(1) Extract from a hadith transmitted by Ahmad, Musnad, 1/80; by al-Bukhari, no. 3007 (Book of Jihad, “The Spy”); no. 3081 (Book: “If one is compelled to look at the hair of ahl al-dhimma”); no. 3983 (Book of Maghazi, “The merit of those who witnessed Badr”); no. 4274 (Book: “The Expedition of the Conquest”); no. 4890 (Book of Tafsir, “Do not take My enemy and your enemy as allies”); no. 6259 (Book of Istiʾdhan, “One who examines a document belonging to someone feared for the Muslims in order to ascertain the matter”); and no. 6939 (Book on the repentance of apostates, “Concerning those who interpret the texts”). Muslim, no. 2494 (Book of Virtues, “Some merits of the people of Badr”); Abu Dawud, no. 2650 (Book of Jihad, “Ruling on a Muslim spy”); and al-Tirmidhi, no. 3302 (Tafsir, “From Surat al-Mumtahana”) also record it. Al-Bukhari’s wording reads: “ʿAli narrates: The Messenger of Allah sent me, Abu Marthad and al-Zubayr—we were all horsemen—and said, ‘Go until you reach Rawdat Khakh; there you will find a woman from the idolaters carrying a letter from Hatib ibn Abi Baltaʿa to the polytheists.’ We caught up with her while she was riding her camel at the very place the Messenger of Allah had mentioned. We said, ‘Hand over the letter.’ She said, ‘I have no letter.’ We made her dismount and searched her but found nothing. We said, ‘The Messenger of Allah cannot have erred; either you produce the letter or we will strip you.’ Realising we were in earnest, she reached into her waistband—she was wrapped in a cloak—and produced it. We brought her to the Messenger of Allah. ʿUmar said, ‘Messenger of Allah, he has betrayed Allah, His Messenger and the believers; allow me to strike off his head.’ The Prophet asked Hatib, ‘What moved you to do this?’ Hatib replied, ‘By Allah, I have not abandoned faith in Allah and His Messenger. I only sought to earn a favour with those people so that Allah might protect my family and wealth through it. Every one of your companions has relatives in Mecca through whom Allah safeguards his family and property except me.’ The Prophet said, ‘He has spoken the truth; say nothing to him but good.’ ʿUmar insisted, ‘He has betrayed Allah and the believers; let me strike off his head.’ The Prophet responded, ‘Is he not one of the people of Badr? Perhaps Allah looked upon the people of Badr and said, “Do whatever you wish, for Paradise has been guaranteed to you,” or “I have forgiven you.”’ ʿUmar’s eyes filled with tears and he said, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’”