And [the Mother of the Believers] Safiyyah (1) bint Huyayy ibn Akhtab—whose father was one of the leaders of the Jews (2) who were hostile to Allah and His Messenger—was herself a righteous woman, one of the Mothers of the Believers, whose admission to Paradise was attested. When she died, she left a bequest to some of her Jewish relatives (3). This was something for which she deserved praise, not blame.

Jurists have cited this as evidence that a Muslim may maintain relations with protected non-Muslim subjects by giving them charity and leaving bequests to them. What, then, of the Commander of the Believers showing kindness to his paternal uncle, who openly professed Islam?!

Then there is Hātib ibn Abī Balta‘ah. During the year of the Conquest, he sent the polytheists information about the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Yet the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—stated that Hātib was among the people of Paradise because he had witnessed Badr and al-Hudaybiyah. He said to the man who called Hātib a hypocrite:

“How do you know? Perhaps Allah (4) looked upon the people of Badr and said, ‘Do whatever you wish, for I have forgiven you.’” (5)

How could Hātib compare with Uthmān? Even supposing—Allah forbid—that Uthmān had treated his relatives in a similar manner, he would have been more entitled than Hātib ibn Abī Balta‘ah to our speaking well of him and testifying that he was among the people of Paradise.

[Response to the Rāfidī’s allegation that Uthmān banished Abū Dharr and beat him]

As for his statement:

“He banished Abū Dharr to al-Rabadhah and beat him severely, even though