Chapter on Retaliation (qisas) and the Amount of Blood Money (diyyah)

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ ضُرِبَ بِعَصاً فَلَمْ تُرْفَعْ عَنْهُ حَتَّى قُتِلَ أَ يُدْفَعُ الْقَاتِلُ إِلَى أَوْلِيَاءِ الْمَقْتُولِ- قَالَ نَعَمْ وَ لَكِنْ لَا يُتْرَكُ أَنْ يُعْبَثَ بِهِ‌[1] وَ لَكِنْ يُجَازُ عَلَيْهِ‌[2].

I asked Abu Abdullah (as) about a man who was struck with a stick and was not released until he was killed. Should the killer be handed over to the heirs of the slain? Imam (as) said: "Yes, but he should not be left for them to abuse; rather, retribution should be carried out upon him."

إِذَا ضَرَبَ الرَّجُلُ بِالْحَدِيدَةِ فَذَلِكَ الْعَمْدُ قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْخَطَإِ الَّذِي فِيهِ الدِّيَةُ وَ الْكَفَّارَةُ أَ هُوَ الرَّجُلُ يَضْرِبُ الرَّجُلَ فَلَا يَتَعَمَّدُ قَتْلَهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ فَإِذَا رَمَى شَيْئاً فَأَصَابَ رَجُلًا قَالَ ذَلِكَ الْخَطَأُ الَّذِي لَا يُشَكُّ فِيهِ وَ عَلَيْهِ كَفَّارَةٌ وَ دِيَةٌ[3].

Hadith.5195 - Al-Fadl ibn Abd Al-Malik narrated from Imam (as) that he said: "If a man strikes with an iron weapon, that is considered intentional killing (Al-'amd)." He said: "I asked Imam (as) about accidental killing (khata) for which blood money (diyyah) and expiation (kaffarah) are required - would this include a

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ فِي الْخَطَإِ شِبْهِ الْعَمْدِ أَنْ يُقْتَلَ بِالسَّوْطِ أَوْ بِالْحَجَرِ أَوْ بِالْعَصَا إِنَّ دِيَةَ ذَلِكَ تُغَلَّظُ وَ هِيَ مِائَةٌ مِنَ الْإِبِلِ فِيهَا أَرْبَعُونَ خَلِفَةً بَيْنَ ثَنِيَّةٍ إِلَى بَازِلِ عَامِهَا[4] وَ ثَلَاثُونَ حِقَّةً وَ ثَلَاثُونَ ابْنَةَ لَبُونٍ وَ الْخَطَأُ يَكُونُ فِيهِ ثَلَاثُونَ حِقَّةً وَ ثَلَاثُونَ ابْنَةَ لَبُون

I heard Abu Abdullah (as) say that the Commander of the Faithful (as) said: "In the case of accidental killing resembling intentional killing (khaṭaʾ shibh Al-Amd), such as when someone is killed with a whip, a stone, or a stick, the blood money (diyyah) is made more severe. It is one hundred camels, among which are fo

مِائَةٌ مِنْ فُحُولَةِ الْإِبِلِ الْمَسَانِ‌[1] فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فَمَكَانَ كُلِّ جَمَلٍ عِشْرُونَ مِنْ فُحُولَةِ الْغَنَمِ.

Hadith.5197 - Muawiyah ibn Wahb asked Abu Abdullah (as) about the blood money (diyyah) for intentional killing. Imam (as) said: "It is one hundred mature male camels. If they are not available, then for each camel, twenty mature male sheep are to be given in its place."

سُئِلَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع- عَنْ رَجُلٍ قَتَلَ رَجُلًا مُتَعَمِّداً فَلَمْ يُقَمْ عَلَيْهِ الْحَدُّ وَ لَمْ تَصِحَّ الشَّهَادَةُ حَتَّى خُولِطَ وَ ذَهَبَ عَقْلُهُ ثُمَّ إِنَّ قَوْماً آخَرِينَ شَهِدُوا عَلَيْهِ بَعْدَ مَا خُولِطَ أَنَّهُ قَتَلَهُ فَقَالَ إِنْ شَهِدُوا عَلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ قَتَلَهُ حِينَ قَتَلَهُ وَ هُوَ صَحِيحٌ لَيْسَ بِهِ عِلَّةٌ مِنْ فَسَادِ عَقْلٍ قُتِلَ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَشْهَدُوا عَلَيْهِ بِذَلِكَ وَ كَانَ

الدِّيَةُ كَامِلَةً.

