Blood Money (Diyah) for the Organs of the Body

Text and Explanation​

Yahya bin Hamzah narrates from Sulaiman bin Dawud, who said:
"Az-Zuhri narrated to me from Abu Bakr bin Muhammad bin Amr bin Hazm, from his father, from his grandfather, that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) wrote a letter to the people of Yemen.
The letter contained injunctions on inheritance, rulings, and blood money (Diyah). He sent it with Amr bin Hazm, and it was read to the people of Yemen.
The letter included detailed rules about Zakah, Diyah, and punishments, stating that blood money for life is 100 camels, for the nose if completely cut off, the Diyah is due; for the tongue, for the two lips, for the two testicles, for the male private part, for the chest, for both eyes – all these injuries necessitate full Diyah; for one leg, half the Diyah; for head or abdominal injuries reaching internal organs, a third of the Diyah; for displaced bone injuries (Munqilah), fifteen camels; for each finger of the hand or foot, ten camels; for each tooth, five camels; and for any bone exposure wound, five camels.
A man will be killed in retribution for killing a woman. Those possessing gold must pay 1000 dinars as Diyah."

Authentication:
The chain of narration is very weak (اسناد ضعيف جدا).
Sources:

• Ibn Hibban (Hadith 793)
• Al-Hakim (1/395)

Important Points​

➊ Sending Letters Containing Quranic Verses and Hadiths:
It is permissible to send letters containing religious texts. Care should be taken today to ensure that packaging prevents disrespect to sacred content.

➋ Diplomatic Envoys:
Sending envoys and official letters is permissible in Islam.

➌ Comprehensive Document:
The letter of the Prophet (ﷺ) covers many aspects:

• Inheritance
• Legal rulings
• Worships
• Ethics
• Economic dealings
• Justice
• Social harmony
• Encouragements and prohibitions
• Eloquence and detailed rulings
  

➍ Specific Diyah for Each Body Part:
Islam has specified separate blood money for different body parts:

• Life: 100 camels
• Nose (if fully severed): Full Diyah
• Tongue: Full Diyah
• Two lips: Full Diyah
• Two testicles: Full Diyah
• Male private part: Full Diyah
• Chest: Full Diyah
• Both eyes: Full Diyah
• One leg: Half of Diyah
• Major head or abdominal injuries: One-third Diyah
• Displaced bone (Munqilah): Fifteen camels
• Each finger (hand or foot): Ten camels
• Each tooth: Five camels
• Bone-exposing wound (Muwdiha): Five camels

➎ Forms of Full Diyah Payments:

• ① 100 camels
• ② 1000 gold dinars
• ③ 200 cows
• ④ 2000 sheep
• ⑤ 12,000 silver dirhams

➏ Definition of Munqilah:
A Munqilah is an injury that causes a bone to shift from its original place, requiring 15 camels as Diyah.

Additional Narration​

Narrated by Uqbah bin Aws from Abdullah bin Amr:
"Verily, the Diyah for killing by semi-intentional action (Shibh al-Amad) – such as by using a whip or a stick – is 100 camels, of which 40 must be pregnant."
(Narrated by Abu Dawud, Al-Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah)

Authentication:
The Hadith is Hasan (good).

Key Benefits​

➊ Accidental Killing (Qatl al-Khata'):

• If a person is killed unintentionally, for example during indiscriminate fighting or shooting, it falls under Qatl al-Khata'.

➋ Diyah in Accidental Killing:

• The Diyah is 100 camels.

➌ Forty of the Camels Must Be Pregnant:

• Out of the 100 camels paid in Diyah, 40 must be pregnant.
  

Note:
This content is taken from "Ḍiyā' al-Islām fī Sharḥ al-Ilmām bi-Aḥādīth al-Aḥkām" authored by Sheikh Taqi al-Din Abu al-Fatḥ, translated by Maulana Mahmood Ahmad Ghaznavi (رحمه الله).