ইবনে খাতালকে যে কারণে হত্যা করা হয়:

জাহেলী যুগে তাঁর নাম ছিল আবদুল উজ্জা। সে মদিনায় এসে ইসলাম কবুল করলে তাঁর নাম রাখা হয় আবদুল্লাহ। রাসূলুল্লাহ (সাঃ) তাকে এক এলাকায় যাকাত আদায় করার জন্য নিযুক্ত করেন। তাঁর সহযোগী একজন মুসলিম গোলাম ছিল। খাবার তৈরি করতে একটু দেরী হওয়ায় সে ক্ষিপ্ত হয়ে গোলামটিকে মেরে ফেলে এবং পালিয়ে মক্কায় গিয়ে ধর্মত্যাগী বা মুরতাদ হয়ে যায়। তাই মক্কা বিজয়ের দিন এ পাপিষ্ঠের মৃত্যুদণ্ড কার্যকর করা হয়। তৎকালীন সময়ে আরবের মুশরিকরা কাবা ঘরের প্রতি পরম সম্মান প্রদর্শন করত। কোন অপরাধী কাবা ঘরের চাদর ধরে থাকলে তাকে নিরাপত্তা দেয়া হতো। নিয়মানুযায়ী নিরাপত্তার আশায় ইবেন খাতাল ঐ সময় কাবার গিলাফ ধরে থাকে। রাসূলুল্লাহ (সাঃ) তাকে হত্যার আদেশ দিলে সাহাবীগণ তাকে যমযম কূপ ও মাকামে ইবরাহীমের মধ্যবর্তী স্থানে এনে হত্যা করেন।

When the Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam entered Makkah Mukarramah as a conqueror, the people of Makkah became frightened. There was no place to live nor a path to walk. The Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam who is well known for being merciful and generous, announced that the person who entered the House of Allah (Ka'bah) was safe, and those who remained in their homes were also safe.

The one who laid down his arms was also safe, etc. There were eleven men and six women whose crimes could not be forgiven. These people were not included in the general amnesty. It was announced that there was no mercy for these people. Among these criminals seven men and two women embraced Islam and were pardoned. The remaining four men and and four women were killed. Ibn Khatl was one of the eight that were punished. He had first come to Madinah Munawwarah where he accepted Islam and kept the name Abdullah.

The Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam sent him to a tribe to collect zakah. He killed a Muslim slave just because he had not prepared meals on time. Fearing that if he returned to Madinah Munawwarah he would be punished by death, he became a murtad (apostate) and went to Makkah. In Makkah he used to abuse the Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam. He purchased two slave girls, who sang songs in which the Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam was satirized. This made him feel happy. For this reason, despite of entering the Baytullah (Ka'bah), he was killed.

There are many versions according to the Muhadditheen as to who the person was that killed him. A fiqhi mas'alah may also arise from this hadith that punishment and revenge is permissble in the Haram. The question needs a lengthy explanation, and there is no need for it here. It is omitted to keep the subject matter brief. These matters are referred to so that those who love to acquire knowledge and also students after reading it, will seek more information from their Mashaa'ikh. From this we also find a question of entering Makkah Mukarramah without Ihram, which is discussed in the hadith that follows.

The last sentence in the above hadith by Imam Zuhri refers to a fiqhi mas'alah. According to the Hanafi's it is not permissible to enter Makkah Mukarramah without Ihraam, because it is mentioned in the hadith that it is not permissible to cross the meeqaat boundary without wearing Ihraam. On the strength of the above hadith the Shafi'is say it is permissible. According to the Hanafi's this hadith cannot be used as an argument, because the prohibition was specially lifted for the Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam on this particular occasion. Imam Bukhari and others have quoted narrations wherein the Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam has said, "This was permissible for me today (not wearing Ihraam) and not for any other person."

It may be possible that Ibn Khatl went to hold the cover of the Ka'bah to repent and make supplications, since he knew that there was no amnesty for him. He remembered all his past deeds, turning apostate, and all that he had committed since. He may have done this to make a supplication, as these people also venerated and respected the Ka'bah. The simplest explanation seems to be that according to the old custom, he may have hoped for an amnesty, because of the sanctity and reverence for the Ka'bah, criminals were not killed in this state.