The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me, Abu Marthad al-Ghanawi, and Zubayr bin Awwam, all of us horsemen. He said, "Go until you reach Rawdat Khakh, for there you will find a woman from the polytheists carrying a letter from Hatib bin Abu Balta to the polytheists."We caught up with her riding her camel at the very place the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had described.We said, "Hand over the letter."She replied, "I have no letter with me."We made her camel kneel and searched her belongings, but we found no letter.We said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ does not lie. Either you produce the letter, or we will strip you."When she saw we were serious, she reached for the waistband of the garment she was wrapped in and pulled out the letter. We brought her to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.Umar said, "Messenger of Allah, he has betrayed Allah, His Messenger, and the believers. Let me strike off his head."The Prophet ﷺ asked Hatib, "What led you to do this?"Hatib replied, "By Allah, it was not that I had ceased to believe in Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. I wanted to have some standing with the people of Makkah by which Allah would protect my family and property. Every one of your companions has relatives there through whom Allah protects his family and property, but I have none."The Prophet ﷺ said, "He has spoken the truth. Say nothing about him except good."Umar said again, "He has betrayed Allah, His Messenger, and the believers. Let me strike off his head."The Prophet ﷺ said, "Is he not one of the men of Badr? Perhaps Allah has looked upon the men of Badr and said, 'Do as you wish, for Paradise has been guaranteed to you,'" or he said, "'I have already forgiven you.'"Umar's eyes filled with tears, and he said, "Allah and His Messenger know best."
حدثني إسحاق بن إبراهيم أخبرنا عبد الله بن إدريس قال سمعت حصين بن عبد الرحمن عن سعد بن عبيدة عن أبي عبد الرحمن السلمي
بعثني رسول الله ﷺ وأبا مرثد الغنوي والزبير بن العوام وكلنا فارس قال انطلقوا حتى تأتوا روضة خاخ فإن بها امرأة من المشركين معها كتاب من حاطب بن أبي بلتعة إلى المشركين فأدركناها تسير على بعير لها حيث قال رسول الله ﷺ فقلنا الكتاب فقالت ما معنا كتاب فأنخناها فالتمسنا فلم نر كتابا فقلنا ما كذب رسول الله ﷺ لتخرجن الكتاب أو لنجردنك فلما رأت الجد أهوت إلى حجزتها وهي محتجزة بكساء فأخرجته فانطلقنا بها إلى رسول الله ﷺ فقال عمر يا رسول الله قد خان الله ورسوله والمؤمنين فدعني فلأضرب عنقه فقال النبي ﷺ ما حملك على ما صنعت قال حاطب والله ما بي أن لا أكون مؤمنا بالله ورسوله ﷺ أردت أن يكون لي عند القوم يد يدفع الله بها عن أهلي ومالي وليس أحد من أصحابك إلا له هناك من عشيرته من يدفع الله به عن أهله وماله فقال النبي ﷺ صدق ولا تقولوا له إلا خيرا فقال عمر إنه قد خان الله ورسوله والمؤمنين فدعني فلأضرب عنقه فقال أليس من أهل بدر فقال لعل الله اطلع إلى أهل بدر فقال اعملوا ما شئتم فقد وجبت لكم الجنة أو فقد غفرت لكم فدمعت عينا عمر وقال الله ورسوله أعلم