How is the total compensation for a finger divided among its joints?
Chapter on Diyat (Blood Money) for Wounds
Al-Mughni
Book of Blood-Money (Diyyāt)
Primary text
The total Diyya for a digit is divided among its joints. Every finger has three joints except the thumb, which has two joints. For the non-thumb fingers, each joint is due one-third of the total Diyya (which amounts to three and one-third camels). For the thumb, each of its two joints is due five camels, constituting half of its total Diyya (ten camels). The ruling is the same for the fingers of the hands and the feet due to the generality of the prophetic evidence covering both, and the consensus regarding their equal standing.
Supporting text
A view attributed to Malik suggested that the thumb also has three joints, with one being internal (baatinah). This is considered incorrect because legal consideration is given to the apparent form (dhaahir). The Prophet's statement "for every finger ten camels" implies the obligation is on the apparent structure, the part to which the name 'finger' is applied, not what is hidden internally, just as the exposed part of the tooth is what is considered for Diyya, not its root embedded in the gum.