Hadith.5199 - Sulayman ibn Khalid asked Abu Abdullah (as) about a man who hired a wet nurse and entrusted his child to her. While the child was with her, the wet nurse went and hired another woman to care for the child. This second wet nurse then disappeared with the child, and it became unknown what happened to the ch

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنْ رَجُلٍ وُجِدَ مَقْتُولًا فَجَاءَ رَجُلَانِ إِلَى وَلِيِّهِ فَقَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَنَا قَتَلْتُهُ عَمْداً وَ قَالَ الْآخَرُ أَنَا قَتَلْتُهُ خَطَأً[5] فَقَالَ إِنْ هُوَ أَخَذَ بِقَوْلِ صَاحِبِ الْعَمْدِ فَلَيْسَ لَهُ عَلَى صَاحِبِ الْخَطَإِ شَيْ‌ءٌ وَ إِنْ هُوَ أَخَذَ بِقَوْلِ صَاحِبِ الْخَطَإِ فَلَيْسَ لَهُ عَلَى صَاحِبِ الْعَمْدِ شَيْ‌ءٌ.

I asked Abu Abdullah (as) about a man who was found murdered. Two men came to guardian of the victim; one of them said: "I killed him intentionally," and other said: "I killed him by mistake." Imam (as) said: "If the guardian accepts the statement of the one who confessed to intentional killing, then he has no claim ag

سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ أَبِي لَيْلَى يَقُولُ‌ كَانَتِ الدِّيَةُ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ مِائَةً مِنَ الْإِبِلِ فَأَقَرَّهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ فَرَضَ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْبَقَرِ مِائَتَيْ بَقَرَةٍ وَ فَرَضَ عَلَى أَهْلِ الشَّاةِ أَلْفَ شَاةٍ وَ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْحُلَلِ مِائَةَ حُلَّةٍ قَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ فَسَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَمَّا رَوَاهُ ابْنُ أَبِي لَيْلَى فَقَالَ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ ع يَقُولُ الدِّيَةُ أَلْ

I heard Ibn Abi Layla say, "In the pre-Islamic era, the blood money (diyyah) was one hundred camels, and the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace be upon him and his family) affirmed it. Then he imposed on the people of cattle two hundred cows, on the people of sheep one thousand sheep, and on the people of garments one hun

وَ سَمِعَ كُلَيْبُ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ قَتَلَ فِي شَهْرٍ حَرَامٍ فَعَلَيْهِ دِيَةٌ وَ ثُلُثٌ‌[1].

Hadith.5202 - Kulayb ibn Muawiyah heard Abu Abdullah Imam Al-Sadiq (as) say: "Whoever kills during a sacred month (haram month) is liable for the full blood money (diyyah) plus one-third."

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِذَا قَتَلَ الرَّجُلُ فِي شَهْرٍ حَرَامٍ صَامَ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ مِنْ أَشْهُرِ الْحُرُمِ‌[2].

I heard Abu Jafar Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) say, "If a man kills during a sacred month (haram month), he must fast for two consecutive months from the sacred months."

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ قَتَلَ رَجُلًا مُسْلِماً عَمْداً فَلَمْ يَكُنْ لِلْمَقْتُولِ أَوْلِيَاءُ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ إِلَّا أَوْلِيَاءُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الذِّمَّةِ مِنْ قَرَابَتِهِ فَقَالَ عَلَى الْإِمَامِ أَنْ يَعْرِضَ عَلَى قَرَابَتِهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ الْإِسْلَامَ فَمَنْ أَسْلَمَ مِنْهُمْ فَهُوَ وَلِيُّهُ يُدْفَعُ الْقَاتِلُ إِلَيْهِ فَإِنْ شَاءَ قَتَلَ وَ إِنْ شَاءَ عَفَا وَ إِنْ شَاءَ أَخَذَ ا

