The ground that warrants retaliation for limbs and wounds is identical to the ground that warrants it for taking life: pure, pre-meditated intent. Hence, no retaliation is due for accidental injury or for quasi-intentional harm.

Retaliation applies to bodily members in precise equivalence: an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot—right for right and left for left in every instance. The offender’s tooth is broken in the same manner and in the same tooth as the victim’s. An eyelid is taken for an eyelid—upper for upper, lower for lower; a lip for a lip—upper for upper, lower for lower. This follows Allah’s words, “and for wounds—retaliation” (5:45), and because each eyelid and each lip has a clearly defined limit. A palm is taken for its matching palm—right for right, left for left; an elbow for its counterpart—right with right, left with left—because of their parity. The penis is taken for the penis, for it too has a determinate end and can be subjected to retaliation without excess, in keeping with the general statement, “and for wounds—retaliation.”

Retaliation for a limb is contingent upon three conditions.

Condition One: protection against inequity. The amputation must occur at a joint or at a point that has a clear boundary; otherwise retaliation is impermissible. Consequently, there is no retaliation for a wound that has no definable limit, such as a jāʾifah (a penetrating wound that reaches the body cavity), because it lacks a clear stopping point for the cut. Likewise, there is no retaliation for breaking any bone other than a tooth—such as the shin, thigh, or arm—because exact equivalence cannot be achieved. Breaking a tooth, however, does permit retaliation: the offender’s tooth is filed down until the same amount that was broken from the victim’s tooth has been removed.