Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 31053 — Book of the Judgments

Hanash bin al-Mu'tamir said that in Yemen a pit was dug to trap a lion, and the lion fell into it. Then the people began pushing one another at the mouth of the well. A man began to fall into the well and he grabbed hold of a second man, then the second grabbed a third, and in this way four men fell into the well and all of them perished. The people did not know what they should now do. Then Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) came and said: "If you wish, I will give a ruling between you that will be a barrier between you until you go to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)." And he said: "I place the blood money on those who were around the mouth of the well. The first person, who fell into the well, shall receive a quarter of the blood money, the second a third of the blood money, the third half of the blood money, and the fourth the full blood money." Hanash bin al-Mu'tamir said: All the people agreed to this ruling until they came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and told him about the ruling of Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) upheld the ruling.