Al-Adab al-Mufrad

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sent me and Zubair bin Al-Awwam (may Allah be pleased with him), and we were both riding horses. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Keep going until you reach such-and-such a place, Rawdat Khakh. There you will find a woman who has a letter from Hatib bin Abi Balta’ah to the polytheists. Bring it to me." We caught her in the state exactly as the Prophet (peace be upon him) had described, riding a camel of the same kind. We said: "Take out the letter you have." She said: "I have no letter." We searched her and her camel (but found nothing). My companion said: "I think she does not have it." I said: "The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not lie. By the One in Whose hand is my soul, take out the letter or I will strip you naked." She reached towards the place where she tied her lower garment (waistband) and took out the letter. It was wrapped in a woolen cloth. So we presented it to the Prophet (peace be upon him). Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "He has betrayed Allah, His Messenger (peace be upon him), and the believers. Allow me to strike off his head." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "(Hatib!) Why did you do this?" Then Sayyiduna Hatib (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "There is nothing in my heart except faith in Allah. My only intention was to do a favor for those people (the polytheists)." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Umar! He has spoken the truth. Was he not present at Badr? Allah knows the condition of all those who were at Badr, so He said regarding them: Do whatever you wish, Paradise has been made obligatory for you." (Upon hearing this) tears came to the eyes of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and he said: "Allah and His Messenger know best."