What are the requirements for the camels paid as *Diyya* (blood money)?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Blood-Money (Diyyāt)
Primary text
In the case of intentional homicide, the *Diyya* is one hundred camels, specified as twenty-five *bint makhad* (one-year-old she-camels), twenty-five *bint labun* (two-year-old she-camels), twenty-five *hiqqah* (three-year-old she-camels), and twenty-five *jadh'ah* (four-year-old she-camels). The camels must be sound, not defective, and not emaciated (*'ajfa*). If the liable party does not possess camels, the payment must be made from the predominant type of camel found in the town, or if none exist there, from the predominant type in the nearest town. If the available camels are sickly or emaciated, the person must procure healthy ones of the same type, as this is a substitute for a damaged item, which must be sound, similar to the ruling regarding cattle and sheep.
Supporting text
The Hanafi school, the Qadi, and the Shafi'is stipulate that the payment must be from the payer's own kind of camels as a form of mutual support, analogous to Zakat. If the payer has different types of camels, there is a dispute: either the payment is taken proportionally from each type, or it is taken from the majority type, or if they are equal, from whichever the payer chooses. If a superior or equal camel is offered, it is accepted; if inferior, it is not accepted unless the recipient consents.