Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh

Hadith.5400 - In the narration of Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya through his chain of transmission, it is reported that a man was brought before Al-Ma'mun for having pushed another man into a well, resulting in his death. Al-Ma'mun ordered that the man be executed. The man said: "I was in my house when I heard cries for help. I rushed out quickly with my sword and passed by this man who was standing at the edge of a well. I pushed him, and he fell into the well." Al-Ma'mun consulted the jurists about this matter. Some of them said he should be subjected to retribution, while others suggested different punishments. Al-Ma'mun then asked Abu Al-Hasan (as) about this matter and wrote to him. Abu Al-Hasan (as) replied: "His blood money is upon those who cried out for help." The jurists found this ruling surprising and said to Al-Ma'mun: "Ask him on what basis he gave this ruling." When Al-Ma'mun asked, Abu Al-Hasan (as) said: "A woman once complained to Prophet Sulayman ibn Dawud (as) about the wind. She said: 'I was on the roof of my house when a gust of wind pushed me, and I fell into a courtyard, breaking my arm.' Sulayman (as) summoned the wind and asked: 'What caused you to do this to this woman?' The wind replied: 'O' Prophet of Allah (swt), the ship of a certain people was in the sea and was on the verge of sinking. I passed by this woman while hurrying to help them, and she fell, breaking her arm.' Sulayman (as) ruled that the compensation for her arm should be paid by the people of the ship."