How did diyah provide an alternative to execution under Islamic law?

In traditional Islamic law, murder is historically viewed not as a crime against the state, but as a civil dispute between family or tribal groups. Because the victim’s kin hold the right to prosecute, they may choose between seeking retaliation (qiṣāṣ)—which can include the execution of the offender—or accepting diyah, also known as blood money or "man payment".12

By opting for diyah, the victim's family agrees to receive financial compensation in lieu of the offender's death. This arrangement reflects the belief that the life of an individual belongs to their group, allowing the family to settle the matter through social convention rather than through the execution of the perpetrator. The payment, which historically involved camels but can also be made in gold or silver, serves as a legal alternative that resolves the conflict while providing restitution to the aggrieved party.213