\nNarrated:\n\n
Abu `Abdur-Rahman and Hibban bin 'Atiyya had a dispute. Abu `Abdur-Rahman said to Hibban, \n\"You know what made your companions (i.e. `Ali) dare to shed blood.\" Hibban said, \"Come on! What \nis that?\" `Abdur-Rahman said, \"Something I heard him saying.\" The other said, \"What was it?\" \n`AbdurRahman said, \"`Ali said, Allah's Apostle sent for me, Az-Zubair and Abu Marthad, and all of \nus were cavalry men, and said, 'Proceed to Raudat-Hajj (Abu Salama said that Abu 'Awana called it \nlike this, i.e., Hajj where there is a woman carrying a letter from Hatib bin Abi Balta'a to the pagans \n(of Mecca). So bring that letter to me.' So we proceeded riding on our horses till we overtook her at \nthe same place of which Allah's Apostle had told us. She was traveling on her camel. In that letter \nHatib had written to the Meccans about the proposed attached of Allah's Apostle against them. We \nasked her, \"Where is the letter which is with you?' She replied, 'I haven't got any letter.' So we made \nher camel kneel down and searched her luggage, but we did not find anything. My two companions \nsaid, 'We do not think that she has got a letter.' I said, 'We know that Allah's Apostle has not told a \nlie.'\" \nThen `Ali took an oath saying, \"By Him by Whom one should swear! You shall either bring out the \nletter or we shall strip off your clothes.\" She then stretched out her hand for her girdle (round her \nwaist) and brought out the paper (letter). They took the letter to Allah's Apostle. `Umar said, \"O \nAllah's Apostle! (Hatib) has betrayed Allah, His Apostle and the believers; let me chop off his neck!\" \nAllah's Apostle said, \"O Hatib! What obliged you to do what you have done?\" Hatib replied, \"O \nAllah's Apostle! Why (for what reason) should I not believe in Allah and His Apostle? But I intended \nto do the (Mecca) people a favor by virtue of which my family and property may be protected as there \nis none of your companions but has some of his people (relatives) whom Allah urges to protect his \nfamily and property.\" The Prophet said, \"He has said the truth; therefore, do not say anything to him \nexcept good.\" `Umar again said, \"O Allah's Apostle! He has betrayed Allah, His Apostle and the \nbelievers; let me chop his neck off!\" The Prophet said, \"Isn't he from those who fought the battle of \nBadr? And what do you know, Allah might have looked at them (Badr warriors) and said (to them), \n'Do what you like, for I have granted you Paradise?' \" On that, `Umar's eyes became flooded with tears \nand he said, \"Allah and His Apostle know best.\"","english_grade":"Sahih","last_updated":null,"xrefs":""}