Volume 5, Book 59, Number 319:
Narrated ‘Ali:
Volume 5 – 939 / 1700
SAHIH BUKHARI VOLUME 5 > BOOK 59: MILITARY EXPEDITIONS LED BY THE PROPHET (PBUH) (AL-MAGHAAZI)
Allah’s Apostle 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 Allah’s Apostle
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, “Allah’s Apostle 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 Allah’s Apostle Then ‘Umar 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
said, “He has spoken the truth; do no say to him but good.” ‘Umar said, “He as betrayed Allah, His
Apostle and the faithful believers. Let me cut off his neck!” The Prophet 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 Umar’s eyes, and he
said, “Allah and His Apostle know better.”