Volume 6, Book 60, Number 412:
Narrated Ali:
Allah’s Apostle 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 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 said, “What is this, O Hatib?” Hatib replied, “Do not be hasty with me, O Allah’s Apostle! 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.” ‘Umar 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.’ ” (Amr, 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)