I asked Abu Abdullah (as) about a man who intentionally killed a Muslim man, but the murdered man had no heirs among the Muslims, only relatives from the People of the Book (Ahl Al-Dhimmah) from his family. Imam (as) said: "It is upon the Imam to offer Islam to his non-Muslim relatives. Whoever among them accepts Islam

الدِّيَةُ عَلَى الَّذِي وَقَعَ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ فَقَتَلَهُ لِأَوْلِيَاءِ الْمَقْتُولِ قَالَ وَ يَرْجِعُ الْمَدْفُوعُ بِالدِّيَةِ عَلَى الَّذِي دَفَعَهُ قَالَ وَ إِنْ أَصَابَ الْمَدْفُوعَ شَيْ‌ءٌ فَهُوَ عَلَى الدَّافِعِ أَيْضاً.

Hadith.5205 - Ibn Mahbub narrated from Ali ibn Ri'ab from Abdullah ibn Sinan from Abu Abdullah (as) regarding a man who pushed another man onto someone else, causing that person's death. Imam (as) said: "The blood money (diyyah) is upon the one who fell onto the man and killed him, and it must be paid to the heirs of t

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَقُولُ‌ تُسْتَأْدَى دِيَةُ الْخَطَإِ فِي ثَلَاثِ سِنِينَ وَ تُسْتَأْدَى دِيَةُ الْعَمْدِ فِي سَنَةٍ[3].

The Commander of the Faithful (as) used to say, "The blood money (diyyah) for accidental killing (khaṭaʾ) is to be paid over three years, while the blood money for intentional killing (Amd) must be paid within one year."

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ: ۝ فَمَنْ تَصَدَّقَ بِهِ فَهُوَ كَفّٰارَةٌ لَهُ ۝ قَالَ "يُكَفَّرُ عَنْهُ مِنْ ذُنُوبِهِ عَلَى قَدْرِ مَا عَفَا عَنِ اَلْعَمْدِ.

I asked Imam (as) about the saying of Allah (swt), the Almighty and Majestic: "But if one remits it as charity, it is an expiation for him.". (Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:45) Imam (as) said: "A portion of his sins will be expiated according to the extent of the forgiveness granted in the case of intentional killing."

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ قَتَلَ رَجُلًا عَمْداً فَرُفِعَ إِلَى الْوَالِي فَدَفَعَهُ الْوَالِي إِلَى أَوْلِيَاءِ الْمَقْتُولِ لِيَقْتُلُوهُ فَوَثَبَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَوْمٌ فَخَلَّصُوا الْقَاتِلَ مِنْ أَيْدِي الْأَوْلِيَاءِ فَقَالَ أَرَى أَنْ يُحْبَسَ الَّذِينَ خَلَّصُوا الْقَاتِلَ مِنْ أَيْدِي الْأَوْلِيَاءِ أَبَداً حَتَّى يَأْتُوا بِالْقَاتِلِ قِيلَ لَهُ فَإِنْ مَاتَ الْقَاتِلُ وَ هُمْ فِي السِّجْنِ فَقَالَ إِنْ مَاتَ فَعَل

I asked Imam (as) about a man who intentionally killed another man. The matter was presented to the governor, and the governor handed the killer over to the heirs of the murdered person to execute him. However, a group of people attacked and rescued the killer from the heirs. Imam (as) said: "I believe that those who r

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع مَا تَقُولُ فِي الْعَمْدِ وَ الْخَطَإِ فِي الْقَتْلِ وَ فِي الْجِرَاحَاتِ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ الْخَطَأُ مِثْلَ الْعَمْدِ الْعَمْدُ فِيهِ الْقَتْلُ وَ الْجِرَاحَاتُ فِيهَا الْقِصَاصُ وَ الْخَطَأُ فِي الْقَتْلِ وَ الْجِرَاحَاتِ فِيهِمَا الدِّيَةُ وَ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي يَا حَكَمُ إِذَا كَانَ الْخَطَأُ مِنَ الْقَاتِلِ أَوِ الْخَطَأُ مِنَ الْجَارِحِ وَ كَانَ بَدَوِيّاً فَدِيَةُ مَا جَنَى الْبَدَوِي

