the People of the Scripture,” because “the blood-money of the disbelievers” is general, whereas “the blood-money of the People of the Scripture” is specific. Thus, the blood-money for one of the People of the Scripture is fifty camels, one hundred cattle, one thousand sheep, five hundred dinars—or mithqals—and six thousand dirhams.

“The blood-money of a Zoroastrian and an idolater is eight hundred dirhams, and that of their women is half, as with the Muslims, …”

His statement, “The blood-money of a Zoroastrian and an idolater is eight hundred dirhams”: a Zoroastrian is one who worships fire, while an idolater is one who worships idols. Accordingly, the Zoroastrians are a type of idolater, but the author mentioned them specifically because they have particular rulings, such as the collection of the jizya tax from them rather than from other polytheists, according to the view of most scholars. The correct view, however, is that jizya may be collected from polytheists even if they are not Zoroastrians.

His statement, “Eight hundred dirhams”: if every two hundred dirhams are reckoned as fifty-six riyals, then eight hundred dirhams amount to two hundred and twenty-four silver riyals. Thus, the blood-money for a Zoroastrian, an idolater, one who has no religion, a communist, and those like them is only two hundred and twenty-four Saudi silver riyals. This is reported from Umar, Uthman, and Ibn Masud, may Allah be pleased with them (1).

But is this ruling fixed by revealed stipulation, or is it an estimate?

Some scholars said that it is fixed by revealed stipulation, and that it is explicitly set at eight hundred dirhams.

Others said that it is an estimate, and that there is a hadith—although it is—