What is the compensation for destroying the sense of taste (*dhawq*)?
Chapter on Diyat (Blood Money) for Wounds
Al-Mughni
Book of Blood-Money (Diyyāt)
Primary text
A definitive ruling establishes that there is no *diyah* for the loss of taste alone. This is based on the consensus that the tongue of a mute person does not warrant full *diyah*. By extension, if an organ's full *diyah* is not due for the loss of its function alone, then the loss of a mere function, such as taste, does not mandate a full *diyah*. This position is supported by scholarly deduction regarding the tongue of the mute.
Supporting text
Ahmad, may God have mercy on him, specified that one-third of the *diyah* is due. Some Shafi'i scholars stated that Al-Shafi'i mandated *diyah* for it. Another view suggests that if the loss of taste accompanies the loss of the tongue, the ruling for the tongue applies, and if the loss of taste occurs alone, there is an assessment (*hukuma*) or no *diyah*.