Narrated:Abu `Abdur-Rahman and Hibban bin 'Atiyya had a dispute. Abu `Abdur-Rahman said to Hibban, "You know what made your companions (i.e. `Ali) dare to shed blood." Hibban said, "Come on! What is that?" `Abdur-Rahman said, "Something I heard him saying." The other said, "What was it?" `AbdurRahman said, "`Ali said, Allah's Messenger (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 Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had told us. She was traveling on her camel. In that letter Hatib had written to the Meccans about the proposed attached of Allah's Messenger (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 Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) has not told a lie.'" Then `Ali 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 Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). `Umar said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! (Hatib) has betrayed Allah, His Apostle and the believers; let me chop off his neck!" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "O Hatib! What obliged you to do what you have done?" Hatib replied, "O Allah's Messenger (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." `Umar again said, "O Allah's Messenger (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, `Umar's eyes became flooded with tears and he said, "Allah and His Apostle know best."
Reference
Sahih al-Bukhari 6939
In-book reference
Book 88, Hadith 21
USC-MSA web (English)
Vol. 9, Book 84, Hadith 72
Translation by Dr. M. Muhsin Khan · Language: EN
Sahih
Someone [Sa'd ibn 'Ubayda] related that Abu 'Abdur-Rahman and Hibban ibn 'Atiyya had a dispute. Abu 'Abdur-Rahman said to Hibban, "I know what made your companion (i.e. 'Ali) dare to shed blood.� He said, 'What is it, fatherless one?� He answered, 'Something which I heard him say.� 'And what was that?� he asked. He replied, '[He said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sent me, az-Zubayr, and Abu Marthad on horseback, saying, 'Go until you reach the meadow Hajj. (Abu Salama said that Abu 'Awana called it that: Hajj). There will be a woman who will have a letter of Hatib ibn Abi Balta'a to the idolworshippers. Bring it to me.� We went on our horses and caught up to her riding her camel where the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had told us. Hatib had written to the people of Makka that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was going to move against them. We demanded, 'Where is the letter you have?� She answered, 'I have no letter.� So we made her camel kneel and searched her luggage without seeing anything. My two companions said, 'We do not think that she has a letter.� I said, 'We know that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, does not lie.� Then 'Ali swore an oath, saying, 'By the One by whom one swears, The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, does not lie. You will bring out the letter or we will strip you.� She put her hand below her waist-belt which belted her garment and produced the letter. We took it to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. 'Umar said, 'Messenger of Allah, he has betrayed Allah, His Messenger and the believers. Let me strike off his head!� The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'Hatib, what moved you to do what you did?� He answered, 'Messenger of Allah, Why would I do other than believe in Allah and His Messenger! But I wanted to have some favour with the people through which Allah might protect my relatives and property. There are none of your Companions who do not have relatives by whom Allah will protect their family and property.' The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'He has told the truth. Do not say anything but good about him.' 'Umar again repeated, 'Messenger of Allah, he has betrayed Allah, His Messenger and the believers. Let me strike off his head!� He said, 'Was he not one of the people of Badr? What will inform you? Perhaps Allah has looked at the people of Badr and said, "Do what you like. The Garden is mandatory for you"?� Then 'Umar�s eyes filled with tears and he said, 'Allah and His Messenger know best.�" Abu 'Abdullah said that Khakh [the name of the place] is sounder although Abu 'Awana said Hajj. Hajj is a confusion in the letters. It is a place. Hushaym said that it Khakh. Return to Contents Return to Home Page
Reference
Sahih al-Bukhari 6939
In-book reference
Book 88, Hadith 21
USC-MSA web (English)
Vol. 9, Book 84, Hadith 72
Translation by Aisha Bewley · Language: EN
Sahih
