Narrated Amr bin Suhaib: On his father's authority, said that his grandfather reported the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave judgment that if anyone is killed accidentally, his blood-wit should be one hundred camels: thirty she-camels which had entered their second year, thirty she-camels which had entered their third year, thirty she-camels which had entered their fourth year, and ten male camels which had entered their third year.
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi
Benefits and Issues:
It is obligatory upon the people of authority and decision (ashab al-hall wa’l-‘aqd) in an Islamic government to regularly make public announcements among the people regarding the current market value in matters such as blood money (diyah) and other Islamic obligations, so that no one is subjected to injustice.
Source: Sunan Abu Dawood – Commentary by Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi, Page: 4542
Maulana Ataullah Sajid
Benefits and Issues:
➊ The original amount of blood money (diyah) is determined by camels.
➋ If it is not possible to pay with camels, then diyah can also be paid in the form of cows or goats.
➌ Payment of diyah is also possible in the form of cash; in this case, the government or the judge should estimate the value of one hundred camels and decide the amount of diyah accordingly.
➍ Due to fluctuations in the price of camels, the amount of cash to be paid as diyah may also increase or decrease.
Source: Commentary on Sunan Ibn Mājah by Mawlānā ‘Atā’ullāh Sājid, Page: 2630
Hafiz Muhammad Ameen
(1) In this blessed hadith, the amount of blood money (diyah) for accidental killing is mentioned, and it is four categories of one hundred camels. Its details have been explained in the aforementioned hadith.
(2) This hadith also indicates that the original form of diyah is camels. However, if camels are not available, then the value of one hundred camels will be considered as the diyah. If camels are expensive, then the amount of diyah will be higher, and if camels are cheap, then the amount of diyah will also be less. If someone wishes to give cows or oxen as diyah, then the diyah will be two hundred cows or oxen. And if one wishes to pay the diyah in the form of goats, then two thousand goats will constitute the diyah.
(3) Retaliation (qisas) from the killer is the right of the heirs. If they wish, they may take retaliation, and if they wish, they may forgive. The heirs of the deceased, that is, those who inherit wealth, and not other agnates (close relatives), have the right to take retaliation or to forgive. However, if there is no male or female heir among the heirs of the deceased, then this right will be given to other close relatives. And Allah knows best!
(4) The diyah of the murdered person, like his other wealth, is the right of his heirs, meaning the diyah will also be distributed among them. First, the fixed-share heirs (ashab al-furud), whose shares have been determined by the Shari‘ah, will take their shares, and whatever remains will go to the agnates (asaba). However, if someone commits accidental (unintentional) killing, then the diyah that becomes obligatory upon him will be paid by his agnates (asaba) only. Asaba refers to the closest male relatives, for example: sons, grandsons, father, grandfather, brothers, nephews, paternal uncles, paternal great-uncles, and their descendants. And by heirs is meant those relatives whose share has been fixed in inheritance.
(5) This hadith has no connection with the relevant chapter. However, it is related to the next chapter, and this has occurred in many places in Sunan al-Nasa’i, especially when there are many narrations under the previous chapter.
Source: Sunan Nasa'i: Translation and Benefits by Shaykh Hafiz Muhammad Amin Hafizullah, Page: 4805