The Chapters on Blood Money

It was narrated from Abdullah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “The first matter concerning which judgment will be passed among the people on the Day of Resurrection will be bloodshed.”

It was narrated from Abdullah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “No person is killed wrongfully, but a share of responsibility for his blood will be upon, the first son of Adam, because he was the first one to kill.”

It was narrated from Abdullah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: The first matter concerning which judgment will be passed among the people on the Day of Resurrection will be bloodshed.”

It was narrated from Uqbah bin Amir Al-Juhani that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever meets Allah (SWT) not associating anything in worship with him, and not having shed any blood unlawfully, will enter Paradise.”

It was narrated from Bara' bin Azib that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “If this world were to be destroyed, that would be less significant before Allah (SWT) than the unlawful killing of a believer.”

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever helps to kill a believer, even with half a world, he will meet Allah (SWT) with (the words) written between his eyes, 'He has no hope of the mercy of Allah (SWT).”

It was narrated that Salim bin Abu Jad said: “Ibn Abbas was asked about one who kills a believer deliberately, then repents, believes, does righteous deeds and follows true guidance. He said: 'Woe to him can there be any guidance for him? I heard your Prophet (ﷺ) say: “The killer and his victim will be brought on the day of Resurrection, with slain holding onto the head of his killer, saying: 'O Lord, ask this one, why did he kill me?” By Allah (SWT), Allah (SWT) the Mighty and Sublime revealed it to your Prophet (ﷺ) then He did not abrogate it after He revealed it.”

It was narrated that Abu Sa'eed Khudri said: “Shall I not tell you what I heard directly from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)? I heard it and memorized it: 'A man killed ninety-nine people, then the idea of repentance occurred to him. He asked who was the most knowledgeable of people on earth, and he was told of a man so he went to him and said: “I have killed ninety-nine people. Can I repent?” He said: “After ninety-nine people?!” He said: 'So he drew his sword and killed him, thus completing one hundred. Then the idea of repentance occurred to him (again), so he asked who was the most knowledgeable of people, and he was told of a man (so he went to him) and said: “I have killed one hundred people. Can I repent?” He said: “Woe to you, what is stopping you from repenting? Leave the evil town where you are living and go to a good town, such and such town and worship your Lord there” So he went out, heading for the good town, but death came to him on the road. The angels of mercy and angels of punishment argued over him. Iblis (Satan) said: “I have more right to him, for he never disobeyed me for a moment. “But the angels of mercy said: “He want out repenting.” (One of the narrators) Hammam said: “Humaid At-Tawil narrated to me from Bakr bin Abdullah that Abu Rafi said: 'So Allah (SWT) sent an angel to whom they referred (the case). He said: “Look and see which of the two towns was he closer, and put him with its people.”(One of the narrators) Qatadah said: “Hasan narrated to us: 'When death came to him he strove and drew closer to the good town, and farther away from the evil town, so they put him with the people of the good town.”

It was narrated from Abu Sharaih Al-Khuzai that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever suffers from killing or wounding, has the choice of three things, and if he wants the fourth then restrain him. He may kill (the killer), or forgive him, or take the blood money. Whoever accepts any of these (options), then kills (the killer) after that will have the fire of hell to abide therein forever.”

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “If a person's relative is killed, he has the choice of two things: He may either have the killer killed, or he may demand the blood money.”

It was narrated that Ziyad bin Sa'd bin Dumairah (said): “My father and my paternal uncle, who were present at Hunain with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) narrated to me: 'The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed Zuhr, then he sat beneath a tree. Aqra' bin Habis, who was the chief of Khindaf, came to him arguing in defense of Muhallim bin Jaththamah. Uyainah bin Hisn came to him demanding vengeance for 'Amir bin Adbat who was from the tribe of Ashja. The Prophet (ﷺ) said to them: “Will you accept the blood money?'” But they refused. Then a man from Banu Laith, whose name was Mukaital, stood up and said: 'O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)! By Allah (SWT)! This man who was killed in the early days of Islam is like Sheep that come to drink but stones are thrown at them, so the last of them runs away (i.e. ,the murderer should be killed).' The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'You will have fifty (camels) while we are traveling and fifty (camels) when we return.' So they accepted the blood money.”

It was narrated from 'Amr bin Shu'aib, from this father, from his grandfather that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever kills deliberately, he will be handed over to the heirs of the victim. If they want, they may kill him, or if they want, they may accept the blood money, which is thirty Hiqqah, thirty Jadha'ah and forty Khalifah. This is the blood money for deliberate slaying. Whatever is settled by reconciliation belongs to them, and that is a binding covenant.”

It was narrated from Abdullah bin 'Amr that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Killing by mistake that resembles intentionally, is killing with a whip or stick, for which the blood money is one hundred camels, of which forty should be pregnant she-camels in middle of their pregnancies, with their young in their wombs.”

