Chapter: The Prescribed Amounts of Compensation for Homicide

The compensation for the death of a free Muslim is one hundred camels, or one thousand mithqāls of gold, or twelve thousand dirhams of silver, or two hundred cattle, or two thousand sheep, …

His statement, “The prescribed amounts of compensation for homicide”: “Amounts” is the plural of “amount,” meaning the measure at which the blood-money is set. This chapter also explains the various forms in which it may be paid; thus, it explains both the quantity and the manner.

The basic obligation of blood-money is established in the Quran and the sunnah, but its detailed rulings are found only in the sunnah, for the sunnah clarifies, explains, and expounds the Quran.

His statement, “The compensation for the death of a free Muslim”: these are two conditions. The first is that he be free, and the second is that he be Muslim. Thus, the owned slave is excluded by the condition of freedom, and the non-Muslim by the condition of Islam.

The general wording of the author’s statement, “a free Muslim,” includes adults and children, since no restriction has been made. It includes the sane and the insane, the knowledgeable and the ignorant, males and females—though it will later become clear that females are excluded from this generality—as well as the sick and healthy, the mute and those able to speak, the blind and sighted, the deaf and hearing, those afflicted with a terminal illness, and others.

His statement, “one hundred camels”: their classifications will be explained later.

His statement, “or one thousand mithqāls of gold”: “of gold” specifies “one thousand mithqāls”; that is, one thousand mithqāls of gold. In the time of the Prophet, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, one dinar was equal to one mithqāl of gold. This is why it occurs in the hadith of Amr ibn Hazm: “And upon