English Translation

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Among the people before you there was a man who had killed ninety-nine souls. He asked about the most knowledgeable person on earth and was directed to a monk. He came to him and said he had killed ninety-nine people — could he repent? The monk said no, so he killed him, completing one hundred. He then asked about the most knowledgeable person and was directed to a scholar. He told him he had killed one hundred people — could he repent? The scholar said: 'Yes, and who can come between you and repentance? Go to such-and-such a land.' He set out, and when he was halfway there, death came to him. The angels of mercy and the angels of punishment disputed over him. Allah inspired the two lands (to move), and they measured and found him closer to the land he was heading to by a handspan, so he was forgiven."