I asked Abu Jafar (as), "What do you say about intentional and accidental killing and in cases of injuries?" Imam (as) replied: "Accidental killing is not the same as intentional killing. In intentional killing, execution (qiṣaṣ) applies, and for injuries, retribution applies. In accidental killing and injuries, there

يُقْتَلُ بِهِ الَّذِي وَلِيَ قَتْلَهُ وَ يُحْبَسُ الَّذِي أَمَرَ بِقَتْلِهِ فِي السِّجْنِ أَبَداً حَتَّى يَمُوتَ‌[4].

Hadith.5210 - Ibn Mahbub narrated from Ali ibn Ri'ab from Zurarah from Abu Jafar Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) regarding a man who commanded a free man to kill another man, and he carried out the killing. Imam (as) said: "The one who directly committed the murder shall be executed, and the one who ordered the kil

سَأَلْتُ‌ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ قَتَلَ أُمَّهُ قَالَ لَا يَرِثُهَا وَ يُقْتَلُ بِهَا صَاغِراً[1] وَ لَا أَظُنُّ قَتْلَهُ بِهَا كَفَّارَةً لِذَنْبِهِ.

I asked Abu Jafar Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) about a man who killed his mother. Imam (as) said: "He does not inherit from her, and he is to be executed for her murder in a state of humiliation. Yet, I do not believe that his execution will serve as an expiation for his sin."

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ قَتَلَ رَجُلًا خَطَأً فِي أَشْهُرِ الْحُرُمِ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ الدِّيَةُ وَ صَوْمُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ مِنْ أَشْهُرِ الْحُرُمِ قُلْتُ إِنَّ هَذَا يَدْخُلُ فِيهِ الْعِيدُ وَ أَيَّامُ التَّشْرِيقِ فَقَالَ يَصُومُهُ فَإِنَّهُ حَقٌّ لَزِمَهُ‌[2].

I asked Abu Jafar Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) about a man who accidentally killed another man during the sacred months (Ashhur Al-Hurum). Imam (as) said: "He must pay the blood money (diyyah) and fast for two consecutive months from the sacred months." I said: "But this period includes Eid and the days of Tashr

وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ أَبَانٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ عَلَيْهِ دِيَةٌ وَ ثُلُثٌ‌[3].

Hadith.5213 - In the narration of Aban from Zurarah from Abu Abdullah (as), he said: "He must pay the full blood money (diyyah) plus one-third."

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلًا ضَرَبَ رَجُلًا بِخَزَفَةٍ أَوْ بِآجُرَّةٍ[4] فَمَاتَ كَانَ‌

Abu Abdullah (as) said: "If a man strikes another man with a piece of pottery or a brick and he dies, it is considered intentional killing."

الدِّيَةُ كَامِلَةً وَ لَا يُقْتَلُ الرَّجُلُ‌[2].

Hadith.5215 - Ibn Abi Umayr narrated from Hisham ibn Salim and others from Abu Abdullah (as) that that Imam (as) was asked about a woman upon whom a man used excessive force, and he claimed that she died due to his violence against her. Imam (as) said: "The full blood money (diyyah) must be paid, but the man is not to

لَا شَيْ‌ءَ عَلَيْهِمَا[3] إِذَا كَانَا مَأْمُونَيْنِ فَإِنِ اتُّهِمَا لَزِمَهُمَا الْيَمِينُ بِاللَّهِ أَنَّهُمَا لَمْ يُرِيدَا الْقَتْلَ.

Hadith.5216 - In Nawadir of Ibrahim ibn Hashim, it is narrated that Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) was asked about a man who violently assaulted a woman or a woman who violently assaulted her husband, and one of them ended up killing the other. Imam (as) said: "There is nothing upon either of them if they are co

إِنْ شَاءَ أَوْلِيَاءُ الْمَقْتُولِ أَنْ يُؤَدُّوا دِيَةً وَ يَقْتُلُوهُمَا جَمِيعاً قَتَلُوهُمَا[4].

