he is entitled only to the blood money for loss of intellect, with nothing payable for the head wound reaching the brain, since, on this view, the intellect resides specifically at the site of that wound. This is like someone destroying a man’s sight and putting out his eye with a single blow, or destroying his hearing and cutting off his ear with a single blow.

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One condition for lawful retaliation for wounds is that the person inflicting the wound and the wounded person have the same status with respect to Islam or unbelief and freedom or slavery. If they differ in any of these respects, retaliation does not apply. However, according to Ashhab’s report from him, Mālik reserved judgment concerning wounds inflicted by a Christian upon a Muslim. Ibn Nāfiʿ said: “The Muslim has the choice: he may exact retaliation or accept blood money.”

Success comes through Allah. There is no Lord but Him, and none worthy of worship besides Him.