the Prophet ﷺ. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then said, “O Allah, do not forgive Muḥallim.” He uttered this supplication three times. The man rose, dabbing his tears with the hem of his cloak.

Ibn Isḥāq adds: Some people claim that he later did seek forgiveness for him.

Abū Dāwūd relates in his Sunan: Mūsā ibn Ismāʿīl narrated to us; Ḥammād narrated to us; Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq narrated to us, saying: Muḥammad ibn Jaʿfar told me that he heard Ziyād ibn Ḍumayrah. Ḥ—And Aḥmad ibn Saʿīd al-Hamadhānī and Wahb ibn Bayān also narrated: Ibn Wahb related to us; ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī al-Zinād informed me, from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn al-Ḥārith, from Muḥammad ibn Jaʿfar, that he heard Ziyād ibn Saʿd ibn Ḍumayrah al-Sulamī. This is Wahb’s version, and it is the more complete. He reports from ʿUrwah ibn al-Zubayr, from his father. Mūsā added: “and from his grandfather,” both of whom had been present with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ at Ḥunayn—meaning his father and grandfather.

Returning to Wahb’s narration: Muḥallim ibn Juthāmah killed a man of Ashjaʿ after the coming of Islam, and that was the first case of blood-money the Messenger of Allah ﷺ adjudicated. ʿUyaynah spoke concerning the killing—because the victim was from Ghatafān—and al-Aqraʿ ibn Ḥābis also spoke. The report continues until he says: Muḥallim was a tall, dark-skinned man, outstanding among the people; they persisted until he was freed, whereupon he sat before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with tears streaming from his eyes.

He said, “Messenger of Allah, I have done what has reached you, and I repent to Allah—so ask forgiveness for me, O Messenger of Allah.”

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied, “Did you kill him with your own weapon in the early days of Islam? O Allah, do not forgive Muḥallim!”—and he said this in a loud voice.

Abū Salamah added: The man then rose, wiping his tears with the edge of his cloak. Allah, exalted is He, knows best.