It was narrated from 'Alqamah bin Wa'il that his father said:

"I was sitting with the Messenger of Allah when a man came with a string around his neck and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, 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 ﷺ said: 'Forgive him,' but he refused and said: 'O Prophet of Allah, this man and my brother were digging a whole, and he raised his pickax and struck his companion in the head, killing him.' The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Forgive him,' but he refused, then he stood up and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, 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 ﷺ said: 'Forgive him,' but he refused. He (the prophet) 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 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."

أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، - وَهُوَ الْحَوْضِيُّ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا جَامِعُ بْنُ مَطَرٍ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ وَائِلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ كُنْتُ قَاعِدًا عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ فِي عُنُقِهِ نِسْعَةٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ هَذَا وَأَخِي كَانَا فِي جُبٍّ يَحْفِرَانِهَا فَرَفَعَ الْمِنْقَارَ فَضَرَبَ بِهِ رَأْسَ صَاحِبِهِ فَقَتَلَهُ . فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ " اعْفُ عَنْهُ " . فَأَبَى وَقَالَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ إِنَّ هَذَا وَأَخِي كَانَا فِي جُبٍّ يَحْفِرَانِهَا فَرَفَعَ الْمِنْقَارَ فَضَرَبَ بِهِ رَأْسَ صَاحِبِهِ فَقَتَلَهُ . فَقَالَ " اعْفُ عَنْهُ " . فَأَبَى ثُمَّ قَامَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ هَذَا وَأَخِي كَانَا فِي جُبٍّ يَحْفِرَانِهَا فَرَفَعَ الْمِنْقَارَ - أُرَاهُ قَالَ - فَضَرَبَ رَأْسَ صَاحِبِهِ فَقَتَلَهُ . فَقَالَ " اعْفُ عَنْهُ " . فَأَبَى قَالَ " اذْهَبْ إِنْ قَتَلْتَهُ كُنْتَ مِثْلَهُ " . فَخَرَجَ بِهِ حَتَّى جَاوَزَ فَنَادَيْنَاهُ أَمَا تَسْمَعُ مَا يَقُولُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَرَجَعَ فَقَالَ إِنْ قَتَلْتُهُ كُنْتُ مِثْلَهُ قَالَ " نَعَمِ اعْفُ " . فَخَرَجَ يَجُرُّ نِسْعَتَهُ حَتَّى خَفِيَ عَلَيْنَا .