“The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, set out for Badr. When he reached Harrat al-Wabara, a man known for his boldness and courage caught up with him. The Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, were pleased when they saw him. When he caught up with him, he said to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, ‘I have come to follow you and gain a share of the spoils with you.’ The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, asked him, ‘Do you believe in Allah and His Messenger?’ He replied, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Then go back, for I will not seek the assistance of a polytheist.’

She said: Then he proceeded until, when we were at al-Shajarah, the man caught up with him. He said to him what he had said the first time, and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him what he had said the first time: ‘Then go back, for I will not seek the assistance of a polytheist.’ She said: Then he went back, but caught up with him at al-Bayda’. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, asked him as he had the first time, ‘Do you believe in Allah and His Messenger?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’ So the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him, ‘Then proceed.’”

Muslim (5/201), al-Tahawi (3/236–237), and Ahmad (6/68 and 149) narrated it through Malik, from al-Fudayl ibn Abi Abd Allah, from Abd Allah ibn Niyar al-Aslami, from Urwah ibn al-Zubayr, from her, with this report. In a version recorded by Ahmad and Ibn Hibban (1621), he said: “For we do not seek the assistance of a polytheist.” Abu Dawud (2/69, al-Halabiyyah edition), al-Darimi (2/233), and Ibn Majah (2/193) also narrated it in this abridged form from Malik, with this chain.

1102 — “True good is only the good of the Hereafter.”

Ibn Saʿd narrated it in al-Tabaqat (2/70), from Thabit, from Anas ibn Malik: “The Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would say while digging the Trench:

‘We are those who pledged allegiance to Muhammad
To strive in jihad as long as we live.’

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would say: ‘O Allah, true good is only the good of the Hereafter, so forgive the Ansar and the Emigrants.’ Barley bread covered with rancid fat was brought by the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and they ate from it. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, then said the words cited above.”

I say: Its chain of transmission is authentic according to Muslim’s criteria.