Abd al-Rahman bin Hatib bin Abi Balta'ah (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated that his father, while he was with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and had already taken part in Badr, wrote a letter to the disbelievers of Quraysh. So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) called Ali and al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with them both) and said: "Go, and you will find a woman who has a letter with her; bring that letter to me." So the two of them set off until they met her. They said: Give us the letter that you have with you. And they told her that they would not turn back until they had removed every garment on her. She said: Are you two not Muslim men? They said: Of course, but the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) has told us that you have a letter with you. When she was certain that she could not escape from them, she untied the letter from her head and handed it to them. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) summoned Hatib and read the letter before him, and asked: "Do you recognise this letter?" He said: Yes. He (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "What led you to do this?" He said: My children and relatives are there, and I was a stranger among you, O Quraysh. Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Permit me to kill Hatib. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "No, for he took part in Badr, and what do you know? Perhaps Allah looked upon the people of Badr with favour and said: Do whatever you wish, for I have forgiven you."
Hadith Referenceالمعجم الكبير للطبراني / باب الحاء / 3053