Text and Explanation
Narrated by Muhammad bin Ishaq, from Amr bin Shu'aib, from his father, from his grandfather, from the Prophet (ﷺ):"The blood money (Diyah) of a Mu'ahad (a protected non-Muslim, Dhimmi) is half the Diyah of a free Muslim."
(Narrated by Abu Dawud, Hadith 4583 and 4542; Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1413; Al-Nasa'i, 8/35; Ibn Majah, Hadith 2644; Musnad Ahmad, 2/180, 183)
Abu Dawud commented that this narration has also been transmitted by Usamah bin Zayd from Abdur Rahman bin Harith through the same chain.
There has been some disagreement regarding the reliability of Muhammad bin Ishaq and his teacher Amr.
Authentication and Reference:
This Hadith is Hasan (good).
Important Points
➊ Definition of Dhimmi:A Dhimmi is a non-Muslim living under the protection of an Islamic state.
Islam guarantees his safety and rights.
He is also referred to as a Mu'ahad or one under covenant.
➋ Blood Money (Diyah) for a Dhimmi:
If a Dhimmi is killed, his blood money is due just like that of a Muslim.
➌ Amount of Blood Money:
The Diyah for a Dhimmi is half that of a free Muslim.
- In case of accidental killing, the Dhimmi's heirs would receive fifty camels.
Note:
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).
