would the mere mention of them have served any purpose. Such appraisals must therefore be adjusted in every age according to its circumstances. Thus, when the diya was set in 1390 AH at twenty-four thousand Saudi Arabian riyals for accidental killing and twenty-seven thousand riyals for intentional or quasi-intentional killing—by the Judicial Council, in its Decision No. 155 dated 6/11/1395 AH—that figure reflected the Council’s then assessment of the median value of the camels that constitute the original diya, as noted earlier.

Since camel prices have risen sharply since that date; and because His Eminence, the General President of the Departments of Scholarly Research, Iftāʾ, Daʿwah and Guidance, wrote to several courts in different regions of the Kingdom requesting that two or three trustworthy experts be commissioned to determine the average value of the types of camels required for the diya; and after those courts reported back with the experts’ findings on the average value in each locality; and in light of the divergence among the estimates received, the Council, by a majority of the members present, resolved to adopt the lowest estimate, for that is the safer course, because liability is presumed cleared of anything beyond that amount, and because if the killer were to bring one hundred camels of the specified types, sound and free of defects, the heirs of the slain would be obliged to accept them “wherever they may be, even if their value in that place is less than in another.”

According to this adopted estimate, the diya for intentional or quasi-intentional killing is “forty-five thousand riyals,” and the diya for accidental killing is “forty thousand riyals.” This ruling shall remain in force unless the value of camels undergoes a substantial increase or decrease that warrants a fresh review.

Allah alone grants success. May Allah send blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.

Council of Senior Scholars