It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that once the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent me, Sayyiduna Zubair, and Sayyiduna Abu Marthad (may Allah be pleased with them both)—each of us was a horseman—to a certain place and said: "You people set out, when you reach Rawdat Khakh, there you will find a woman who will have a letter with her, which will be from Hatib bin Abi Balta'ah to the polytheists. Take that letter from her and return." So we set out, our horses were running swiftly, until we reached Rawdat Khakh. There we actually found a woman who was traveling on her camel. In that letter, the people of Makkah were informed about the departure of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). We said to her, "Hand over the letter you have." She said, "I have no letter." We made her camel sit down, searched her saddle, but found nothing. My two companions said, "We think she does not have any letter." I said, "You know that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has never lied." Then I swore an oath and said, "Either you yourself hand over the letter, or we will strip you naked." Compelled, she took out a letter from her hair braid and handed it over to us. We took that letter and presented it to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). People began to say, "O Messenger of Allah! He has betrayed Allah, His Messenger, and the Muslims. Allow me to strike his neck." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked them, "Hatib! What is this?" He replied, "O Messenger of Allah! By Allah, I believe in Allah and His Messenger. The matter is that I do not have any relation with the Quraysh, but I have joined them. All the emigrants who are with you have relatives in Makkah who protect their families. I thought that since I have no blood relatives there, I would do them a favor so that in return they would protect my relatives." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "You have spoken the truth, say only good about him." Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), overcome with emotion, said, "O Messenger of Allah! He has betrayed Allah, His Messenger, and the Muslims. Allow me to strike his neck." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "He has participated in the Battle of Badr, and what do you know, perhaps Allah looked upon the people of Badr from the heavens and said: 'Do whatever you wish, I have made Paradise obligatory for you.'" At this, Sayyiduna Umar's (may Allah be pleased with him) eyes filled with tears and he said, "Allah and His Messenger know best."