Hatib ibn Abi Balta'a

A Companion who had settled in Mecca as an ally without roots or clan, having children and family there ¹. When the Prophet resolved to march on Mecca he wrote to Quraysh to tell them; the bearer of his letter was overtaken and it was drawn from the coils of her hair — and in the account the Prophet accepted his excuse and mentioned his presence at Badr ².

Hatib wrote to Quraysh telling them the Prophet had resolved to march on them, and gave the letter to a woman who set it in the coils of her hair and went out ³. The news came from heaven; the Prophet sent Ali, al-Zubayr and al-Miqdad, who overtook her at al-Khaliqa and drew out the letter ¹.

Umar said: let me strike off this hypocrite's head, Messenger of God ¹. Hatib excused himself: there was in me no disbelief nor apostasy — but I am a man with no roots nor clan among the people; my children and family are among them, so I did a thing by which they would protect my family ¹.

The Prophet told Umar and Abu Bakr: "believe Hatib", then said: "and how do you know, Umar — perhaps God has looked upon the people of Badr and said: do as you wish, I have forgiven you" ¹. In the account, the opening of Surat al-Mumtahana descended on his affair ¹.