What is the text of the hadith of the Messenger, peace be upon him, in which he sent two men to gather news about a people, and one of them reported that there was no good, while the other reported the opposite? And how authentic is this hadith?
There is no specific known to be referred to by the questioner, but the ahadith related to the meaning of his question are those that mention the reason for the revelation of the noble verse: ﴿O YOU WHO HAVE BELIEVED, IF THERE COMES TO YOU A DISOBEDIENT PERSON WITH INFORMATION, INVESTIGATE, LEST YOU HARM A PEOPLE OUT OF IGNORANCE AND THEREAFTER REGRET WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.﴾ [Al-Hujurat:6].
Imam Ahmad narrated from Al-Harith ibn Abi Dirar Al-Khuza'i that he went to the Prophet, peace be upon him, embraced Islam, and promised to collect from his people and send it to the Prophet, peace be upon him. When the Prophet's messenger was late in receiving the zakat, Al-Harith thought that the Prophet was angry, so he went with his people to meet the Prophet, peace be upon him. Meanwhile, the Prophet, peace be upon him, sent Al-Walid ibn 'Uqbah to collect the zakat, but Al-Walid returned and falsely informed the Prophet that Al-Harith had prevented him from collecting the zakat and intended to kill him. So the Prophet prepared to send an army to them.
When Al-Harith met the army on his way to Medina, he explained the truth to them, and when he entered upon the Prophet, he denied Al-Walid's claims and told him that he had never seen Al-Walid at all, and that his delay was due to his fear of the wrath of Allah and His Messenger. Then the verse was revealed: ﴿O YOU WHO HAVE BELIEVED, IF THERE COMES TO YOU A DISOBEDIENT PERSON WITH INFORMATION, INVESTIGATE, LEST YOU HARM A PEOPLE OUT OF IGNORANCE AND THEREAFTER REGRET WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.﴾ [Al-Hujurat:6].
Al-Albani and others have authenticated the chain of narration for this hadith.
Another narration from Al-Tabarani indicates that Al-Walid ibn 'Uqbah returned to the Prophet and claimed that the people of Banu Al-Mustaliq had withheld charity and were in their state of jahiliyyah (ignorance), so the verse was revealed. Then Banu Al-Mustaliq came to the Prophet and explained to him that they had come to pay the zakat, and that they feared Al-Walid's return without taking it, so they paid what they had, and the Prophet accepted the charity from them.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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