Text and Explanation
Narrated by Abdullah bin Abbas (رضي الله عنهما), from the Prophet (ﷺ):"This and this are equal," meaning the little finger (khinsar), the adjoining finger (bansar), and the thumb (ibham).
(Narrated by Al-Bukhari, Hadith 6895; Ibn Majah, Hadith 2656)
In another narration recorded by Al-Isma'ili:
"Their Diyah (blood money) is equal."
In yet another narration:
"The Prophet (ﷺ) pointed towards the little finger and the thumb."
(Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1409; Abu Dawud, Hadith 4558; Al-Nasa'i, 8/56-57; Ibn Majah, Hadith 2656)
Authentication:
All narrations are Sahih (authentic).
Important Points
➊ Blood Money (Diyah) is obligatory for the severance of both the thumb and any finger.If any finger is cut off, compensation must be paid.
➋ Equal Diyah for All Fingers:
Even though some fingers may be more useful than others, Shari'ah considers them equal in terms of blood money.
➌ Specific Amount:
For each finger, including the thumb, the Diyah is ten camels.
Thus, cutting off any one finger (whether thumb or little finger) mandates the payment of ten camels.
➍ Terminology:
- Khinsar refers to the smallest finger (little finger).
- Bansar refers to the finger next to the little finger.
- In common language, Khinsar is also called Chhngli (little finger).
This material 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).
