Jinaya (offence against the person or body)

الجناية

In fiqh a jinaya is any forbidden act against a person, body or property. The Kuwaiti encyclopedia divides it into three kinds: offences against life (killing), offences against what is less than life (injuries to limbs and wounds to the head and face), and offences against something that is life in one respect and not in another, such as the unborn child. It sets out the rules for intentional, quasi-intentional and accidental killing, retaliation (qisas) for injuries under the conditions of equivalence, the classes of head wounds (such as the wound that exposes bone and the one that reaches the membrane around the brain), and the blood-money, compensation and discretionary awards. 1 2 3 4 5

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Overview

In fiqh a jinaya is any forbidden act against a person, body or property. The encyclopedia divides it into killing, injuries short of killing, and offences against what is life in one respect and not another, such as the unborn child. 1 2

Killing

Killing is classed by intent as intentional, quasi-intentional or accidental; the Hanafis add two further categories. Intentional killing brings retaliation (qisas), sin, and loss of inheritance for the killer. 2 6

Injuries short of killing

Retaliation for injuries requires intent and equivalence of the organ and of its use, and the rules differ for wounds to the head and face, to the teeth, to the breasts and to the male organ. 3 7 4

Blood-money and compensation

Fixed sums apply to the loss of limbs, including fingers and teeth, and to certain head wounds; where no sum is fixed, a discretionary award (hukuma) is due. 5 8 9

People and things also explored

The abjad letters named for Madyan's kings· Intellectual invasion (al-ghazw al-fikri) in the Sheikh's view· Islamic management· Media and the responsibility of its producers· al-Anwāʾ (Star Rains)· Jahiliyya names of days and months· The ill-omened days· Divining Arrows

Sources

  1. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.6518
  2. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.6519
  3. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.6523
  4. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.6539
  5. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.6542
  6. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.6520
  7. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.6527
  8. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.6543
  9. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.6544
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Jinaya (offence against the person or body)”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/jinaya/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-23.

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The abjad letters named for Madyan's kings

al-Mas'udi's etymology of the abjad numeral letters — the 29 letters of the abjad order named after six kings of Shu'ayb's people: Abjad of Mecca and the Hijaz, Hawwaz and Hutti of Wajj (the Ta'if and Najd lands), and Kalamn, Sa'fas and Qursht of Madyan or Egypt.