It was narrated from Ibn Umar that : the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood up on the Day of the conquest of Makkah, on the steps of the Ka'bah. He praised and glorified Allah (SWT), then he said: “Praise is to Allah (SWT) who has fulfilled His promise, granted victory to His slave and defeated the Confederates alone. The one who is killed by mistake is the one who is killed with a whip or a stick; for him the blood money is one hundred camels, of which forty should be pregnant she-camels with their youngs in their wombs. Every custom of Ignorance period, and every blood claim, is beneath these two feet of mine (i.e. is abolished), except for the custodianship of the Ka'bah and the provision of water for the pilgrims, which I confirm still belong to the people to whom they belonged before.”

It was narrated from Ibn 'Abbas that : the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) set the blood money at twelve thousand (Dirham).

It was narrated from 'Amr bin Shu'aib, from his father, from his grandfather, that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever is killed by mistake, his blood money in camels is thirty Bint Makhad (a one-year-old she-camel), thirty Bint Labun (a two-year-old she-camel), thirty Hiqqah (a three-year-old she-camel) and ten Bani Labun (two-years-old male-camel).” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to fix the value (of the blood money for accidental killing) among town-dwellers at four hundred Dinar or the equivalent value in silver. When he calculated the price in terms of camels (for Bedouins), it would vary from one time to another. When prices roses, the value (in dinars) would rise: and when prices fell, the value (in Dinar) would fall. At the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) the value was between four hundred and eight hundred dinar, or the equivalent value in silver, eight thousand Dirham. And the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ruled that if a person's blood money was paid in cattle, among those who kept cattle, the amount was two hundred cows; and if person's blood money was paid in sheep, among those who kept sheep, the value was two thousand sheep. (Hasan).

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin Masud that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “The blood money of one who killed by mistake is twenty Hiqqah (three-year-old she camels), twenty Jadha'ah (four year old she camels), twenty Bint Makhad (one year old she camel), twenty Bint Labun (two year old she camels), and twenty Bani Makhad (one year old she camels).”

It was narrated from 'Ikrimah, from Ibn 'Abbas, that : the Prophet (ﷺ) set the blood money at twelve thousand (Dirham). He said: “This is what Allah says: 'And they could not find any cause to do so except that Allah and his Messenger (ﷺ) had enriched them of His bounty.'” He said: “By their taking the blood money.”

It was narrated that Mughirah bin Shu'bah said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ruled that the blood money must be paid by the 'Aqilah.”

It was narrated from Miqdam Ash-Shami that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “I am the heir of the one who has no heir, and I will pay blood money on his behalf and inherit from him, and the maternal uncle is the heir of the one who has no heir; he pays the blood money on his behalf and inherits from him.'”

It was narrated from Ibn 'Abbas, who attributed it to the Prophet (ﷺ): “Whoever kills out of folly or for tribal motives, using a rock, a whip, or a stick; he must pay the blood money for killing by mistake. Whoever kills deliberately, he is to be killed in retaliation. Whoever tries to prevent that, upon him is the curse of Allah, the angels and all the people, and no change nor equitable exchange will be accepted from him.”

Nimran bin Jariyah narrated from his father that : a man struck another man on the wrist with his sword and severed it, not at the joint. He appealed to the Prophet (ﷺ) who ordered that the Diyah be paid. The man said: “O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), I want retaliation.” He said: “Take the compensation and may Allah bless you therein.” And he did not rule that he be allowed retaliation.

It was narrated from 'Abbas bin 'Abdul-Muttalib that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “There is no retaliation for a head wound that does not reach the brain, a spear wound that does not penetrate deeply, or a wound that dislocates a bone.”

It was narrated from 'Aishah that : the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent Abu Jahm bin Hudhaifah to collect Sadaqah. A man disputed with him concerning his Sadaqah, and Abu Jahm struck him and wounded his head. They came to Prophet (ﷺ) and said: “Compensatory money, O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)!” The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “You will have such and such,” but they did not accept that. He said: “You will have such and such,” and they agreed. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “I am going to address the people and tell them that you agreed.” They said: “Yes.” So the Prophet (ﷺ) addressed (the people) and said: “These people of Laith came to me seeking compensatory money, and I have offered them such and such. Do you agree?” They said: “No.” The Emigrants wanted to attack them, but the Prophet (ﷺ) told them not to, so they refrained. Then he called them and offered them more and said: “Do you agree?” They said: “Yes.” He said: “I am going to address the people and tell them that you agreed.” They said: “Yes.” So the Prophet (ﷺ) addressed (the people) then said: “Do you Agree?” They said: “Yes.”

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ruled concerning a fetus that (the blood money) was a slave, male and female. The one against whom this verdict was passed said: ' Should we pay blood money for one who neither ate, drunk, shouted, nor cried, (at the moment of birth)? One such as this should be overlooked .' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'This man speaks like a poet. (But the blood money for a fetus is) a slave, male, or female.'”

It was narrated that Miswar bin Makhramah said: “Umar bin Khattab consulted the people concerning a woman who had been caused to miscarry. Al-Mughirah bin Shu'bah said: 'I saw the messenger of Allah (ﷺ) rule that a slave, male or female, be given as blood money (for a fetus).' 'Umar said: 'Bring me someone who will testify alongside you. So he brought Muhammad bin Maslamah to testify along with him.'”