then the ruler is liable for the fetus unconditionally in all three cases. However, some of our companions—may Allah have mercy on them—restricted this to the case where she was not in the wrong. They said: If she was in the wrong, then she has brought the harm upon herself. This view has considerable force, because the ruler’s summoning her when she is in the wrong is something prescribed by the Sacred Law. Moreover, the great and beneficial principle is: “Whatever results from an authorized act entails no liability”—especially when the ruler does not know the woman’s circumstances: whether she is pregnant or not, or whether she is among women who are frightened by the slightest cause.

Then, on the view that liability is due, the apparent meaning of the author’s words is that the ruler bears personal liability—that is, liability in his individual capacity, not liability arising from his office. In other words, the blood-money is borne by his male agnatic relatives, just as though he had killed an ordinary person.

However, the stronger view—assuming that liability is due—is that the blood-money is paid from the public treasury, because the ruler acts by virtue of his authority in the interests of the Muslims. If we were to hold him liable for everything resulting from his actions, we would exhaust his wealth and that of his male agnatic relatives. Yes, if we were certain that the ruler had acted unjustly, then it may be held that liability rests upon him or upon his male agnatic relatives, according to what the legal evidence requires.

His statement: “Or if a man calls the police against her concerning a claim he has against her, and she miscarries”: “Calls the police against her” means that he brings a claim against her, but seeks the assistance of the police. The term shuraṭ is the plural of shurṭah, just as hujjaj is the plural of hujjah; and the collective term for the police is shuraṭiyy.

For example, a man brings a claim against a pregnant woman and goes to the police, saying: “I have such-and-such a claim against so-and-so.” The officer then says to the police officers: “Go and bring her.” So two policemen go, in their official uniforms,