Muwatta 2572

Yahya transmits from Malik, from Abu al-Zinad, from Sulayman ibn Yasar, that a freed slave (sa'iba) was freed by some pilgrims, and he killed the son of a man from Banu Aidh. The father of the dead man came to Umar ibn al-Khattab (may God be pleased with him) asking for his son's blood-money. Umar said: he has no blood-money. The Aidhi said: what if my son had killed him? Umar said: then you would pay his blood-money. The Aidhi said: he is then like the viper: if he is left alone he bites, and if he is killed he bites back. ¹

Belongs to the Muwatta, Book of Blood-Money (uqul). Source: the Muwatta. Mentions Malik ibn Anas, Abd Allah ibn Dhakwan Abu al-Zinad, Sulayman ibn Yasar. Built on in the chapters on freed slave with no patron (sayiba) and blood-money (diya).