Sunan Abi Dawud

Sunan Abi Dawud 4570

The Diyah For A Fetus
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Sunan Abi Dawud 4570
Arabic hadith text
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَهَارُونُ بْنُ عَبَّادٍ الأَزْدِيُّ، - الْمَعْنَى - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنِ الْمِسْوَرِ بْنِ مَخْرَمَةَ، أَنَّ عُمَرَ، اسْتَشَارَ النَّاسَ فِي إِمْلاَصِ الْمَرْأَةِ فَقَالَ الْمُغِيرَةُ بْنُ شُعْبَةَشَهِدْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَضَى فِيهَا بِغُرَّةٍ عَبْدٍ أَوْ أَمَةٍ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ائْتِنِي بِمَنْ يَشْهَدُ مَعَكَ ‏.‏ فَأَتَاهُ بِمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَسْلَمَةَ - زَادَ هَارُونُ - فَشَهِدَ لَهُ يَعْنِي ضَرَبَ الرَّجُلُ بَطْنَ امْرَأَتِهِ ‏.‏قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ بَلَغَنِي عَنْ أَبِي عُبَيْدٍ إِنَّمَا سُمِّيَ إِمْلاَصًا لأَنَّ الْمَرْأَةَ تَزْلِقُهُ قَبْلَ وَقْتِ الْوِلاَدَةِ وَكَذَلِكَ كُلُّ مَا زَلَقَ مِنَ الْيَدِ وَغَيْرِهِ فَقَدْ مَلِصَ ‏.‏
Translation
Narrated Al-Miswar b. Makhramah

'Umar consulted the people about the compensation of abortion of woman. Al-Mughirah b. Shu'bah said: I was present with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when he gave judgement that a male or female slave should testify you. So he brought Muhammad b. Maslamah to him. Harun added: He then testified him.

Imlas means a man striking the belly of his wife.

Abu Dawud said: I have been informed that Abu 'Ubaid said: It (abortion) is called imlas because the woman causes it to slip before the time of delivery. Similarly, anything which slips from the hand or from some other thing is called malasa (slipped).

Commentary

Overview & Central Theme

This hadith, recorded in Sunan Abi Dawud (Kitab Al-Diyat, 4570), addresses the Islamic legal ruling on compensation (diyah) for induced abortion (imlas)—specifically when a man strikes his wife's belly causing miscarriage. The Prophet ﷺ, through the testimony of Al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah and Muhammad ibn Maslamah, established that the compensation is a male or female slave (ghurrah). The central theme is the sanctity of fetal life, the jurisprudential principle of proportionate restitution, and the importance of authoritative testimony in deriving legal rulings.

Context & Linguistic Insights

The historical context (sabab al-wurud) involves Caliph 'Umar ibn al-Khattab consulting the Companions regarding the diyah for a miscarriage. Al-Mughirah recalled the Prophet's ﷺ judgment, and Muhammad ibn Maslamah was brought as corroborating witness. Linguistically, "imlas" (إملاس) derives from the root "malasa" (ملس), meaning something slipping or sliding. Abu 'Ubaid clarified that it refers to the fetus slipping from the womb before term, akin to an object slipping from one's hand. This nuance underscores the unintentional nature of the act in many cases, shaping the legal discussion.

Key Scholarly Insights & Legal Benefits

  • The hadith establishes that a fetus, even before birth, holds a degree of inviolability; harming it incurs a prescribed compensation (ghurrah—a slave), reflecting the sanctity of life at all stages.
  • It demonstrates the principle of "ijtihad" (scholarly consultation) in Islamic governance, as 'Umar consulted the Companions to verify an established sunnah, highlighting the importance of collective memory and witness testimony in preserving prophetic rulings.
  • Classical jurists (e.g., Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki) agree on the ghurrah for abortion when the fetus is fully formed but not yet born; disagreement exists on whether the mother or father pays, with most holding the one who caused the harm (here, the husband) liable.
"The ghurrah is a slave, male or female, and it is the established diyah for the fetus in the Sunnah. This is a fixed ruling, not subject to analogy, for the Prophet ﷺ specified it, and it serves as a deterrent against aggression toward the unborn." — Imam Ibn Qudamah, Al-Mughni

Daily Life & Spiritual Application

For a Muslim today, this hadith instills profound respect for human life from conception. It calls for extreme caution and gentleness in marital relations, avoiding any harm to a pregnant spouse—physically or emotionally. It also teaches the value of verifying religious rulings through credible sources and scholarly consultation, rather than acting on personal opinion. Spiritually, it reminds believers of accountability for unintended consequences, urging them to take responsibility and seek justice with mercy, embodying ihsan in all interactions.