سنن نسائی · Hadith 4741

It was narrated from ‘Alqamah bin Wa’il that his father said: “I was sitting with the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم i when a man came with a string around his neck and said: ‘Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم, this man and my brother were diggiiig a hole, and he raised his pickax and struck his companion in the head, killing him.’ The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم said: ‘Forgive him,’ but he refused and said: ‘Prophet of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم, this man and my brother were digging a hole, and he raised his pickax and struck his companion in the head, killing him.’ The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم , said: ‘Forgive him,’ but he refused, then he stood up and said: ‘Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم, this man and my brother were digging a hole, and he raised his pickax and struck his companion in the head, killing him.’ The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم said: ‘Forgive him,’ but he refused. He (the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم ) said: ‘Go, but if you kill him, you will be like him.’ So he took him out, and they called out to him: ‘Didn’t you hear what the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم said?’ So he came back and he said: ‘If I kill him will I be like him?’ He said: ‘Yes. Forgive him.’ Then he went out, dragging his string, until he disappeared from our view.” (Sahih)

Translated by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan · Reviewed by Islamic University of Madinah · Published March 2020