Narrated `Ali:Allah's Messenger (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 Allah's Messenger (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. Allah's Messenger (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." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to his companions." As regards him, he (i.e. Hatib) has told you the truth." `Umar said, "O Allah's Messenger (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
Reference
Sahih al-Bukhari 4274
In-book reference
Book 64, Hadith 308
USC-MSA web (English)
Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 572
Translation by Dr. M. Muhsin Khan · Language: EN
Sahih
It is related that 'Ubaydullah ibn Abi Rafi' said, "I heard 'Ali say, 'The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, dispatched me, az-Zubayr and al-Miqdad ibn al-Aswad, saying, "Go until you reach the meadow Khakh. There will be a woman in a howdah with a letter. Take it from her." He said, "We went out and made our horses gallop until we reached the meadow and found the woman. We ordered her, "Produce the letter." She replied, "I do not have a letter." We said, "You will bring out the letter or we will take your clothes." She brought it out from her plaided hair. We took it to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and it contained something from Hatib ibn Abi Balta'a to some of the idolaters among the people of Makka, informing them about some of the business of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, asked, "O Hatib, what is this?" He replied, "O Messenger of Allah, do not be hasty with me. I am a man who was attached to the Quraysh." He said, "I was an ally, but I was not one of them while those of the Muhajirun with you have relatives in Makka who will protect their family and property. Since I lacked that lineage among them, I wanted to do them some favour with which to protect my relatives. I did not do it out of disbelief or apostasy, nor out of being pleased with disbelief after Islam." The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "He has told you the truth." 'Umar said, "O Messenger of Allah, let me strike off the head of this hypocrite!" He replied, "He was present at Badr and what will inform you? Perhaps Allah looked down on the people of Badr and said, 'Do what you like. I have forgiven you.'"' So Allah sent down the sura, 'O you who believe! Do not take My enemy and your enemy as friends, showing love for them when they have rejected the truth that has come to you - to His words - Any of you who do that have strayed from the Right Way.' (60:1)"
Reference
Sahih al-Bukhari 4274
In-book reference
Book 64, Hadith 308
USC-MSA web (English)
Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 572
Translation by Aisha Bewley · Language: EN
Sahih