Hadith.5217 - Dawud ibn Sirhan narrated from Abu Abdullah (as) regarding two men who killed another man. Imam (as) said: "If the heirs of the murdered person wish to pay the blood money (diyyah) and execute both of them, they may kill them both."

هُوَ الرَّجُلُ يَقْبَلُ الدِّيَةَ فَأَمَرَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الَّذِي لَهُ الْحَقُّ أَنْ يَتَّبِعَهُ بِمَعْرُوفٍ وَ لَا يُعْسِرَهُ وَ أَمَرَ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الْحَقُّ أَنْ لَا يَظْلِمَهُ وَ أَنْ يُؤَدِّيَهُ إِلَيْهِ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِذَا أَيْسَرَ فَقُلْتُ أَ رَأَيْتَ قَوْلَهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ فَمَنِ اعْتَدى‌ بَعْدَ ذلِكَ فَلَهُ عَذابٌ أَلِيمٌ‌ قَالَ هُوَ الرَّجُلُ يَقْبَلُ الدِّيَةَ أَوْ يُصَالِحُ ثُمَّ يَجِي‌ءُ بَعْدُ

Hadith.5218 - Samaah narrated from Abu Basir from Abu Jafar Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) regarding the saying of Allah (swt), the Almighty and Majestic: "But if any remission is made by the brother of the slain, then grant [him] a suitable follow-up" (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:178). I asked: "What is that 'remission'?"

هُوَ مَأْمُونٌ‌[1].

Hadith.5219 - Dawud ibn Sirhan narrated from Abu Abdullah (as) regarding a man who was carrying goods on his head and accidentally struck a person, causing death or breaking something. Imam (as) said: "He is not held liable (ma'mun)."

قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ رَجُلٌ قَتَلَ رَجُلًا مُتَعَمِّداً أَوْ خَطَأً وَ عَلَيْهِ دَيْنٌ وَ مَالٌ فَأَرَادَ أَوْلِيَاؤُهُ أَنْ يَهَبُوا دَمَهُ لِلْقَاتِلِ فَقَالَ إِنْ وَهَبُوا دَمَهُ ضَمِنُوا الدَّيْنَ‌[2] قُلْتُ فَإِنْ هُمْ أَرَادُوا قَتْلَهُ فَقَالَ إِنْ قُتِلَ عَمْداً قُتِلَ قَاتِلُهُ وَ أَدَّى عَنْهُ الْإِمَامُ الدَّيْنَ مِنْ سَهْمِ الْغَارِمِينَ قُلْتُ فَإِنَّهُ قُتِلَ عَمْداً وَ صَالَحَ أَوْلِيَاؤُهُ قَا

I asked Imam (as): "May I be your ransom! A man was killed, whether intentionally or accidentally, and he had debts and wealth. His heirs wanted to pardon the killer. What is the ruling?" Imam (as) said: "If they pardon his blood, they are responsible for paying his debts." I asked: "What if they wish to execute the ki

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ كُلُّ مَنْ قَتَلَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ صَغِيرٍ أَوْ كَبِيرٍ بَعْدَ أَنْ يَتَعَمَّدَ فَعَلَيْهِ الْقَوَدُ[4].

Hadith.5221 - In the narration of Ibn Bukayr, Abu Abdullah (as) said: "Whoever intentionally kills with anything, whether small or large, is subject to retribution (qiṣaṣ)."

يُعْرَضُ عَلَيْهِ حُرُوفُ الْمُعْجَمِ فَمَا أَفْصَحَ مِنْهَا فَلَا شَيْ‌ءَ فِيهِ وَ مَا لَمْ يُفْصِحْ بِهِ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ الدِّيَةُ وَ هِيَ ثَمَانِيَةٌ وَ عِشْرُونَ حَرْفاً[5].

Hadith.5222 - Al-Bazanti narrated from Abdullah ibn Sinan from Abu Abdullah (as) regarding a man who struck another man on the head with a stick, causing his speech to become impaired. Imam (as) said: "He should be tested with the letters of the Arabic alphabet. For the letters he can articulate clearly, there is no li