I set out with the intention of helping this person (Hadrat 'Ali) when Abu Bakra met me. He said: Ahnaf, where do you intend to go? I said: I intend to help the cousin of Messenger of Allah ﷺ, viz. 'Ali. Thereupon he said to me: Ahnaf, go back, for I heard Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: When two Muslims confront one another with swords (in hand) both the slayer and the slain would be in Fire. He (Ahnaf) said: I said, or it was said: Messenger of Allah, it may be the case of one who kills. but what about the slain (why he would be put in Hell-Fire)? Thereupon he said: He also intended to kill his companion.
خَرَجْتُ وَأَنَا أُرِيدُ هَذَا الرَّجُلَ فَلَقِيَنِي أَبُو بَكْرَةَ فَقَالَ أَيْنَ تُرِيدُ يَا أَحْنَفُ قَالَ قُلْتُ أُرِيدُ نَصْرَ ابْنِ عَمِّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَعْنِي عَلِيًّا قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي يَا أَحْنَفُ ارْجِعْ فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ إِذَا تَوَاجَهَ الْمُسْلِمَانِ بِسَيْفَيْهِمَا فَالْقَاتِلُ وَالْمَقْتُولُ فِي النَّارِ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ أَوْ قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَذَا الْقَاتِلُ فَمَا بَالُ الْمَقْتُولِ قَالَ إِنَّهُ قَدْ أَرَادَ قَتْلَ صَاحِبِهِ