A Comparative Study of the Rules Governing Blood Money and Retaliation for Offenses Against a Child Born of Zina in Imami Jurisprudence and the Hanafi School
Keywords:
Diyya, Qisas, Imamiyya Jurisprudence, Hanafi School, Crime, Comparative JurisprudenceAbstract
One of the challenging issues in Islamic criminal jurisprudence concerns the legal status of offenses committed against a walad al-zina (a child born of an illicit sexual relationship) with respect to blood money (diyah) and retaliation in kind (qisas). Imami jurisprudence and the Hanafi school have advanced different views on this matter. The principal question is whether, for the purposes of diyah and qisas, a child born of zina enjoys the same legal status as a child born within a lawful marriage or is subject to different rules. Employing a descriptive-analytical method and drawing on authoritative jurisprudential sources from both schools, this study comparatively examines the opinions of Imami and Hanafi jurists. The findings indicate that, according to the predominant view in Imami jurisprudence, the diyah payable for a child born of zina is equal to that payable for a child of legitimate parentage in both unintentional and intentional offenses; however, some jurists have recognized certain distinctions regarding qisas. By contrast, the Hanafi school considers the diyah of a child born of zina to be less than the full amount in certain circumstances and also prescribes specific conditions for the application of qisas. After examining the jurisprudential and hadith-based foundations of both schools, this article analyzes the practical implications of these differences and ultimately proposes measures for harmonizing the relevant rules with human rights standards.
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