Mukhtasar Muslim

‘Alqamah bin Wa’il narrates that his father (may Allah be pleased with him) told him: I was sitting with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) when a man came dragging another with a strap and said, “O Messenger of Allah! This man has killed my brother.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) asked, “Did you kill him?” The (first) man replied, “If he does not confess, I will bring witnesses against him.” Then the man said, “Indeed, I killed him.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked, “How did you kill him?” He replied, “He and I were both shaking leaves from a tree when he abused me and made me angry, so I struck his head with an axe and he died.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) asked, “Do you have any wealth to give in exchange for your life?” He replied, “I have nothing except this cloak and this axe.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked, “Will your people ransom you?” He said, “They do not value me that much.” Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) threw the strap towards the heir of the slain and said, “Take him.” So he took him away. When he turned his back, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “If he kills him, he will be equal to him (i.e., he will gain no rank or status, for he has taken his right in this world).” Hearing this, the man returned and said, “O Messenger of Allah! I have heard that you said, ‘If I kill him, I will be equal to him,’ and I have seized him only by your command?” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Do you not wish that he should bear your sin and your brother’s sin?” He replied, “Yes, indeed.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “It will be so.” Then he threw away the strap and let him go.