these is the blood money payable for a non-Muslim under Muslim protection. Some hold that it equals the blood money for a Muslim, as Abū Hanīfa maintains. Others hold that it is one-third of the blood money for a Muslim, because that is the lowest amount proposed, as al-Shāfi‘ī maintains. The third view is that it is half the blood money for a Muslim. This is Mālik’s position, and it is the soundest view, because this is what is reported from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, by the compilers of the Sunan collections, including Abū Dāwūd and others.

Another example concerns whether those collectively liable for blood money bear all such compensation, as al-Shāfi‘ī holds; or bear the prescribed amounts, such as compensation for a wound exposing the bone or for fingers, and anything greater, as Abū Hanīfa holds; or bear amounts exceeding one-third, which is Mālik’s position. This third view is the one supported by transmitted reports, and it is also Ahmad’s position. As for an amount of exactly one-third, there are two opinions within the schools of Mālik and Ahmad.

It is related that a Medinan and a Kufan debated. The Medinan said to the Kufan: “You have certainly been blessed with one-quarter! You say that one-quarter of the head is to be wiped, that lesser impurity covering a quarter of the affected area is excused, and you make similar statements in other matters.”

The Kufan replied: “And you have been blessed with one-third! You say that if someone vows to give his wealth in charity, giving one-third suffices. You also say that those collectively liable for blood money bear amounts exceeding one-third, and that compensation for a woman’s injuries equals that for a man’s up to one-third, but once it exceeds that, hers is half his—and other such rulings.”

This is true. Yet the Kufan may be told: “There is no basis for the one-quarter rule, either