps Allah has looked at them and said: 'Do as you like, for I have forgiven you."  

أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ سَمِعْتُهُ يُحَدِّثُ يَعْنِي عَلِيًّا ؓ قَالَ كَتَبَ حَاطِبُ بْنُ أَبِي بَلْتَعَةَ إِلَى مَكَّةَ إِنَّ مُحَمَّدًا يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَغْزُوَكُمْ بِأَصْحَابِهِ فَخُذُوا حِذْرَكُمْ وَدَفَعَ كِتَابَهُ إِلَى امْرَأَةٍ يُقَالُ لَهَا سَارَّةُ فَجَعَلَتْهُ فِي إِزَارِهَا أَوْ فِي ذُؤَابَةٍ مِنْ ذَوَائِبِهَا فَانْطَلَقَتْ فَأَطْلَعَ اللهُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ عَلَى ذَلِكَ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ فَبَعَثَنِي وَمَعِيَ الزُّبَيْرُ بْنُ الْعَوَّامِ وَأَبُو مَرْثَدٍ الْغَنَوِيُّ وَكُلُّنَا فَارِسٌ قَالَ انْطَلِقُوا فَإِنَّكُمْ سَتَلْقَوْنَهَا بِرَوْضَةِ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَفَتِّشُوهَا فَإِنَّ مَعَهَا كِتَابًا إِلَى أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ مِنْ حَاطِبٍ فَانْطَلَقْنَا فَوَافَقْنَاهَا فَقُلْنَا هَاتِي الْكِتَابَ الَّذِي مَعَكِ إِلَى أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ فَقَالَتْ مَا مَعِي كِتَابٌ قَالَ قُلْتُ مَا كَذَبْتُ وَلَا كُذِبْتُ لَتُخْرِجِنَّهُ أَوْ لَأُجَرِّدَنَّكِ فَلَمَّا عَرَفَتْ أَنِّي فَاعِلٌ أَخْرَجَتِ الْكِتَابَ فَأَخَذْنَاهُ فَانْطَلَقْنَا بِهِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَفَتَحَهُ فَقَرَأَهُ فَإِذَا فِيهِ مِنْ حَاطِبٍ إِلَى أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّ مُحَمَّدًا يُرِيدُكُمْ فَخُذُوا حِذْرَكُمْ وَتَأَهَّبُوا أَوْ كَمَا قَالَ فَلَمَّا قَرَأَ الْكِتَابَ أَرْسَلَ إِلَى حَاطِبٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَكَتَبْتَ هَذَا الْكِتَابَ؟ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَمَا حَمَلَكَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَمَا وَاللهِ مَا كَفَرْتُ مُنْذُ أَسْلَمْتُ وَإِنِّي لِمُؤْمِنٌ بِاللهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَمَا حَمَلَنِي عَلَى مَا صَنَعْتُ مِنْ كِتَابِي إِلَى أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِكَ إِلَّا وَلَهُ هُنَاكَ بِمَكَّةَ مَنْ يَدْفَعُ عَنْ أَهْلِهِ وَمَالِهِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لِي هُنَاكَ أَحَدٌ يَدْفَعُ عَنْ أَهْلِي وَمَالِي فَأَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ أَتَّخِذَ عِنْدَ الْقَوْمِ يَدًا وَإِنِّي لَأَعْلَمُ أَنَّ اللهَ سَيُظْهِرُ رَسُولَهُ عَلَيْهِمْ قَالَ فَصَدَّقَهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَقَبِلَ قَوْلَهُ قَالَ فَقَامَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ ؓ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ دَعْنِي فَأَضْرِبَ عُنُقَهُ؛ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ خَانَ اللهَ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَا عُمَرُ إِنَّهُ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ اللهَ اطَّلَعَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ فَقَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَكُمْ  

"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} ".  

" عَنْ نَافِعٍ أَنَّ رَجُلًا أَتَى ابن عُمَرَ فَقَالَ: يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ: مَا الذى يَحْمِلُكَ عَلَى أَنْ تَحُجَّ عَامًا وَتَعْتَمر عَامًا وَتَتْرُكَ الجِهَادَ في سَبِيلِ الله، وَقَدْ علِمْت مَا رَغَّبَ الله فِيهِ؟ قَالَ: يَابْنَ أَخِى: بُنى الإسْلاَمُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ: إِيمانٌ بِالله وَرَسُولِه، وَصَلاَةُ الْخَمْسِ، وَصِيامُ شَهِرِ رَمَضَانَ، وَأَدَاءُ الزَّكَاةِ، وَحَجُّ الْبَيْت، فَقَالَ: يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ: أَلاَ تَسْمَعُ مَا ذَكَرَ الله فِى كِتَابِهِ {وَإِنْ طَائِفَتَانِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ اقْتَتَلُوا فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَهُمَا فَإِنْ بَغَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا عَلَى الْأُخْرَى فَقَاتِلُوا الَّتِي تَبْغِي حَتَّى تَفِيءَ إِلَى أَمْرِ اللَّهِ}، فَمَا يَمْنَعُكَ أَنْ تُقَاتِلَ الْفِئَة الْبَاغِية كمَا أَمَرَكَ الله في كتَابِهِ؟ فَقَالَ: يَابْنَ أَخِى لأَنْ أَعْتَبِرَ بِهَذِهِ الآيَةِ فَلاَ أَقَاتِل أَحَبّ إِلَىَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَعْتَبِرَ بِالأَيَةِ التَّي يَقُولُ الله فيها {وَمَنْ يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَاؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ} فَقَالَ: أَلاَ تَرَى أَنَّ الله يَقُولُ: {وَقُاتِلُوهُم حَتَّى لاَ تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ كُلُّهُ لله}، قَالَ ابن عُمَرَ: قَدْ فَعَلنَا عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ الله ﷺ أنْ كَانَ أهْلُ الإسْلاَمِ قَلِيلًا وَكَانَ الرَّجُلُ يُفْتَنُ فِى دِينهِ إِمَّا أَنْ يَقْتُلُوهُ وِإمَّا أَنْ يَسْتَرِقِّوهُ حَتَّى كَثُرَ أَهْلُ الإسْلاَمِ فَلَمْ يَكُن فِتْنَةً، قَالَ: فَمَا قَوْلُكَ في عَلِىٍّ

وَعُثْمَانَ؟ قَالَ أَمَّا عُثْمَانُ: فَكَانَ الله عفى عَنْهُ وَكَرِهْتُم أَن تَعْفُوا، وَأَمَّا عَلِىٌّ: فَابْنُ عَمِّ رَسُولِ الله ﷺ وَخَتَنِهِ وَأَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ، وَهَذَا بَيْتُهُ حَيْثُ تَرَوْنَ ".