to “their agnates,” which is the predicate of the subject. Here, “even” is conjunctive, not terminative so as to function as a preposition; indeed, it cannot be terminative, since what follows it is not the endpoint of what precedes it. Alternatively, an appropriate governing word may be understood before it: “even those in his two direct lines of descent,” in which case it is in the accusative because the preposition has been omitted.
The two direct lines of descent are those who trace their lineage to him, or those to whom he traces his lineage. Those who trace their lineage to him are his descendants, while those to whom he traces his lineage are his ascendants.
The author specifically mentioned the two direct lines of descent, although they are included in the generality of his statement, “all his agnates,” because there is a difference of opinion on this issue. Scholars only specifically mention something already included in a general expression when there is a disagreement, in order to dispel a possible misconception, or for a similar reason. It must therefore serve some purpose; here, the purpose is to indicate the disagreement.
The second view is that the two direct lines of descent bear no blood-money liability; rather, it is borne by the collateral relatives—that is, the siblings, paternal uncles, and those descended from them.
The third view is that descendants bear no such liability, unlike ascendants.
The fourth view is that both ascendants and descendants bear it, except that a descendant bears no liability if he belongs to another tribe, such as a woman’s sons. Thus, if a woman belongs to one clan and marries a man from another clan, her sons belong to a tribe other than hers. Some scholars held that they pay nothing toward the blood money, because this liability is founded upon mutual support, defense, and protection; and one who belongs to another tribe is not among those who provide support, defense, and protection.
The well-known position of the madhhab is that the two direct lines of descent bear the liability; and that is