was one of the earliest forerunners and among those who pledged allegiance beneath the tree. It is established in the two Sahih collections that none of them will enter the Fire.

In Sahih Muslim and other collections, Jābir relates that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“No one who pledged allegiance beneath the tree will enter the Fire.” (1)

It is also recorded in the Sahih that a slave of Hātib ibn Abī Balta‘ah said, “O Messenger of Allah, Hātib will surely enter the Fire.” He replied, “You have spoken falsely; he was present at Badr and al-Hudaybiyah.” (2)

This Hātib was the one who wrote to the polytheists, giving them information about the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Because of this, the following was revealed (3):

“O you who believe, do not take My enemies and your enemies as allies, extending affection toward them.” [Sūrat al-Mumtahanah: 1]

to the end of the verse. He also treated his slaves badly, which is why his slave made this statement. The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—declared his claim false and said, “He was present at Badr and al-Hudaybiyah.” It is also recorded in the Sahih: “No one who pledged allegiance beneath the tree will enter the Fire.”

Among these were some who fought Alī, such as Talhah (4) and al-Zubayr. If Ammār’s killer was also among them, his case is even more telling than that of the others.

Those who pledged allegiance to him beneath the tree numbered approximately fourteen hundred. They were the ones to whom Allah granted (5) the conquest of Khaybar (6), as He had promised them in Sūrat al-Fath, and it was apportioned among them by