What is the legal compensation for severing one nostril?
Chapter on Diyat (Blood Money) for Wounds
Al-Mughni
Book of Blood-Money (Diyyāt)
Primary text
If one nostril is severed, one-third of the Diyah is due. If both nostrils are severed, two-thirds of the Diyah is due, and the partition between them (Hajiz/Watrah) carries the remaining third, according to a view attributed to Ahmad and Ishaq, and one of the two recognized positions within the Shafi'i school. This division is based on the Marn comprising three constituent parts, to which the Diyah is distributed proportionally, similar to counting parts in the hands, fingers, or the four eyelids.
Supporting text
An alternative view, held by Abu Al-Khattab and the second position among the Shafi'is, posits that severing both nostrils incurs the full Diyah because the two nostrils are a pair without a third counterpart in the body, resembling the two hands. Under this view, severing one nostril incurs half the Diyah. If the partition (Hajiz) is severed along with the nostrils, the partition incurs a discretionary assessment (Hukumat).