What is the ruling regarding compensation when an injury diminishes the sight in someone's eyes?
Chapter on Diyat (Blood Money) for Wounds
Al-Mughni
Book of Blood-Money (Diyyāt)
Primary text
Compensation in cases where an injury reduces the clarity of vision in the eyes is determined by a judicial assessment (hukuma). If the injured party claims diminished sight, their statement, corroborated by an oath, is accepted because only they can ascertain the true extent of the impairment. The method for determining the loss involves testing the good eye against the impaired eye using a sighted individual and an object, like an egg, placed at varying distances until sight ceases. The distances are then measured and compared. If the distances are equal, the claim is validated, and compensation is awarded proportionally to the difference in visual range between the two eyes. This principle is based on the established ruling attributed to Ali, may Allah be pleased upon him, who used a similar procedure involving measuring the sight range of each eye separately and compensating based on the established proportional difference.
Supporting text
If the measured distances differ, the claimant is deemed untruthful, having intentionally shortened the distance reported for the impaired eye to increase the mandatory compensation. In such a case, the testing process must be repeated until the distances are equalized.