Paying the Diyyah (Blood Money)
1-9-2003 | IslamWeb
Question:
If somebody has had an accident and has killed a person, how much money does he need to pay (Diya)?
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
The majority of Muslim scholars are agreed that the Diyyah (blood money) of a free Muslim man is one hundred camels for those who raise camels. This is the basic ruling in evaluating the blood money. Those who possess cows should pay two hundred cows, and those who possess sheep should pay two thousand sheep, and those who possess gold should give one thousand Dinars, and those who possess silver have to pay ten thousand or twelve thousand Dirhams, and those who possess suits of clothing should give two hundred suits. Know that the value of gold varies from time to time and market to market.
The majority of Muslim scholars are agreed upon that camels are basically used for the evaluation of the blood money, but they are disagreed concerning the other things mentioned above, if there are no camels.
The value of the blood money is fixed; it does not change whether the killing was accidental or premeditated. However, the blood money becomes denser in the case of premeditated murder, especially if the Diyyah is paid in the form of camels.
The killer in this case has to pay the blood money in three kinds of camels; i.e., 30 she-camels which had entered their fourth year, and 30 she-camels which had entered their fifth year, and forty camels which are pregnant. Or he has to pay in four kinds; i.e., 25 she-camels which had entered their second year, 25 she-camels which had entered their third year, 25 she-camels which had entered their fourth year, and 25 she-camels which had entered their fifth year.
While in the case of accidental homicide the type of blood money is much easier than the above. He has to pay only a hundred camels in five kinds as following: 20 she-camels which had entered their second year, 20 she-camels which had entered their third year, 20 (male) camels which had entered their third year, 20 she-camels which had entered their fourth year, and 20 she-camels which had entered their fifth year. Know that the blood money of a woman is half the blood money of a man.
However, the value of blood money in the current currencies varies from place to place and time to time. One may find out the current value by consulting the banks or money exchangers, etc.
The details mentioned so far are related to the blood money of a free Muslim when he is killed. If a belligerent non-Muslim who is in state of war with Muslims is killed, he does not deserve any blood money. If the non-Muslim is not belligerent and he is among the People of the Book, then his blood money is the same as the blood money of a Muslim according to Abu Haneefah. Imam Maalik is of the opinion that his blood money is only half that of the blood money of a Muslim. Imam Ash-Shaafi’i said: “He deserves one third of the blood money of a Muslim. Every scholar based his opinion on some pieces of evidence. The Prophet said: “The blood money of the People of the Book is half that of Muslims.” Ibn Hajar 
said that this Hadeeth is reported by Ahmad, Abu Daawood, At-Trimithi, An-Nasaa’i and Ibn Maajah.” Imam Al-Khattaabi said: “There is no clearer evidence concerning the blood money of the People of the Book than the above Hadeeth.”
Therefore, you may know that the opinion of the Maaliki in this subject is stronger than the others.
For more benefit on Diyyah (blood money) in Islam, please refer to Fataawa 384850, 91306, and 101103.
Allah knows best.