Releasing a captive as a favour

Sayyiduna Adi bin Hatim (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The horsemen of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came (the narrator is unsure; perhaps the words are: he said: The messengers of the Messenger of Allah came) while I was at Aqrab. They seized my paternal aunt and some other people. When they brought them to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), they were made to stand in a row before the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). My paternal aunt said: "O Messenger of Allah, the one who would come on my behalf is far away and the father is cut off, and I am a very old woman; I am of no use for service. Be gracious to me, may Allah be gracious to you." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "And who is the one who would come on your behalf?" The woman replied: "Adi bin Hatim." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The one who fled from Allah and His Messenger?" The woman said: Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was gracious to me. The woman said: When he went back, there was a man by his side who she thought was Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). He said: "Ask him for a riding animal." The woman asked him, and he ordered it for her. After this the narrator mentioned the full hadith, which will come later in the Book of Campaigns, if Allah wills.
Ahmad recorded it, and its narrators are the narrators of the Sahih except Abbad bin Hubaysh, and he is thiqah (trustworthy).

Abu Ubaydah bin Hudhayfah narrates: I used to ask people about Sayyiduna Adi bin Hatim (may Allah be pleased with him), and he lived right next to me in Kufah. So I went to him and asked: "What is the hadith that has reached me from you?" He said: When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was sent as a prophet, I disliked him more than anyone, until I fled and reached the land of Syria. While we were there, news reached us that Khalid bin al-Walid was heading towards us, so I fled from there and joined the Romans. While we were sitting in the shade of a wall there, a woman came along. I got up and went to her, and she said: "O Adi bin Hatim, you ran away and left me! As soon as you left us, Khalid bin al-Walid attacked us, took the children captive and killed the fighting men. We set off until we came to Madinah. One day I was sitting when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by me on his way to the prayer. I said: 'O Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), the father has died and the one who would come on my behalf has fled. Free me, may Allah free you.' The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: 'And who is the one who would come on your behalf?' I said: 'Adi bin Hatim.' The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'The one who fled from Allah and His Messenger?' Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) went on. On the second day the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by me on his way to the prayer. I said: 'O Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), the father has passed away and the one who would come on my behalf has fled. Free me, may Allah free you.' The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: 'Who is the one who would come on your behalf?' I said: 'Adi bin Hatim.' The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'The one who has fled from Allah and His Messenger?' Then he went on and gave me no reply. When the third day came, I felt too shy to say anything to him. Sayyiduna Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) signalled to me, so I said: 'O Muhammad, the father has passed away and the one who would come on my behalf has fled. Free me, may Allah free you.' The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: 'Who is the one who would come on your behalf?' I said: 'Adi bin Hatim.' The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'The one who ran away from Allah and His Messenger?' I said: 'Yes.' The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Allah Almighty has set you free. Stay, and do not leave until something comes to us; then we will provide you with provisions.' I stayed there for three days. Then some travellers came from Tanukh, carrying grain, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mounted me on this young camel. O Adi bin Hatim, go to him before someone from your people who does not have the standing you have gets to him ahead of you." After this the narrator mentioned the full hadith.
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat. Its chain contains a narrator, Abdullah bin Hisham al-Dastuwa'i, who is matruk (abandoned).