How did traditional sharia law handle homicide and assault?

In traditional sharia, offenses against a person—ranging from homicide to assault—are primarily treated as civil injuries rather than crimes against the state. Consequently, the right to prosecute rests with the victim or the victim’s family rather than state authorities.12

The legal framework for these offenses centers on two main options:

• Retaliation (qiṣāṣ): This principle allows the victim or their family to demand the same treatment for the offender that was inflicted upon the victim. In cases of murder, this may result in the death of the perpetrator.12
• Compensation (diyah): Often referred to as blood money, this is financial compensation paid by the offender or their family to the victim or the victim's heirs. Islamic tradition encourages choosing compensation over retaliation. In cases of accidental death, financial compensation combined with an act of contrition is the required remedy.12

Specific rules for diyah were historically established based on the severity of the injury, with amounts traditionally calculated in camels, though payments could also be made in gold or silver.3