What is the prescribed compensation for the joints (anamil) of the fingers and toes?
Chapter on Diyat (Blood Money) for Wounds
Al-Mughni
Book of Blood-Money (Diyyāt)
Primary text
The compensation for every joint is one-third of the total compensation for that digit (aqluha). However, the thumb (ibhaam) has two joints, and thus, five camels are due for each of its two joints. This is the position held by the majority of scholars, including Umar, Ali, Ibn Abbas, Masruq, Urwah, Mak'hul, Sha'bi, Abdullah ibn Ma'qil, ath-Thawri, al-Awza'i, Malik, ash-Shafi'i, Abu Thawr, the People of Reason (Ahl al-Ra'y), and the People of Hadith. Evidence supporting this is the Prophet's saying: "The Diyya of the fingers of the hands and the feet is ten camels for every finger," narrated by at-Tirmidhi (who deemed it authentic) and Abu Dawud. Furthermore, a document from the Prophet (peace be upon him) to Amr ibn Hazm stated: "And for every finger of the fingers of the hands and the feet, ten camels." Digits are considered equal in Diyya because they are a countable genus for which Diyya is prescribed, like teeth and eyelids.
Supporting text
There is a narration from Umar where he initially judged the thumb to be one-third of a Gherra (a lesser compensation), the next finger to be twelve, the middle finger ten, the next nine, and the little finger six. However, upon being informed of the Prophet's letter to the family of Hazm stating, "And for every finger among those, ten camels," Umar abandoned his prior ruling. Mujahid narrated different specific amounts for each finger, ranging from fifteen for the thumb down to seven for the little finger.