English translation
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ 6259. Narrated 'Alī رضي الله عنهAllāh's Messenger ﷺ sent me, Az-Zubair bin Al-'Awwām and Abū Marṭhaḍ Al-Ghanawī, andall of us were horsemen, and he said,"Proceed till you reach Rawḍat Khākhwhere there is a woman from Al-Mushrikūn[polytheists, pagans, idolaters, anddisbelievers in the Oneness of Allāh and inHis Messenger Muḥammad ﷺ]] carrying aletter sent by Hāṭib bin Abī Balta'a to Al-Mushrikūn (of Makkah)." So we overtookher while she was proceeding on her camel at the same place as Allāh's Messenger 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 Allāh's Messenger ﷺ did not tell a lie. By Allāh, if you (the lady) do not bring out the letter, I will strip you of your clothes (in search of the letter)." 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 Allāh's Messenger ﷺ with the letter. The Prophet ﷺ said (to Hāṭib), "What made you do what you have done, O Hāṭib?" Hāṭib replied, "I have nothing except that I believe in Allāh and His Messenger, and I have not changed or altered (my religion). But I wanted to do favour to the people (Mushrikūn of Makkah) through which Allāh might protect my family and my property, as there is none among your companions but has someone in Makkah through whom Allāh protects his property (against harm)." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Hāṭib has told you the truth, so do not say to him (anything) but good." 'Umar bin Al-Khaṭṭāb said, "Verily he has betrayed Allāh, His Messenger and the believers! Allow me to chop his neck off!" The Prophet ﷺ said, "O 'Umar! What do you know, perhaps Allāh looked upon the Badr warriors and said, 'Do whatever you like, for I have ordained that you will be in Paradise.'" On that 'Umar wept and said, "Allāh and His Messenger know better."