Musnad Ahmad 827

Translation

✧ Abu 'Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami and Hibban b. 'Atiyya disputed. Abu 'Abd al-Rahman said to Hibban: 'I know what made your companion—meaning 'Ali—bold.' He said: 'What is it, may you have no father?' He said: 'A statement I heard from 'Ali.' He said: 'The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me, al-Zubayr, and Abu Marthad, and all of us were horsemen. He said: "Go until you reach the meadow of Khakh, for there is a woman there with a letter from Hatib b. Abi Balta'a to the polytheists. Bring her to me." We set out on our horses until we caught up with her where the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had told us, riding on her camel. He said: He had written to the people of Makkah about the Messenger of Allah's ﷺ departure. We said to her: "Where is the letter that is with you?" She said: "I have no letter." We made her camel kneel and searched her saddle, but found nothing in it. My two companions said: "We do not see any letter with her." I said: "You know that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not lie." Then I swore: "By the One by whom I swear, if you do not bring out the letter, I will strip you." She reached to her waistband, and she was wrapped in a cloak, and brought out the letter. They brought it to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. They said: "O Messenger of Allah, he has betrayed Allah, His Messenger, and the believers. Let me strike his neck." He said: "O Hatib, what made you do what you did?" He said: "O Messenger of Allah, by Allah, it is not that I do not believe in Allah and His Messenger, but I wanted to have some standing with the people by which Allah might protect my family and my property. None of your companions but had someone there from his people through whom Allah Almighty would protect his family and property." He said: "You have spoken the truth. Say nothing to him but good." 'Umar said: "O Messenger of Allah, he has betrayed Allah, His Messenger, and the believers. Let me strike his neck." He said: "Is he not one of the people of Badr? And what would make you know? Perhaps Allah, Mighty and Majestic, looked upon them and said: 'Do whatever you wish, for Paradise is guaranteed for you.'" 'Umar's eyes filled with tears and he said: "Allah Almighty and His Messenger know best."

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