Chapter on the Ruling Regarding a Man Who Kills Two or More Men, and a Group That Gathers to Kill a Man
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 4|Book 1|Chapter 26
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh
Volume 4, Book 1, Chapter 26
Chapter on the Ruling Regarding a Man Who Kills Two or More Men, and a Group That Gathers to Kill a Man
وَ رُفِعَ إِلَى أَمِيرِ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "ثَلاَثَةُ نَفَرٍ وَاحِدٌ مِنْهُمْ أَمْسَكَ رَجُلاً وَ أَقْبَلَ اَلْآخَرُ فَقَتَلَهُ وَ اَلْآخَرُ يَرَاهُمْ فَقَضَى عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فِي صَاحِبِ اَلرُّؤْيَةِ أَنْ تُسْمَلَ عَيْنَاهُ وَ قَضَى فِي اَلَّذِي أَمْسَكَ أَنْ يُسْجَنَ حَتَّى يَمُوتَ كَمَا أَمْسَكَهُ وَ قَضَى فِي اَلَّذِي قَتَلَ أَنْ يُقْتَلَ".
It was reported to the Commander of the Faithful عليه السلام about three men: one of them restrained a man, another approached and killed him, and the third stood by watching them. Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام ruled that the one who merely watched should have his eyes gouged out. Imam عليه السلام ruled that the one who restrained the victim should be imprisoned until he dies, just as he held the victim until death. As for the one who committed the murder, Imam عليه السلام ruled that he should be executed.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh