He is answered:

First, where is any reliably established report from Aisha to that effect?

Second, what is reliably transmitted from her refutes (1) this claim and shows that she condemned his killing, censured those who killed him, and prayed against her brother Muhammad and others for their participation in it.

Third, suppose that one of the Companions—Aisha or someone else—said something to that effect (2) in anger because that person objected to something deemed reprehensible. Such a statement is no authoritative proof, nor does it impugn the faith (3) of either the speaker or the person addressed. Rather, both may be allies of Allah Most High and among the people of Paradise, even though one believes it permissible to kill the other—or even considers him a disbeliever—while being mistaken in that belief.

This is exemplified by what is [established] (4) in the two Sahih collections through Ali and others in the account of Hātib ibn Abī Balta‘a, who was among those present at Badr and al-Hudaybiya.

It is authentically established in the Sahih: “A slave of his said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, by Allah, Hātib will surely enter the Fire!’ The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—replied, ‘You lie. He did (5) take part in Badr and al-Hudaybiya.’” (6)

In the hadith narrated by Ali: “Hātib wrote to the polytheists, informing them of some of the Messenger of Allah’s plans—peace and blessings be upon him—when he intended to launch the Conquest campaign. Allah apprised His Prophet of this, so he said to Ali and al-Zubayr, ‘Go until you reach Rawdat Khākh. There is a woman traveler there carrying a letter.’ When