(3) باب الإِمَامِ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَفْوِ فِي الدَّمِ
Narrated AbuHurayrah:
A man was killed in the lifetime of the Prophet (ﷺ). The matter was brought to the Prophet (ﷺ). He entrusted him to the legal guardian of the slain. The slayer said: Messenger of Allah, I swear by Allah, I did not intend to kill him. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to the legal guardian: Now if he is true and you kill him, you will enter Hell-fire. So he let him go. His hands were tied with a strap. He came out pulling his strap. Hence he was called Dhu an-Nis'ah (possessor of strap).
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 4498
In-book reference: Book 41, Hadith 5
English translation: Book 40, Hadith 4483